Hydrologic enforcement of lidar DEMs

Sandra K. Poppenga; Bruce B. Worstell; Jeffrey J. Danielson; John Brock; Gayla A. Evans; H. Karl Heidemann

doi:10.3133/fs20143051

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Hydrologic enforcement of lidar DEMs

Sandra K. Poppenga·Bruce B. Worstell·Jeffrey J. Danielson·John Brock·Gayla A. Evans·H. Karl Heidemann

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Abstract

Hydrologic-enforcement (hydro-enforcement) of light detection and ranging (lidar)-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) modifies the elevations of artificial impediments (such as road fills or railroad grades) to simulate how man-made drainage structures such as culverts or bridges allow continuous downslope flow. Lidar-derived DEMs contain an extremely high level of topographic detail; thus, hydro-enforced lidar-derived DEMs are essential to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for complex modeling of riverine flow. The USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) is integrating hydro-enforced lidar-derived DEMs (land elevation) and lidar-derived bathymetry (water depth) to enhance storm surge modeling in vulnerable coastal zones.

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BibTeX RIS

Sandra K. Poppenga, Bruce B. Worstell, Jeffrey J. Danielson, John Brock, Gayla A. Evans, H. Karl Heidemann. 2014. Hydrologic enforcement of lidar DEMs. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20143051

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