Top: A representative image of a lidar source point cloud. The data were collected by an airborne lidar instrument over Cannon Beach, Oregon, in 2008-2009. The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) acquired the data in partnership with multiple other organizations. When the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is fully realized, similar high-resolution lidar (light detection and ranging) data will be available for the entire conterminous United States and Hawaii. They will support many applications, including flood risk management, hazard mitigation, and natural resource management. The colors in this point cloud indicate elevation, from low (blue) to high (red). Bottom: Examples of top-down views of a suite of derivative products that all were generated from the above lidar point cloud by the U.S. Geological Survey. North is at the top of the page. A, Hillshade (shaded-relief) model, which is used for visualizing the terrain. B, Digital elevation model (bare-earth DEM), which is used for general topographic analysis and mapping. Lower areas are shown as green, and higher areas are shown as brown. The brown area at left is a feature called Haystack Rock. The DEM and hillshade model are both derived from the lidar classified point cloud by filtering points and interpolating between points. C, Slope (bare-earth) model, showing the vertical change from one bare-earth elevation cell to its neighbor. Steep slopes are shown as red, and flat areas are shown as green. D, Laser-intensity model, showing the strength of the laser signal returned from a lidar pulse. Laser-intensity models allow compilation of breaklines, such as ridges and shorelines. The curving line represents a road. E, Height-above-ground model, showing the vertical difference between the highest nonground return and the ground return. Tree-canopy heights and building footprints and their associated heights can easily be extracted from this derivative. The dark-blue line represents an area of no trees, where a powerline has been cut through.

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) utilizes light detection and ranging (lidar) and enabling technologies to support many science research activities. Lidar-derived metrics and products have become a fundamental input to complex hydrologic and hydraulic models, flood inundation models, fault detection and geologic mapping, topographic and land-surface mapping, landslide and volcano hazards mapping and monitoring, forest canopy and habitat characterization, coastal and fluvial erosion mapping, and a host of other research and operational activities. This report documents the types of lidar being used by the USGS, discusses how lidar technology facilitates the achievement of individual mission area goals within the USGS, and offers recommendations and suggested changes in direction in terms of how a mission area could direct work using lidar as it relates to the mission area goals that have already been established.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we saw pictures of the coastal devastation that reduced neighborhoods to rubble. We heard stories of brave firemen, policemen, neighbors, and other rescuers who helped frightened residents flee rising waters and burning buildings. People who could not help personally gave through the Red Cross. Certainly, this was a national tragedy that brought out the best in people. My personal heroes of Hurricane Sandy include the men and women of the USGS who worked tirelessly in the days ahead of the storm's landfall and, as the floodwaters retreated, continued to create and issue predictions of coastal impacts, deploy scientific instrumentation, and collect ephemeral data documenting the storm's impact. These efforts give us hope that our preparation for and response to the next superstorm will reduce the death toll, decrease the economic impact, and mitigate the loss of natural resources.

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprodTo order this and other USGS information products, visit