Under an active Geospatial Products and Services contract, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has selected Dewberry to complete a statewide lidar mapping project for Florida. The project is funded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and USGS as part of Hurricane Irma Disaster Recovery, Response and Preparedness measures being conducted by the state and federal agencies.
The approximately $20 million project includes airborne lidar data acquisition, ground survey, and preparation of bare earth point cloud and digital elevation model products for various applications to support response, recovery, and preparation for future storm events. The resulting quality level 1 data will be primarily used for hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and many engineering applications by the water management districts to mitigate the impacts of flooding caused by these storms. USGS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also utilize these data for various flood studies. The project encompasses an area of more than 34,000 square miles.
Dewberry has acquired and processed nearly 22,000 square miles of lidar data for various local, state, and federal agencies in Florida within the past three years. The company will serve as prime contractor for this project and will perform the majority of the data production. Dewberry is also teaming with seven other partner firms including Woolpert Inc., Quantum Spatial Inc., and Digital Aerial Solutions, Inc, which will acquire and process data to support the project. Other subcontractors will be tasked with acquiring airborne lidar data.
Dewberry has 11 aircraft with airborne lidar sensors being deployed for data acquisition starting in early December. Data collection is expected to be completed by March 2018, with deliverables beginning September 2019.
Dewberry Vice President and Director of Remote Sensing Amar Nayegandhi said once these data are acquired and analyzed, they will be able to support USGS, FEMA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Florida water management districts, and several other state and local agencies to prepare for natural disasters and minimize loss of life and property.
In May this year, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) selected Dewberry to collect and process lidar topographic mapping data at a minimum of eight points per square meter for Pasco County, Florida.
Under the terms of the SWFWMD contract, the firm is providing geospatial technology services that will deliver products to assess, monitor, analyze, and manage water quality, water distribution, and flood control, and support future needs for the county. Additionally, Dewberry is collecting ground control data, creating digital elevation models, and delineating building footprints and impervious features to support SWFWMD and Pasco County.
Prior to this, in January 2018, Leon Board of County Commissioners contracted Dewberry to provide aerial photography, survey control, aerotriangulation, and planimetric and topographic mapping services using advanced airborne lidar technology. These materials and services are updating the existing systems’ approximate 780-square-mile land base of the Tallahassee-Leon County Geographic Information Systems joint project in North Florida.
