OT Blog
Information and discussion related to high-resolution lidar topography for the Earth sciences
Apr 6, 2009
The SRTM KML Project has released a very nice network-linked KML which displays shaded relief images derived from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation models in Google Earth. Their website reports:
This version covers the entire SRTM dataset (80% of the land on the Earth). It is based on the SRTM V2 product. A new "fill" algorithm was developed at CCIC, which significantly improved the cartographic quality of the layer without compromising the accuracy.
The global SRTM shaded relief KML file can be downloaded from: http://srtmkml.googlepages.com/
Via Google... more
Apr 6, 2009
Abstract submission is now open for the 2009 GSA Annual Meeting in Portland, OR. Ian Madin of DOGAMI is convening a session on LiDAR applications to geologic, geomorphic and geohazard mapping.
T145. Use of High-Resolution Lidar DEMs for Geologic, Geomorphic and Geohazards Mapping
High resolution lidar DEMs are becoming widely available, and can revolutionize geomorphic, geohazards and geologic mapping. This session will provide current examples of the use of this data
Abstracts are due by 11 August 2009.
Mar 23, 2009
A new textbook, Topographic Laser Ranging and Scanning, co-edited by Jie Shan and Charles K Toth is now available. It is apparently the first textbook to tackle the topic of topographic LiDAR technology and processing. Book summary:
This volume provides the first systematic, yet in-depth, introduction to the basic theories and principles of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology and data processing, which over the past decade has been successfully used for topographic mapping and 3-D visualization. The information collected in these pages meets the needs of all those working across... more
Mar 23, 2009
The Google Earth Library has announced that they are in the process of importing all 50,000+ USGS topographic maps into KML format for use in Google Earth. From the website:
A couple months ago I began a project to import all 50,000+ USGS Topographic Maps into Google Earth. This is a huge undertaking that will likely take me several more months to finish all 50 US States. These maps are intended to provide a free alternative to expensive commercial products that often cost $80 or more per state or charge monthly access fees. Plus you get the benefit of using the topo maps with Google Earth... more
Mar 10, 2009
Yesterday Google announced the winners of their KML in Research contest via the Google LatLong blog. Ionut Iordache, of the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) at UC Berkeley was awarded for his very nice NCALM Data Distribution Center KML file that allows integrated access to tiled LIDAR DEMs as well as hillshade overlays in Google Earth. Google Earth provides an excellent platform to visualize and then download LIDAR-derived topography and the NCALM DDC KML is an nice example of how a lot of functionality can be bundled into a small, easily-downloadable, KML. The Google... more
Mar 6, 2009
Today the GEON team was in the SDSC machine room moving GEON and OpenTopography machines to new racks as part of a reorganization of the machine room. Since I don't visit the machine room very often, I took some photos of the hardware that makes OpenTopo work. This photo shows the rack that holds the OpenTopo Portal (Gridsphere) server as well as the LIDAR database cluster (8 front-end nodes plus a four node disk array (20 TB total). In a different rack is the 3 node compute cluster for LIDAR data processing (DEM generation) and the visualization machine that generates the browse images... more
Feb 23, 2009
A few recent announcements about upcoming meetings that may be of interest to the OpenTopography community:
"Application of Laser Scanning to Geophysical Studies" at the AGU Joint Assembly 24-27 May 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
G04: Application of Laser Scanning to Geophysical Studies
Laser Scanning methods (e.g. LiDAR) have opened up new realms of resolution in the surveying and characterization of the surface of the earth. This rapidly evolving technology enables new perspectives on geodetic and geophysical problems, while presenting new challenges in developing techniques... more
Dec 22, 2008
Another email announcement about an upcoming meeting with a session devoted to high resolution topography data. This session looks quite interesting as the MODSIM09 conference has the stated goal of "Interfacing Modeling and Simulation with Mathematical and Computational Sciences". The abstract deadline is December 31st. Email initially distributed via the ASU LiDAR listserv.
Dear lidar listserv members
At the Modelling and Simulation conference next July in Cairns, Australia, we are running a session on using and working with high resolution terrain data with a particular interest in... more
Dec 9, 2008
Here is an announcement related to terrestrial laser scanning that should be of interest to the OpenTopography community. The announcement came through on the GEOMOD-LIDAR-L listserv this morning:
Dear Colleagues,
ISPRS V/6: Close range morphological measurement for the earth sciences.
I'm pleased to announce the formation of an International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) working group (V6) to promote and coordinate the use of modern geomatic techniques (terrestrial laser scanning and close range digital photogrammetry) for the measurement of natural objects. This... more
Nov 26, 2008
Here is a call for abstracts for a special session at the 2009 Seismological Society of America meeting in Monterey, CA devoted to applying LiDAR data to the study of active faults. Full announcement courtesy of Carol Prentice (USGS):
Dear Colleagues - we are organizing a special session for the 2009 Seismological Society of America meeting (April 8-10, in Monterey, CA
- see http://www.seismosoc.org/meetings/2009/index.php) on the application of LiDAR data to the study of active faults.
I hope you will consider submitting an abstract to this special session (deadline is January 11).... more