Improved coastal mapping
The Office of Climate Change’s Improved Coastal Mapping Project will help identify vulnerable areas of the Queensland coast and visualise the impacts of climate change.
As part of the project, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), was used to create a detailed Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Queensland coastline. LiDAR will be supplemented with bathymetry (the study and mapping of seafloor topography), aerial imagery and tidal data, which will all be available online.
Improved coastal mapping LiDAR coverage and schedule
LIDAR has been used to create a detailed digital elevation model of the Queensland coastline.
DEM data has been obtained for the majority of the Queensland coast. Collection of the DEM data from LiDAR over coastal areas is scheduled for completion in 2010–2011. A detailed map shows the status of LiDAR collection in Queensland (PDF, 2.3M, last updated 01:49PM, 6 June 2011)*. There are three categories of availability:
- LiDAR available for purchase
- LiDAR for use by government and natural resource management only until further notice
- LiDAR incomplete
For information on the availability of LiDAR data or to purchase LiDAR data please contact Spatial Information – Product Delivery unit within the Department of Environment and Resource Management at productdelivery@derm.qld.gov.au
How are LiDAR and DEM data collected?
An example of a DEM of Brisbane, south of the CBD created from the LiDAR data. The colours relate to the elevation, with blue being the lowest and red being the highest.
LiDAR uses ultraviolet, visible, or near infrared light to image objects on the ground. Lasers carried on aircrafts are fired downward and the return pulses are collected in high-speed data recorders.
By comparing the transmitted and reflected pulses, and allowing for aircraft altitude, speed and position, the elevation of the ground below can be derived with considerable accuracy.
LiDAR produces a large, raw dataset that can be converted to an ordered set of points. This processing can produce a surface known as a DEM.
Each of the LiDAR data points are classified into different features such as ground, vegetation and infrastructure. The base data is stored in a common format used by industry.
The Improved Coastal Mapping Project will acquire 60,000 square kilometres of LIDAR data.
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Last updated 22 June 2011