Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies: Pre- and Post-Storm 3D Topography

In a cooperative research program, the USGS, NASA and the US Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) are using airborne laser mapping systems to survey coastal
areas before and after hurricanes. As the aircraft flies along the coast, a
laser altimeter (lidar) scans a several hundred meter wide swath of the earth's
surface acquiring an estimate of ground elevation approximately every square
meter. The elevation data from different flights can be compared to determine
the patterns and magnitudes of coastal change (erosion, overwash, etc.) and the
loss (or gain) of buildings and infrastructure. Results come from two lidar
systems, the USACE's Compact Hydrographic Airborne Rapid Total Survey (CHARTS)
and NASA's Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL).

[Summary provided by the USGS.]