GeoEarthScope News

2008, 2007, 2006

• New EarthScope airborne LiDAR data: SoCal and ISB [2009 September 15]

  We are pleased to announce the availability of new EarthScope airborne LiDAR data products from Southern California and the Intermountain Seismic Belt (ISB):

  1. New SoCal data: Elsinore fault, Burro Flats segment of San Andreas fault, and southern Owens Valley including Crater Mountain. These are now available as hillshade images that can be viewed in Google Earth and as standard 0.5 m DEM tiles.
  2. Expanded SoCal data: for the Garlock fault, Point Cloud data are now available in addition to the previously released in KMZ and DEM formats.
  3. New ISB data: Wasatch Nephi North data now available as Google Earth hillshades, standard DEM tiles, and point cloud data. In addition, the point cloud for the rest of the ISB dataset, released previously in Google Earth and DEM formats, is now available.

  Like the rest of the GeoEarthScope LiDAR dataset, these products are freely available from the OpenTopography portal at http://opentopography.org in the following formats:

  • Google Earth hillshades. The easiest way to explore this dataset, users can view filtered ("bare earth") hillshade images within Google Earth from two different illumination angles. The hillshade KMZ file is available for downloaded at http://opentopography.org/kml.
  • Standard DEM tiles. For more advanced applications, filtered ("bare earth," fg*) and unfiltered (ug*) 0.5 m resolution digital elevation models in Arc Binary grid format are also available for download as 1 km^2 tiles. Users can browse and download the available data via an interactive map available at http://opentopography.org/dems.
  • OpenTopography also provides access to raw point cloud data and and web-based tools to process these data into custom DEM products: http://www.opentopography.org/pointcloud.
• Intermountain Seismic Belt (ISB) LiDAR Project [2009 May 7]

  We are pleased to announce the availability of new GeoEarthScope airborne LiDAR data products from the Intermountain Seismic Belt (ISB) project! This release includes high resolution LiDAR topography data collected in tectonically active regions of Utah and Wyoming, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the Nephi segment (southern strand) of the Wastach fault. These LiDAR data can be explored and downloaded in several ways:

  1. Google Earth. The easiest way to explore this dataset, users can view unfiltered (with vegetation) and filtered ("bare earth") hillshade images within Google Earth from two different illumination angles. The hillshade KMZ file is available for downloaded at http://opentopography.org/kml.
  2. GIS. For more advanced applications, filtered ("bare earth," fg*) and unfiltered (ug*) 0.5 m resolution digital elevation models in Arc Binary grid format are also available for download as 1 km2 tiles. Users can browse and download available tiles via an interactive map available at http://opentopography.org/dems.

  Additional ISB LiDAR data products will become available in the coming months, including coverage of the northern strand of the Nephi Segment of the Wasatch Fault, as well as point cloud access and custom DEM generation capability for all ISB coverage using GEON developed cyberinfrastructure. A metadata document for this project is also currently in preparation.

  We would like to thank the National Park Service, with special thanks to the Geology, GIS and fire cache personnel at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, for their support and collaboration.

• GeoEarthScope SoCal LiDAR Project [2008 Mar 28]

  Data acquisition for the GeoEarthScope southern/eastern California airborne LiDAR project is scheduled to begin on March 31, 2008. Over the course of several weeks we plan to image more than 1200 square kilometers using high resolution airborne laser swath mapping (ALSM), as pioneered by the B4 LiDAR project that focused on the southern San Andreas and San Jacinto faults in 2005. A Google Earth KMZ file showing the planned flight zones is available here. Targets were identified by the GeoEarthScope LiDAR working group as led by Professor James Dolan at USC and other members of the community.

  GeoEarthScope, managed at UNAVCO, is a component of the EarthScope Facility project that includes the acquisition of aerial and satellite imagery and geochronology. EarthScope is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and conducted in partnership with the US Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA. This is the second major GeoEarthscope airborne LiDAR project to date, the first being the northern California LiDAR project flown in 2007. Additional GeoEarthScope airborne LiDAR projects planned for 2008 include targets in the Pacific Northwest, in the Intermountain Seismic Belt (including Yellowstone), and in Alaska.

  LiDAR data will be collected and processed by the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM). Supplementary geodetic control and data analysis will be performed by Ohio State University. When data products become available they will be distributed by Arizona State University and the San Diego Super Computer facility. Hight rate GPS ground control data will primarily be collected by local continuously operating geodetic networks including PBO, NUCLEUS and SCIGN stations. Overall project management and GPS data collection is led by UNAVCO.

• Second GeoEarthScope LiDAR Data Release: Northern California [2008 Feb 19]

  We are pleased to announce the latest public release of processed products from the GeoEarthScope Northern California Airborne LiDAR project! This release represents a substantial portion of the Northern California dataset. More data will be coming in the next few months, along with more advanced access and analysis tools.

  The data are currently available as 1 km^2 tiles of 0.5 m digital elevation models - both unfiltered (all data) and filtered (bare earth) - in ESRI (ArcGIS) binary grid format.

  There are now two ways to select the tiles: 1) We have built a new GoogleMaps-based interface accessible in the GEON Portal (see below), and 2) We have updated the KML for use in Google Earth (if you downloaded the first version, now is time to go back and get version 2.0). Both approaches allow users to browse the dataset extent, make selections, and then download tiles of interest. To get to the GoogleMaps or download the KML file, please go to the GEON web site and get a portal account (just takes a few minutes--http://www.geongrid.org--click on "Enter the GEON Portal" link at right and then select "Request an Account"). Once you have obtained a portal account, log in and navigate to "Tools" and then "GEON LiDAR". Choose the GeoEarthScope Northern California LiDAR Project (NoCAL). You will see the GoogleMaps interface. Zoom and navigate to the areas of interest and click on the tile of interest. Or, below the GoogleMap, you can download the KML. In addition, soon we expect to have the point cloud available for download and interactive DEM creation.

  We have worked to make these data available as quickly as possible, so if you encounter problems please let Chris Crosby (chris.crosbyasu.edu) and Ramon Arrowsmith (ramon.arrowsmithasu.edu) know ASAP. Please also note that there is a forum in the GEON Portal dedicated to the GEON LiDAR data distribution and we encourage everyone to use it to post questions, ideas, solutions so that we can all share our discoveries.

  The GeoEarthScope Northern California LiDAR project acquired high resolution airborne laser swath mapping (a.k.a. LiDAR) topography data in Spring 2007 along major active faults as part of the EarthScope Facility project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Between this project and the previously conducted B4 project, also funded by NSF, the entire San Andreas fault system has now been imaged with high resolution airborne LiDAR, along with many other important geologic features. EarthScope is funded by NSF and conducted in partnership with the USGS and NASA. GeoEarthScope is a component of EarthScope that includes the acquisition of aerial and satellite imagery and geochronology.

• GeoEarthScope LiDAR Data Release: Northern California [2007 Dec 5]
  We are pleased to announce the public release of the first processed products from the GeoEarthScope Northern California Airborne LiDAR project! More data will be coming in the next few months, along with more advanced access and analysis tools. The data are currently available as 1 km^2 tiles of 0.5 m digital elevation models - both unfiltered (all data) and filtered (bare earth) - in ESRI (ArcGIS) binary grid format. We have built a KML file for use in Google Earth to browse the dataset extent, make selections, and then download tiles of interest.
  To get the KML file, please go to the GEON web site and get a portal account (just takes a few minutes at http://www.geongrid.org--click on "Enter the GEON Portal" link at right and then select "Request an Account"). Once you have obtained a portal account, log in and navigate to "Tools" and then "GEON LiDAR". Click on the "GeoEarthScope Northern California LiDAR Project (NoCAL)" to download the KML. In addition, soon we expect to have the point cloud available for download and interactive DEM creation.
• NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY & REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: GeoEarthScope Airborne Laser Swath Mapping (Airborne LiDAR) Data Providers. [2007 Nov 15]
  UNAVCO has issued a Notice of Opportunity and Request for Information (RFI) to identify organizations capable of providing research quality airborne laser swath mapping (airborne LiDAR) data acquisition services to support upcoming GeoEarthScope projects. Organizations interested in this opportunity are invited to submit a response to this RFI for consideration as a potential data provider. The deadline for RFI responses is December 7, 2007. The RFI is available for download here. [PDF]
• GeoEarthScope Geochronology Notice of Opportunity [PDF] [2007 Jan 18]
  In order to meet the goals of the EarthScope project, funded by the National Science Foundation, UNAVCO, Inc. intends to issue a Request for Proposals to identify organizations capable of providing geochronology services in support of the GeoEarthScope component of EarthScope. UNAVCO invites organizations that are interested in this opportunity to submit a Statement of Interest in order to be considered for inclusion in the RFP proposer’s list. The deadline for Statements of Interest is 26 January 2007. Click here [PDF] for more information.

• Employment opportunity [2006 Oct. 4]
  Data engineer to support InSAR, LiDAR and geochronology data at UNAVCO.
• The GeoEarthScope InSAR, LiDAR and geochronology working groups submit reports to UNAVCO [2006 Sep. 27]
  They are available for download here. These reports are currently being reviewed by the PBO Standing Committee and NSF. An overall GeoES acquisition plan based upon these reports will be presented for community feedback at Townhall meetings at the 2006 GSA meeting in Philadelphia and at the Fall 2006 AGU meeting in San Francisco.
• The first GeoES InSAR working group meeting is scheduled for July 11-12, 2006 at UNAVCO [2006 Jul. 11-12]
• GeoEarthScope InSAR announcement: ESA Cat-1 proposal for Basin & Range [2006 Jun. 30]
  Details regarding the scenes to be requested in the Basin and Range Cat-1 proposal are available here.
• The first GeoES LiDAR working group meeting was held on May 24-25, 2006 at UNAVCO.
  This was a successful meeting and the working group’s report will posted here when complete.
• GeoEarthScope LiDAR Working Group meeting May 24-25, 2006, at UNAVCO in Boulder, CO [2006 Jun. 30]
• As part of the new GeoEarthScope plan, UNAVCO is establishing working groups to help guide GeoEarthScope acquisition efforts.
  The working group charters are available here: LiDAR, InSAR, Geochronology.
• NSF has revised the GeoEarthScope plan.
  The new plan centralizes GeoEarthScope project management at UNAVCO and will be guided by working groups representing the LiDAR, InSAR and geochronology communities. An overview of the new plan is available here.
• Geochronology Survey underway: 'Assessment of Radiometric Isotope Geochronology Capacity in the United States' [2006 Apr.-May]
  If you are a geochronology lab manager or supervisor, or a geoscience researcher who uses geochronology products, your participation would be greatly appreciated. This survey will be available until June 1, 2006.
• Workshop to Identify Ground-based Digital Aquisition, Analysis, and Visualization Needs of the Geological Science Community [2006 Apr. 7-8]
• NSF Earthscope Northern California Lidar Workshop [2006 Mar. 16-19]
• GeoEarthScope Special Interest Group session held at the 2006 UNAVCO Science Workshop in Denver on March 15, 2006 [2006 Mar. 15]
• GeoEarthScope Acquisition Plan [2006 Mar.]
• GeoEarthScope LiDAR Working Group Charter [2006 Mar.]
• GeoEarthScope InSAR Working Group Charter [2006 Mar.]
• GeoEarthScope Geochronology Working Group Charter [2006 Mar.]

Last modified: 2019-12-24  02:12:56  America/Denver