How Lidar Elevation Data Supports Michigan's Economy

High-quality elevation data are proving valuable for many of Michigan's economic challenges. Detailed, current lidar (light detection and ranging) data — a 3D model of the land surface and what stands on it — support agriculture and precision farming, conservation, flood risk management, geologic assessment and hazard reduction, water supply and quality, coastal management, infrastructure, solar and other renewable energy planning, and the identification of archaeological and historical sites. This page summarizes a U.S. Geological Survey fact sheet.

The 3D Elevation Program

The USGS manages the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) with federal, state, Tribal, territorial and local partners, aiming for the first national baseline of consistent, high-resolution elevation data (lidar nationwide, radar in Alaska). Baseline data must be quality level 2 or better — at least two points per square meter and vertical error no greater than 10 cm — delivered as point clouds and bare-earth elevation models at 1-meter resolution or better. Data go into The National Map and are free with no use restrictions.

Michigan's coverage

Michigan's Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB), through its Center for Shared Solutions, coordinates funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the USGS and state and local agencies. Through its Michigan Statewide Authoritative Imagery & Lidar (MiSAIL) program, the state recently completed statewide 3DEP coverage at quality level 2. In 2021 DTMB began updating the statewide hydrography dataset from the new elevation models, following USGS specifications.

Status of 3DEP baseline lidar data in Michigan as of March 2024. USGS figure.

Where the benefits come from

The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment conservatively estimated at least $10.19 million a year in new benefits for Michigan:

• Agriculture: about 28% of Michigan's land is farmed. Better terrain data improve precision farming — raising yields, preventing soil degradation and reducing chemical runoff.
• Conservation: lidar lets state and local agencies cut fieldwork on projects such as grade stabilization, ponds, grassed waterways, terracing and wetland delineation and restoration.
• Flooding: frequent flooding around Midland is a major concern. After several dams on the Tittabawassee River failed in May 2020, draining two lakes, new quality level 1 lidar was collected for the area. Lidar makes flood, dam-breach and stormwater modeling more accurate and cheaper, helps identify vulnerable properties, and can show the public 3D models of potential flooding.
• Geology: subtle features invisible on conventional topographic maps or aerial photos often stand out in lidar images, which have fundamentally changed geologic mapping and resource evaluation.

National benefits and taking part

Nationally, 3DEP's benefits are conservatively estimated at $690 million a year, with potential for $13 billion a year more. Governments and private companies can join by funding USGS-managed projects, receiving cooperative funds to run their own, or contributing existing data; agreements are made through an annual Data Collaboration Announcement.

Sources

• U.S. Geological Survey: "The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Michigan's economy," Fact Sheet 2024–3031.
• Works cited include the National Enhanced Elevation Assessment (Dewberry, 2012); Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (2020), on MiSAIL; and USGS reports on lidar specifications and elevation-derived hydrography (Heidemann, 2012; Sugarbaker and others, 2014; Terziotti and Archuleta, 2020; Archuleta and Terziotti, 2020).