This page provides links to resources related to using lidar topography and OpenTopography for students at the undergraduate and graduate level. Other resources are highlighted on the resources for educators and resources for researchers, which we encourage users to explore. To learn more about using OpenTopography or lidar data, please visit the tutorials page. OpenTopography is always looking to connect with students using lidar data in their studies or research. If you have any questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or email us at info@opentopography.org.
NCALM Seed Grants
Many datasets available on OpenTopography were collected for graduate students via the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping's (NCALM) Seed program. Each year, NCALM surveys up to ten projects (generally covering ~40 square kilometers) for graduate student PIs who need Airborne Laser Swath Mapping (ALSM) data. For more information about the program and how to submit a proposal, visit NCALM's Seed Program.
Short Courses
OpenTopography and its affiliates occasionally have short courses designed for students who are interested in applying LiDAR data to their studies and reserach. For updates, subscribe to OpenTopography's News and Blog feeds (RSS: News | Blog), as well as on our Twitter and Facebook accounts. All materials from previously held courses are available on the workshops page.
Internship Opportunities
As a critical component to many studies in the Earth sciences, learning about lidar data is an important pursuit for students. The spatial nature of lidar data and data products can help students learn and understand the Earth's surface. Below is a collection of materials aimed to help students understand and explore lidar data, data products and related tools.
OpenLandform Catalog
The OpenTopography OpenLandform Catalog serves as a resource to explore geologic landforms in high resolution digital topography for teachers, students or any interested user. This resource brings real world cutting edge digital topographic data to an accessible level that can be interrogated and explored using free tools, such as Google Earth.
Relevant Tutorials
Below is a list of resources available to help a student self-learn about applications of lidar data. Many of these activities use GIS tools and data sourced from OpenTopography to complete a virtual analysis on a landscape. To learn more about using OpenTopography or lidar data, please visit the tutorials page.
ASU Short Course: Techniques in Active Tectonic Study by J Ramon Arrowsmith and Gayatri Indah Marliyani |
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ASU Short Course |
Measuring Earthquake-Generated Surface Offsets from High-Resolution Digital Topography |
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David Haddad, Arizona State University |
Making a Geologic Map with ArcGIS |
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GSA Short Course, Dr. Mike Oskin, UC Davis |
Understanding Map Projections, Datums, and Coordinate Systems (NOAA online training) |
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NOAA Digital Coast |
Video Demonstrations of Software Activities Related to LiDAR Related Tutorial: Basic visualization of LiDAR DEMs using ArcGIS |
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OpenTopography Short Course |
A Bestiary of LiDAR Errors |
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OpenTopography Short Course |
OpenTopography Tools Registry |
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OpenTopography |
GIS 4 Geomorphology Lessons By Skye Cooley |
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GIS 4 Geomorphology |
Using lidar to explore the Critical Zone By Adrian Harpold (CU Boulder), and Tim White (Penn State). |
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Critical Zone Observatories |