Elevation Program: Strides in Geospatial Data Collection

Indiana has made significant strides in geospatial data collection through its Lidar programs. These initiatives, spanning from 2011 to 2020, and now looking forward to the next program starting in 2025, have not only enhanced the state’s mapping capabilities but also provided invaluable data for various applications. By aligning with the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and leveraging partnerships with federal and state agencies, Indiana has successfully collected high-quality Lidar data across all its counties. This data has been instrumental in floodplain management, infrastructure planning, and environmental conservation, showcasing the state’s commitment to leveraging advanced geospatial technologies for public benefit.

Indiana has collected statewide Lidar data twice: in 2011 to 2013 and 2016 to 2020. Both of these efforts were only made possible through several partnerships.

2011-2013 Lidar Program

Leveraging the groundwork laid by the USGS’s nationwide 3D Elevation data program, Indiana adopted specifications for statewide QL3 Lidar collection (0.5 points per square meter, 20cm vertical accuracy). Funding for this initiative came from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), prompted by regional flooding in 2008. The Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC) played a crucial role as a project partner, providing support services, education, and data distribution through the IndianaMap.

2016-2020 Lidar Program

Indiana started this effort by collecting Lidar data for Hamilton, Marion, and Wayne counties. This effort was managed by IGIC and funded through a grant by the USGS 3DEP program. The data was collected at Quality Level 2 (QL2) (2 points per square meter, 10cm vertical accuracy).

After the successful collection of Lidar for these three initial counties, there was a desire to collect Lidar data for the rest of the state or 89 counties. Thankfully, several agencies came together to fund this effort: Indiana's National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provided $6.6 million and the USGS provided $250,000. The USGS directly contracted with Indiana for the 3DEP work, while IGIC continued to provide project support services, quality control checks, and data distribution. Our university partners at the Indiana Spatial Data Portal (ISDP) hosted the delivered products.

Impact

The 2011-2013 Lidar data was incorporated into the OpenTopography website, where thousands of individuals and businesses have been able to use this data for preplanning and analysis. Additionally, Indiana State coverage created color maps commonly used to visualize relief. Most notably, Indiana developed the much relied-on Local Resolution Hydrography layer that has been widely used.

Faculty at Purdue University's Department of Forestry created a web application enabling access to both 2011-2013 and 2016-2020 Lidar datasets, including the Lidar point cloud, digital elevation model (DEM), digital surface model (DSM), and normalized digital height model (NDHM). The Indiana Department of Natural Resources relies heavily on this elevation data to support its Indiana Floodplain Information Portal (INFIP). The first-ever statewide building footprint layer was also derived from this elevation dataset and is available on the IndianaMap.