80155 Data Set Published / External 59025 NGS Lidar Project Completed 2026 NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar data were collected by NV5 using Leica Chiroptera 4X and Leica Chiroptera 5 systems. The data was acquired between 20240907 and 20250805 in 99 missions. The data includes topobathymetric data in a LAS format 1.4, point data record format 6, with the following classifications in accordance with project specifications and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) classification standards: 1 - Unclassified 1 - Withheld - Edge clip 1 - Overlap Withheld - Unrefracted green data from Chiroptera sensor 2 - Ground 7 - Withheld -Low noise 18 - Withheld - High noise 22 - Temporal exclusion 40 - Bathymetric bottom or submerged topography 41 - Water surface 42 - Synthetic- Chiroptera synthetic water surface 43 - Submerged feature 45 - Water column 46 - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) 47 - Withheld - Green Laser Submerged Noise 48 - Submerged Temporal Exclusion - submerged features excluded due to temporal changes The channel bits are mapped as the following: 0 - Chiroptera green shallow laser 1 - Chiroptera synthetic water surface 3 - Chiroptera NIR The user byte is mapped as the following: 10 - Chiroptera green shallow 11 - Chiroptera green shallow 4X 12 - Chiroptera green shallow synthetic 30 - Chiroptera NIR The dataset also includes lidar intensity values, number of returns, return number, time, and scan angle. The horizontal datum for the the provided LAS files is NAD83 (2011), projected in UTM 17N. The vertical datum of the Ellipsoidal height LAS files is in GRS80 ellipsoid heights. This lidar data was required by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), Remote Sensing Division Coastal Mapping Program (CMP) to support national shoreline characterization along stretches of the Allegheny, SW Lake Ontario, Genesee, Clarion, Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia. Additionally, data will be utilized to enable accurate and consistent hydrologic flood and weather monitoring in support of the National Water Center's modeling efforts. The NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar data includes all lidar returns within the project's buffered boundary. An automated grounding classification algorithm was used to determine bare earth and submerged topography point classification. The automated grounding was followed with manual editing. Classes 2 (ground), 40 (submerged topography), 43 (submerged object), and 46 (submerged aquatic vegetation) were used to create the final DEMs. The full workflow used for this project is documented in the NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar final report. Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > TOPOGRAPHY > TERRAIN ELEVATION > TOPOGRAPHICAL RELIEF MAPS Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category elevation Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > NEW YORK Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > PENNSYLVANIA Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > WEST VIRGINIA Instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords LIDAR > Light Detection and Ranging Platform Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords Airplane > Airplane Office for Coastal Management Charleston SC Data Set Elevation None Planned Model (digital) Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of NOAA, the National Geodetic Survey, the Office for Coastal Management, or its partners. We request that you credit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) when you use these data in a report, publication, or presentation. Data Steward 2026 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA/OCM coastal.info@noaa.gov 2234 South Hobson Ave Charleston SC 29405-2413 (843) 740-1202 https://coast.noaa.gov NOAA Office for Coastal Management Home Page Online Resource Distributor 2026 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA/OCM coastal.info@noaa.gov 2234 South Hobson Ave Charleston SC 29405-2413 (843) 740-1202 https://coast.noaa.gov NOAA Office for Coastal Management Home Page Online Resource Metadata Contact 2026 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA/OCM coastal.info@noaa.gov 2234 South Hobson Ave Charleston SC 29405-2413 (843) 740-1202 https://coast.noaa.gov NOAA Office for Coastal Management Home Page Online Resource Originator 2026 Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ Ground Condition Block 2 -80.48 -79.82 40.28 38.78 Range 2024-09-07 2024-10-28 Block 3 -80.03 -78.84 40.73 39.08 Range 2024-10-04 2025-08-05 Block 1 -79.28 -77.87 42.77 41.8 Range 2024-10-10 2024-10-25 Block 4 -80.17 -78.63 41.95 40.71 Range 2024-10-09 2025-07-30 No Geographic 3D EPSG:6319 NAD83(2011) NAD83 (National Spatial Reference System 2011) GRS 1980 6378137 298.257222101 1 Geodetic Latitude Lat degree north 2 Geodetic Longitude Lon degree east 3 Elipsoidal height h metre up Unclassified Data is available online for bulk and custom downloads. None Users should be aware that temporal changes may have occurred since this data set was collected and some parts of this data may no longer represent actual surface conditions. Users should not use this data for critical applications without a full awareness of its limitations. https://coast.noaa.gov/dataviewer/#/lidar/search/where:ID=14842 2026 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management Customized Download Create custom data files by choosing data area, product type, map projection, file format, datum, etc. ZIP Zip https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/laz/geoid18/14842/index.html 2026 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management Bulk Download Simple download of data files. LAZ LAS/LAZ - LASer LAZ https://coast.noaa.gov/lidar/viewer/v/noaapotree.html?r=https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/entwine/geoid18/14842/ept.json 3D Viewer (Potree NOAA) Online Resource Link to view the point cloud, using the Entwine Point Tile (EPT) format, in the 3D Potree viewer. https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/entwine/geoid18/14842/ept.json Entwine Point Tile (EPT) Online Resource JSON Entwine Point Tile (EPT) is a simple and flexible octree-based storage format for point cloud data. The data is organized in such a way that the data can be reasonably streamed over the internet, pulling only the points you need. EPT files can be queried to return a subset of the points that give you a representation of the area. As you zoom further in, you are requesting higher and higher densities. A dataset in EPT will contain a lot of files, however, the ept.json file describes all the rest. The EPT file can be used in Potree and QGIS to view the point cloud. https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/laz/geoid18/14842/supplemental/NOAA_Appalachia_Riverine_Topobathymetric_Lidar_Report_Final_Signed.pdf Topobathy Lidar Data Report Online Resource PDF Topobathy Lidar Data Report OS Independent Lidar horizontal accuracy is a function of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) derived positional error, flying altitude, and INS derived attitude error. The obtained RMSEr value is multiplied by a conversion factor of 1.7308 to yield the horizontal component of the National Standards for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA) reporting standard where a theoretical point will fall within the obtained radius 95 percent of the time (ACCr). Absolute accuracy was assessed using Non-Vegetated Vertical Accuracy (NVA) survey methods. Survey check points were evenly distributed as feasible throughout the project area. NVA compares known ground check point data that were withheld from the calibration and post-processing of the lidar point cloud to the triangulated surface generated by the ground classified lidar point cloud. NVA is a measure of the accuracy of lidar point data in open areas with level slope (less than 20°) where the lidar system has a high probability of measuring the ground surface and is evaluated at the 95% confidence interval (1.96*RMSE). Bathymetric topography points were tested separately. Block 1: RMSEr is 0.025 meters, with a ACCr of 0.044 meters at the 95% confidence level. Block 2: RMSEr is 0.026 meters, with a ACCr of 0.045 meters at the 95% confidence level. Block 3: RMSEr is 0.013-0.019 meters, with a ACCr of 0.022-0.034 meters at the 95% confidence level. Block 4: RMSEr is 0.013-0.016 meters, with a ACCr of 0.023-0.028 meters at the 95% confidence level. Please refer to the NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar final data report for more information on accuracy. Ground check points were compared against the ground classified lidar point cloud in open terrain for each block. Block 1: NVA tested 0.064 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 17 ground check points Block 2: NVA tested 0.108 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 30 ground check points Block 3: NVA tested 0.048 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 15 ground check points Block 4: NVA tested 0.097 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 15 ground check points Bathymetric Topography Accuracy Block 1: tested 0.199 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 228 bathymetric check points Block 2: tested 0.178 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 997 bathymetric check points Block 3: tested 0.169 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 783 bathymetric check points Block 4: tested 0.182 m vertical accuracy at the 95% confidence level using 460 bathymetric check points Please refer to the NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar final data report for more information on accuracy. Bathymetric topography checkpoints may occur in depths up to 1m. Yes Unknown Yes NCEI-CO Data is backed up to tape and to cloud storage. Acquisition and Processing Organization NV5 Originator 1 Data for the NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar area was acquired by NV5 using Leica Chiroptera 4X and Leica Chiroptera 5 topobathymetric lidar systems. All derived Ellipsoidal height LAS data is referenced to: Horizontal Datum-NAD83(2011) epoch: 2010.00 Projection-UTM Zone 17N Horizontal Units-meters Vertical Datums-GRS80 Ellipsoid Vertical Units-meters NOAA provided NV5 with a project boundary for the NOAA Appalachia Topobathymetric Lidar project. Using a 25 meter buffered boundary, NV5 created an airborne lidar acquisition plan. The collected lidar data were immediately processed in the field by NV5 to a level that allows for QA\QC measures to determine if the sensor is functioning properly and assess the coverage of submerged topography. An initial SBET was created using Waypoint Inertial Explorer 8.90, and the raw data were extracted into geo-referenced LAS files using Lidar Survey Studio 3.0 with pre-calculated scanner misalignment angles determined through a boresight protocol. These files were inspected for errors and then passed through an automated workflow, producing rasters to develop an initial assessment of bathymetric coverage. NV5 reviewed all acquired flight lines to ensure complete coverage and positional accuracy of the laser points. These rasters were also used to create an initial product in Quick Look Coverage Maps. These Quick Look files are not fully processed data or final products but provide rapid assessment of approximate coverage and depth penetration. Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 2 NV5 resolved kinematic corrections for the aircraft Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data using static GPS data from Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) utilizing the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) for precise positioning. This data was used to correct the continuous on board measurements of the aircraft position recorded throughout the flight. When GNSS was not utilized, kinematic corrections for aircraft position data were corrected using aircraft GNSS and Novatel's proprietary PPP-AR solution. Smoothed best estimate trajectories (SBET) were developed incorporating post-processed aircraft positionings with IMU and when present, gyrostabilized mount data. Using the SBETs, sensor head position and attitude were then calculated throughout the survey. Trimble Business Center v.3.90, Blue Marble Geographic Calculator 2019, and Inertial Explorer v8.9 were used for final SBET creation. Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 3 Following final SBET creation, NV5 used Leica's Lidar Survey Studio (LSS) to calculate laser point positioning by associating SBET positions to each laser point return time, scan angle, and intensity. LSS was used to derive a synthetic water surface to create a water surface model for refraction correction. Light travels at different speeds in air versus water and its direction of travel or angle is changed or refracted when entering the water column. The refraction tool corrects for this difference by adjusting the depth (distance traveled) and horizontal positioning (change of angle/direction) of the submerged green laser lidar data. All lidar data below water surface models were classified as water column to correct for refraction. Using raster-based QC methods, the output data is verified to ensure the refraction correction operated properly. Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 4 Once all data was refracted by flight line, the lidar data was exported to LAS 1.4 files (point format 6) and delineated into 500 m x 500 m tiles. Data were then further calibrated using StripAlign and TerraMatch. NV5 used custom algorithms in TerraScan to classify the initial ground/bathymetric bottom points. Relative accuracy of overlapping swaths was compared and verified through the use of Delta-Z (DZ) orthos created using NV5's proprietary software Las Product Creator (LPC). Absolute vertical accuracy of the calibrated data was assessed using ground survey data. Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 5 Post automated classification NV5 then performed manual editing to review all classification and improve the final topobathymetric surface. NV5's LasMonkey was used to update LAS header information, including all projection and coordinate reference system information. The final lidar data are in LAS format 1.4 and point data record format 6. The final classification scheme is as follows: 1 - Unclassified 1 - Withheld - Edge clip 1 - Overlap Withheld - Unrefracted green data from Chiroptera sensor 2 - Ground 7 - Withheld -Low noise 18 - Withheld - High noise 22 - Temporal exclusion 40 - Bathymetric bottom or submerged topography 41 - Water surface 42 - Synthetic- Chiroptera synthetic water surface 43 - Submerged feature 45 - Water column 46 - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) 47 - Withheld - Green Laser Submerged Noise 48 - Submerged Temporal Exclusion - submerged features excluded due to temporal changes Organization National Geodetic Survey NGS https://ror.org/02f762h70 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring MD 20910 https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 6 The NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) received files in laz format. The files contain lidar elevation and intensity measurements. The LiDAR data were in NAD83(2011) UTM Zone 18N coordinates and ellipsoid elevations in meters. OCM performed the following processing on the data for Digital Coast storage and provisioning purposes: 1. Converted from UTM Zone 19 to geographic coordinates 2. Sorted by gps time and 3. reclassified point data. The final classification scheme is as follows. 1 - Unclassified 2 - Ground 7 - Low Noise 18 - High Noise 22 - Temporal Exclusion 40 - Bathymetric Point 41 - Water Surface 42 - Derived Water Surface 43 - Submerged Object 45 - Water Column 46- Submerged Vegetation 48 - Submerged Temporal Exclusion 2026-05-15T00:00:00 Organization NOAA Office for Coastal Management NOAA/OCM coastal.info@noaa.gov 2234 South Hobson Ave Charleston SC 29405-2413 (843) 740-1202 https://coast.noaa.gov NOAA Office for Coastal Management Home Page Online Resource 80157 Data Set Cross Reference gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:80155 Maryellen Sault 2026-07-08T16:50:21 Blake Waring 2026-09-17T10:50:45 2026-08-19 National Geodetic Survey NGS 1002 Public No No 2022-04-11 3 Years 2025-04-11