Infrastructure Development and Ice Wedge Thermokarst Formation in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska between 1949 and 2019

This dataset documents changes in infrastructure development and associated ice wedge thermokarst formation in Point Lay (Kali), Alaska, between 1949 and 2020. The data include vector-based Geographic Information System (GIS) layers derived from high-resolution remote sensing imagery and historical aerial photographs for three key time points: 1949, 1974, and 2019/20. Infrastructure features (e.g., roads, runways, gravel pads, and buildings) were manually digitized, and the extent of ice wedge thermokarst was mapped using detailed image interpretation techniques at 1:500 scale. The dataset supports spatial analysis of thermokarst expansion in relation to anthropogenic disturbance and surface development. Findings reveal a near tenfold increase in ice wedge thermokarst extent in developed areas between 1974 and 2019, with minimal changes in adjacent undisturbed tundra, underscoring the synergistic impact of infrastructure and climate warming on permafrost degradation. These data provide a valuable baseline for tracking permafrost-related landscape changes and informing adaptation strategies in Arctic communities experiencing thaw-related infrastructure challenges.