Southeast Texas Pilot National Topography Model (NTM), 1933 to 2021

Publication Date

2023-11-03

Start Date

1933

End Date

2021

Danielson, J.J., Miller-Corbett, C.D., and Thatcher, C.A., 2023, Southeast Texas Pilot National Topography Model (NTM), 1933 to 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9N4WLC8.

Type: Related Primary Publication

Detailed knowledge of integrated river system topography and bathymetry are essential for key science applications such as inundation mapping, habitat characterization, and fluvial geomorphology analyses. As part of the vision for a 3D Nation, 3DEP is investigating the potential for topobathymetric lidar for mapping the land-water interface and submerged topography, or bathymetry, in riverine landscapes. Different rivers for the pilot study are selected based on varying environmental conditions (water clarity, bottom type stratum, albedo, and depth) to understand lidar performance in mapping water feature bathymetry. This research will help 3DEP work toward operationalizing topobathymetric, or topobathy, lidar by providing recommendations regarding topobathy lidar sensor performance and suitable site conditions for potential future river acquisition surveys. For Southeast Texas, inland to coastal zone bathymetry, topography, and topobathymetry data are assimilated to create the pilot 3DNTM through a sequence of processes to integrate river, lake, and wetland (Keith Lake-Salt Bayou System) bathymetry, topobathymetry, and the land surface topography to generate a continuous, seamless three-dimensional elevation surface. The disparate green lidar (532nm wavelength) and sonar bathymetry data types are integrated with topographic lidar into a common 3D database to generate raster elevation data aligned both vertically and horizontally to a common reference system. The raster elevation topobathymetric product, the Federal Geographic Data Committee metadata, and the spatially referenced metadata files are contained in the downloadable bundle. Spatially referenced metadata are contained within a geodatabase/open-source GeoPackage that stores footprints for each of the input source areas along with source data characteristics. The 3DNTM datasets are developed to provide seamless integrated elevation products that can be critical to various science application studies such as flood risk management, 2D/3D hydrologic modeling, river geomorphology applications, sediment-transport, and aquatic habitat restoration, and for analyses of the potential impacts of various climate change scenarios on dynamically changing river landscapes.

• Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS)
• USGS Data Release Products