SINKHOLE MAPPING USING LIDAR IN NIXA, MISSOURI

Two recent sinkhole collapses in the vicinity of Nixa, Missouri have raised the concern of having an updated sinkhole map for continued urbanization in the metropolitan Springfield area. This study concentrates on the Nixa sinkhole plain and the identification of sinkholes using LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data, which is also known as Airborne Laser Swath Mapping or ALSM. The LIDAR data has a resolution of 1 meter and was collected (in September 2006) by the USGS.

Processing LIDAR data to obtain a high resolution digital terrain model is a challenge because measurements from non-ground features such as buildings, vehicles, and vegetation have to be removed. The objectives of this study are to-1) use LIDAR data to identify new sinkholes, 2) develop algorithms to process LIDAR data to locate sinkholes and 3) compare and verify sinkhole maps generated from the LIDAR data with the existing statewide sinkhole map. New algorithms are being developed to process the LIDAR data in ArcGIS environment. Efforts are being made to find the location of new sinkholes and map them as accurately as possible. After confirming each sinkhole location and dimension they will be incorporated in a GIS database as a shape file. Developing new algorithms should also help us locate new sinkholes from other LIDAR data that are available from other karst regions.