Potomac River Topobathymetric Lidar Validation Survey Data

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists completed a multidisciplinary data collection effort during the week of October 21-25, 2019, using new technologies to map and validate bathymetry over a large stretch of the non-tidal Potomac River. The work was initiated as an effort to validate commercially-acquired topobathymetric light detection and ranging (lidar) data funded through a partnership between the USGS and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). The goal was to compare airborne lidar data to bathymetric data collected through more traditional means (boat-based sonar, wading Real Time Kinematic Global Navigational Satellite System (RTK-GNSS) surveys) and through unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In addition to accurately measuring river bottom elevations with GNSS and sonar, remote sensing imagery was collected with optical, multispectral, thermal, and ground-based lidar (GBL) sensors to test new technologies. The bathymetric lidar data, once delivered, will be used for hydrodynamic and water supply risk modeling, aquatic habitat assessments, and to test inland bathymetry mapping capabilities for inclusion in the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The data contained within this particular release are comprised of conventional survey (i.e. total station and GNSS) and GBL data.