AR 05-04
Development of a LIDAR Derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) as Input
to a METRANS Geographic Information System (GIS)
Suzanne Wechsler
California State University, Long Beach
Department of Geography
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840
Tel: (562) 985-2356
Fax: (562) 985-8993
Email: wechsler@csulb.edu
Project Objectives:
The purpose of this project is to obtain, process, and
develop a high resolution highly accurate elevation data set of the Port complex
using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. The applicability of
the data set for feature extraction and GIS functionality will be demonstrated
for a subset of the Port area. The data acquired, processed and presented through
this project will provide a foundation that will directly contribute to an
understanding of goods movement and trade transportation problems confronted
by metropolitan areas.
The proposal focuses on the acquisition and processing of highly accurate
and detailed elevation data to extract both natural and manmade surface features.
A refined GIS that incorporates the data developed under this proposal with
features extracted from remotely sensed imagery would serve as inputs to sophisticated
analyses that can be used, going forward, to monitor and model goods movement
and their associated impacts. These research proposals constitute a “proof
of concept” to demonstrate the value and applicability of these detailed
data layers to address Port-related spatial questions.
Tasks:
1. Literature Review
2. Ground Control Survey
3. LiDAR Acquisition
4. Processing: Interpolation
5. Processing: Feature Extraction
6. Fly-through Visualization
Milestones/Dates:
Draft report due by 5/31/06
Total Budget:
$40,000
Student Involvement:
Student Assistants: 700 hours at $15/hr
Relationship to other research projects:
Related to METRANS AR 05-02, Feature Extraction from High Resolution Satellite
Imagery as an Input to the Development and Rapid Update of a METRANS Geographic
Information System (GIS)
