geographIT® Presents Use of LiDAR for Hydrologic Mapping

Lancaster, Pennsylvania (July 1, 2013) – Use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to create a high resolution countywide hydrographic network for Greene County Pennsylvania was the topic presented by Mr. Andrew Ross, Senior GIS Analyst, at the 2013 PA GIS Conference held June 3-5 in State College, Pennsylvania. The study involved producing a high resolution DEM from PAMAP LiDAR data in combination with raster processing in order to model slope and "surface flow accumulation" grid surfaces. These surfaces were subsequently processed to create a high resolution stream network including previously unmapped intermittent stream channels and their corresponding watershed areas. Thirty years of USGS stream-gauge statistics for streams in Greene County were used to estimate surface runoff potential in order to identify potential upstream water impoundment locations that could be used for supplying Marcellus well drilling operators, abating acid mine drainage during drought conditions, and recreation.