Dewberry Performing Topobathymetric Mapping and Analysis of Big Bend, Florida

Dewberry01.27.2023

Firm’s topobathymetric lidar and concurrent imagery collection and processing to be done as part of greater NOAA shoreline mapping project.

Fairfax, VA—January 26, 2023 Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, has announced that it was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Remote Sensing Division (RSD) Coastal Mapping Program (CMP) to collect airborne topobathymetric lidar and imagery offshore from the Big Bend region of Florida. The project was mapped using Dewberry’s CZMIL SuperNova sensor, allowing bottom returns in deeper offshore areas and high-resolution data to benefit a greater number of end-users. The acquisition and interpretation of this data will contribute to NOAA’s larger shoreline mapping initiative and will serve to update and improve the accuracy of inundation modeling along the west coast of Florida.

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Project boundary shown in yellow with a coverage raster mosaic for the full area as well as two insets that provide a close-up view of sample areas in the north and south regions of the project. A coverage raster mosaic is a DEM created from quickly processed uncalibrated data and displaying the lowest elevations of the point cloud, which are used to provide a quick look to help determine the extent of bathymetric bottom returns from the topobathymetric lidar. Image courtesy of Dewberry.

The topobathymetric lidar acquisition for this project was completed in December 2022 and preliminary results are showing substantial coverage of bathymetric bottom returns throughout the entire project area, approximately 1,375 square miles, and beyond the project extents. These data are currently being processed and prepped for delivery to NOAA in the first half of 2023.

Funding for this project is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which provides funding to improve infrastructure across the U.S., including an emphasis on the climate crisis and advancing environmental justice. Significant portions of the funding for this effort come from various allocations, including:

  • Improving NOAA’s coastal and inland flood mapping, forecasting, and water modeling,
  • Providing funding and technical assistance to restore marine, estuarine, and Great Lakes ecosystems, and to help prevent flood damage in coastal communities, and
  • Supporting coastal resilience and restoration through National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund grants.

“In an effort to support NOAA’s goal of keeping the public informed of the changing environment, we’re excited to provide critical lidar data to the NOAA NGS RSD as part of its CMP,” says Dewberry Project Manager Emily Klipp. “By using our CZMIL SuperNova sensor, we’re able to continue and enhance an ongoing partnership with NOAA that provides them with this important data.”

About Dewberry

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing firm with a proven history of providing professional services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clients’ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 50 locations and 2,000+ professionals nationwide. To learn more, visit www.dewberry.com.

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