Working with elevation data to produce high-quality results: GIS workflows developed in response to Hurricane Sandy data processing needs
Tefft E. 2015. Working with elevation data to produce high-quality results: GIS workflows developed in response to Hurricane Sandy data processing needs. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCBN/NRR—2015/959. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Access to high-quality elevation products can be critical in ensuring a quick and effective response to natural disasters, such as coastal storm events. For example, a high quality digital elevation model can assist with predicting areas that may be prone to inundation during a coastal storm event, as well as estimating the volume of sand lost or gained along a shoreline as a result of a storm. The workflows contained within this document walk Esri ArcGIS users through the steps necessary for creating high-quality LiDAR-derived products, such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), Esri mosaic datasets, and Esri LAS datasets. The first workflow introduces users to Esri LAS datasets, and how these can be used in the generation of DEMs and hillshade models. The next workflow is broken into two parts; the first section introduces users to utilizing mosaic datasets as a way to create high-quality DEMs and shaded relief models. The second section introduces users to viewing and analyzing surface features, creating surface height layers, as well as basic graphing via the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension. These workflows provide users with not only detailed instructions, but also include annotated images for each step along the way. These procedures are intended to assist GIS analysts with expediting LiDAR data processing after a coastal storm event, and producing high-quality elevation data products that may be used as input for a wide variety of inundation modeling and change analysis techniques.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Tefft, Erica
- Date of Issue
- 2015-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NCBN , NRSS
- Keywords
- CESU, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), Environmental Data Center, Esri ArcGIS, Esri LAS dataset, Esri mosaic datasets, GIS, high quality digital elevation model, Hurricane Sandy, Lidar, NCBN, North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, University of Rhode Island