2007 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) New York Lidar: Niagara County

The spring 2007 LiDAR Flight Acquisition required the collection of approximately 526 square miles of Niagara County

and approximately 30 square miles of the corridors of Erie County. Total, approximately 555 square miles were collected

at a nominal point spacing of 1.4 meters and based on the Sanborn FEMA compliant LiDAR product specification.

The lidar data was collected from Jan 3 2007-May 9 2007. Multiple returns were recorded for each laser

pulse along with an intensity value for each return. The lidar points in this data set are the last return data, it is not a

bare earth data set and the points have not been classified.

LIDAR data is remotely sensed high-resolution elevation data collected by an airborne collection platform.

Using a combination of laser range finding, GPS positioning and inertial measurement technologies; LIDAR instruments

are able to make highly detailed Digital Elevation Models (DEM) of the earth's terrain, man-made structures and vegetation.

This data was collected at a resolution to aid in coastal management decisions including flood plain analysis and mapping.

Original contact information:

Contact Name: Jamie Young

Contact Org: Sanborn Mapping Company, Inc.

Title: General Manager

Phone: (719) 264-5602

Email: jyoung@sanborn.com

LIDAR data is used for 3D visualization, elevation based analysis and for feature extraction.

10526

Reflective surface data represents the DEM created by laser energy reflected from the first

surface encountered by the laser pulse. Some energy may continue beyond this initial surface to be reflected by a

subsequent surface as represented by the Last Return data. Intensity information is captured from the Reflective

Surface pulse and indicates the relative energy returned to the sensor as compared to the energy transmitted. The

Intensity image is not calibrated or normalized but indicates differences in energy absorption due to the interaction

of the surface materials with laser energy at the wavelength transmitted by the sensor.

For more information about this data, please refer to the Final Report for Erie County Corridors & Niagara County at:

https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/laz/geoid18/112/supplemental/Final_LiDAR_Report_Niagara_Erie.pdf

Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Sanborn Map Company, Inc, Medina Consultants, the Office for Coastal Management or its partners.

This data can be obtained on-line at the following URL: https://coast.noaa.gov/dataviewer

The data set is dynamically generated based on user-specified parameters.

;

None

Users should be aware that temporal changes may have occurred since this data set was collected

and some parts of this data may no longer represent actual surface conditions. Users should not use this data for critical

applications without a full awareness of its limitations.

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.2.4.1420

Contracted to meet 1 meter (RMSE) horizontal accuracy.

Data tested to have vertical accuracy of 10.9 cm RMSE.

LIDAR raster data is visually inspected for completeness to ensure that any gaps between flight lines

or loss of signal represents less than 5% of required collection area. LIDAR is self-illuminating and has minimal cloud

penetration capability. Water vapor in steam plumes or particulates in smoke may cause reflection of LIDAR signals and

loss of elevation information beneath these plumes. Glass structures and roofs may appear transparent to the LIDAR signal

and therefore may not register on the reflective surface. Some asphalt formulations have been shown to absorb topographic

LIDAR wavelength energy resulting in "pitting" of roof surfaces using this material.

All LAS formatted LIDAR data are validated using commercial GIS software to ensure proper

formatting and loading before delivery. This validation procedure ensures that data on delivery media is in correct

physical format and is readable.