The need for geospatial data has never been more urgent, and national and local governments are a key part in capturing that information. Hear from leaders at the Federal level about their efforts to collect valuable geographic data for the public.

Session moderated by Amar Nayegandhi, Dewberry

The USGS 3D National Topographic Model

The first generation of 3DEP will provide an essential national baseline of consistent, high-quality data that will continue to grow in value as it is used for comparison with new data collected over time. With 3DEP-quality data available or in progress for about 84 percent of the Nation as of the end of Fiscal Year 2021, we are looking towards our future vision for topographic mapping and science at the USGS. USGS is developing the 3D National Topography Model (3DNTM), the terrestrial component of the 3D Nation vision that we share with NOAA for delivering a continuous information surface from the depths of our oceans to the peaks of our mountains. The 3DNTM includes the next generations of the 3D Elevation Program and National Hydrography Datasets. The USGS is drawing on the 3D Nation Study and our experience with managing the 3DEP baseline to design the next generation program to provide increased QLs and refresh rates with more flexibility to meet changing user needs.

Vicki Lukas, USGS

Canadian National Elevation Data Strategy: Status, Advances and Experiences from 5 Years of Mapping Canada with Lidar

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is implementing the Canadian National Elevation Data Strategy, which aims to increase the coverage of accurate, detailed and up-to-date elevation data across Canada. The main pillars of the strategy consist in the acquisition of airborne lidar data, the dissemination of high-resolution elevation products and the standardization of lidaracquisitions across the country, all to better address government priorities. Among those priorities, NRCan is coordinating and managing topographic and topo-bathymetric Lidar acquisitions across the country in support of the new Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (FHIMP). In partnership with provincial and territorial governments, the FHIMP aims to complete flood hazard maps of higher risk areas in Canada and make flood hazard information more accessible. Through this program as well as through previous federal government initiatives, NRCan has built an experience by managing or being involved in dozens of airborne Lidar acquisition contracts across the country, in a broad range of geographical contexts and with varying acquisition parameters.

The first part of the presentation aims to provide an overview of the strategy's main activities and an introduction to the FHIMP. The second part aims to share NRCan's experience in lidar acquisition contracts throughout Canada during the last 5 years in hopes that the lidar community can benefit from it, and optimize future acquisitions in the country.

Charles Papasodoro, Natural Resources Canada