LiDAR: A Multi-Application Management Tool

The amount of information contained within LiDAR is enormous as to its potential. Applications and management objectives that a single LiDAR dataset can address span everything from natural resources to fire research to archaeology. This presentation will discuss the LiDAR acquired for Mammoth Cave National Park, initial processing methods and derived products (to date). Different algorithms were deployed depending on the intent of the management objective. Natural Resources wanted to expand their polygon vegetation dataset, creating a 3-D vegetation map. Fire Management wanted to quantify the fuel loading across the park; therefore a baseline fuels map was developed. Cultural Resources wanted to identify areas with potential historic anthropogenic remnants; therefore an extensive Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was developed. When one dataset was discussed and developed, more questions were asked of the data. Tools, models, and algorithms exist, facilitating one LiDAR dataset to meet multiple management objectives