The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Idaho’s economy

Abstract

Introduction Due to Idaho’s inland location approximately 350 miles from the Pacific Ocean and its 80 recognized mountain ranges, the State’s climate varies widely, with maritime influence in the northern and western parts of Idaho and continental influence on the eastern side. The weather in the abundant mountains is unpredictable and often associated with natural hazards such as severe thunder and lightning storms leading to flooding, landslides, and wildfires. Issues important to Idaho’s economy include river, stream, and forest resource management, and infrastructure and construction management. Idaho participated in the U.S. Geological Survey 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) in 2016, the State’s first 3DEP project. The success of this project led to development of the Idaho Statewide Lidar Plan. Critical applications that meet the State’s management needs depend on light detection and ranging (lidar) data that provide a highly detailed three-dimensional (3D) model of the Earth’s surface and aboveground features.