Integrated Topography and Bathymetry for the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Description NOTICE (Jan. 3, 2024): Elevation data derived from LiDAR is not properly scaled for upland areas. Elevation should be multiplied by 3.028 to get the proper elevation. We are working on a fix. This does not apply to the bathymetric data that was not LiDAR-derived. This dataset integrates elevation and bathymetry data from multiple sources into a single mostly-seamless digital elevation model (DEM) that covers the entire Eastern Shore of Virginia and its surrounding coastal waters. Data sources include airborn LiDAR, VCRLTER and ODU bathymetric surveys, NOAA navigational data, NOS oceanographic surveys, USGS NED data plus contours and features from topo quad maps, and VGIN-VBMP aerial imagery. Proposed uses for the dataset include deriving detailed watershed boundaries, hypsometric curves, tidal prisms, 3-D physical models, and input for numerical hydrodynamic simulation models. The version 2.0 DEM (August 2014) is suitable for both local- and regional-scale analyses. It has a resolution matched to the LiDAR data (3.048 m. or 10 ft.), resulting in 31,152 x 46,002 cells (5.4 Gigabyte in ESRI GRID format). Users can aggregate to coarser cell resolutions as needed. The data is projected in UTM Zone 18 North coordinates relative to the WGS84 horizontal datum. All elevations are in meters relative to the NAVD88 vertical datum. Spatially modelled conversion factors between NAVD88 and local sea level datums (MSL, MLW, MHW, etc.) based on NOAA VDATUM data are available as a separate dataset (VCR13215). See "METHODS" for full details on data sources and integration methodologies.