LATEST NEWS

• 05/09/08 - Scheduled Delivery map updated
• 05/06/08 - Project Update posted
• 03/06/08 - Project Update posted
• 02/11/08 - Project Footprint map updated
• 01/03/08 - Baseline Specifications updated

House Bill 7121 and LiDAR Data

House Bill 7121 - Disaster Preparedness Response and Recovery states, "The Legislature finds that hurricane evacuation planning is a critical task that must be completed in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Appropriated funds may be used to update current regional evacuation plans and shall incorporate current transportation networks, behavioral studies, and vulnerability studies. In addition, funds may be used to perform computer-modeling analysis on the effects of storm-surge events."

Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has initiated an effort that will ultimately result in the update of the Regional Evacuation Studies (RES) for the State. This process will require updates to the coastal surge modeling tools with more current and accurate elevation data, i.e. LiDAR.

Baseline Specifications for LiDAR and Orthophotography

Florida Division of Emergency Management, several state and federal agencies, Water Management Districts, and several other critical stakeholders have initiated an effort to develop baseline specifications for LiDAR and orthophotography to be used for all projects flown in the State of Florida. Starting with specifications from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), baseline specifications intended to ensure that data acquired will provide a seamless statewide dataset for use by the broadest number of stakeholders are available for review and use.

LiDAR Data Collection

FDEM will catalog all existing LiDAR data and related products (bathymetry and orthophotography) within areas of the state affected by hurricane surge. Existing LiDAR data products that meet minimum specifications will be acquired from their respective sources. Areas that do not have LiDAR data products meeting the minimum specifications will be flown with the intent of capturing terrestrial LiDAR, bathymetric LiDAR, and orthophotography. It is the intent of FDEM to foster cooperation with other government agencies for the purpose of collecting LiDAR data products that meet established minimum specifications, and alternate funding agreements may potentially be established with affected jurisdictions to acquire data that lie outside the hurricane surge zones or to ensure that existing LiDAR acquisition projects are in compliance with specifications.

Data Availability

Please review the scheduled delivery map for the most current estimates for data delivery. We will need 1 to 2 months of additional time for internal QA/QC processes. Please contact Richard Butgereit at 850-413-9907 for further information.

Please see baseline specifications for further detail on deliverables and specifications.

Terrestrial LiDAR Deliverable Summary