2004 Alaska Lidar Elevation Data from NOAA Coastal Management

Lidar data for Alaska was collected in 2004 using an OPTECH ALTM 70 kHz system mounted on a Cessna 320 aircraft by AeroMap for the NOAA Office for Coastal Management. The dataset represents last-return data and has been QA/QC'ed, though it may contain data holidays and diminished accuracy in areas of extreme terrain or dense vegetation. The data was last updated in the catalog on 2026-03 13.

Use Cases

• Generate digital elevation models based on the described last-return lidar data.
• Analyze coastal processes and bathymetry based on the dataset's stated focus on coastal elevation.
• Study vegetation density impact on terrain mapping based on the described accuracy limitations in dense areas.
• Assess data quality and anomalies in lidar point clouds based on the described QA/QC process and data holidays.

Strengths

• Data was collected using a specific, high-frequency OPTECH ALTM 70 kHz lidar system.
• The dataset has undergone a QA/QC process as stated in the description.
• Spatial coverage is explicitly for the state of Alaska.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Accuracy is diminished in areas of extreme terrain and dense vegetation, as noted in the description.
• Data holidays (gaps) exist despite QA/QC, as stated in the description.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Collected via airborne lidar system (OPTECH ALTM 70 kHz) mounted on a Cessna 320 aircraft by AeroMap.

Time Range

2004

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 22:17:16.861172; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Alaska