NATIONAL TERRAIN DATA FOR NATIONAL APPLICATIONS

For over 100 years, the U.S. Geological Survey produced integrated topographic data in the form of analog maps. These maps became a mainstay of earth science and land management. With the advent of GIS, users sought to apply the analytical power of digital GIS to these problems, and much of the past 30 years has been spent converting cartographic content from the topographic maps to the National Hydrography Dataset and the National Elevation Dataset, among others. A significant amount of time has also been spent correcting and overcoming the shortcomings of these conversions.

In 2015 the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) launched the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) with the goal of acquiring high-quality lidar elevation data across the conterminous US and Hawaii, and ifsar elevation data in Alaska. At the end of FY2018, we are halfway to achieving that goal. In 2016, NGP began production of the NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR), a dataset integrating updated elevation and hydrography data with improved network and catchment intelligence to support applications like the National Water Model, SPARROW, and StreamStats.

Finally, NGP is exploring two new concepts to enhance integration, alignment, and interoperability of national elevation and hydrography datasets: the National Terrain Model, an integrated digital elevation model of the landscape mapped both above and below waterbodies; and the 3D National Hydrography Dataset (3D NHD), the next generation hydrographic framework for the Nation.

This presentation will briefly describe the progress of 3DEP and the NHDplus HR, describe a few potential applications for each, and provide an overview of the general vision for the National Terrain Model and 3D NHD.