APPLICATION OF AIRBORNE LASER MAPPING FOR MANAGEMENT OF A COASTAL FLORIDA PRESERVE

Mapping of geologic features, topography, vegetation, and preserve characteristics is accomplished with airborne laser technology for Lukens Creek in Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve, Levy County, Florida. Features are so detailed, including fire history, trails, relict sand dunes, and plant communities, that preserve managers are now requesting complete coverage of managed areas with the new mapping system. Appropriate pre-processing facilitates the extraction of ground surface elevations, vegetation, and canopy characteristics. The combination of these features in a readable map results in a highly practical management tool. Park, preserve, and refuge managers can visualize more effectively with the new map than from aerial photography or topographic charts alone. The reason for the effectiveness is the selective and sequential extraction of data layers from the airborne laser output. Typically, data generated by airborne laser mapping systems is voluminous and unwieldy. While tremendous detail is available, getting it to the point of usability presents a challenge. Familiarity with the technology, its’ inherent strengths and weaknesses, and an understanding of what park managers need are the keys to making a useful product. This paper will illustrate the application of airborne laser mapping in a coastal preserve for restoration activities, identification of tidal and freshwater seeps, burn history and fire management, trail and permanent structure location, biological surveys, and geographic analyses.