Tier 2 QL 1 lidar collection for the eastern portion of indianaperiod of performance: 09 15 2025 - 09 29 2028ABSTRACT summary: the purpose of this project is to acquire new quality level 1 (QL1) lidar…

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants awarded a $2.36 million cooperative agreement to the Indiana Office of Technology under the National Geospatial Program: Building The National Map (CFDA 15.817) on September 15, 2025. This three-year project, extending through September 29, 2028, will acquire Quality Level 1 (QL1) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data covering 33 eastern Indiana counties comprising approximately 11,787 square miles. The deliverables include 2-foot hydro-flattened bare earth Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), 2-foot resolution intensity imagery in cloud-optimized GeoTIFF format, classified full point cloud data with ground returns and overlap point identification, and comprehensive vertical and horizontal project control and quality assurance reports. All datasets will be delivered in Indiana State Plane Coordinate System and will conform to 3D National Elevation Program (3DEP) specifications.

This project represents the second phase of Indiana's rotating four-year statewide LiDAR acquisition program, updating the 2017-2018 Quality Level 2 dataset. The initiative benefits state and local government agencies, including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation, by providing critical geospatial data infrastructure supporting applications in flood risk management, transportation planning, and comprehensive elevation mapping. The award is part of a broader collaborative effort between USGS and state partners to develop and deliver high-quality topographic data integrated into The National Map, a foundational geospatial resource serving federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies as well as the general public.

Intended beneficiaries

Beyond data acquisition, the project benefits the public, state, and local government agenciessuch as the department of natural resources, and the department of transportation through the development of derivative products that, for example, support applications in flood risk management and transportation planning.