airbornelasermapping.com

A reference source on an emerging technology

Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

Founded in 1982, the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, university-linked organization fostering scientific research and technology development.

At HARC specialists from education, industry, and government conduct research, develop new models for the efficient transfer of technology to the marketplace, and increase awareness in the social and policy implications of science and technology. The Environmental Information Systems Laboratory (EISL) at HARC uses advanced computer technologies to integrate, visualize, and analyze spatial data for a variety of environmental projects -- from mapping hazardous waste sites to the development of sensors for environmental monitoring. The staff provides three critical areas of expertise: sensor design to detect targets, software development to integrate information systems technologies, and environmental/earth science applications.

EISL, with NASA and industry sponsors, has constructed the Airborne LIDAR Topographic Mapping System (ALTMS) sensor that generates high-resolution topographic maps (1 ft. in elevation and 5 to 10 ft. in x and y). ALTMS is being commercialized for applications such as floodplain mapping, pipeline monitoring, coastal erosion mapping, mineral exploration, and ecosystem characterization.

From the EISL background information:

High resolution terrain data (HRTD) is perhaps the most critical component of many mapping, engineering and/or natural source management projects. Such data is elusive, because of the expense of acquiring it. NASA and FEMA teamed with EISL to design, construct, and commercialize the ALTMS to provide economical, accurate, and timely topographic data. The sensor creates electronic data with accuracy's of 1-1.4 feet. Applications are nearly limitless, but EISL is first in habitat characterization, utilities and pipeline right-of-ways, flood plain assessment and modeling, insurance, forestry, building elevations for telecommunications and site assessments. New optics will allow for larger areas to be assessed at altitudes of 15,000 - 20,000 feet.

The commercialization of this technology is being carried out by Transamerica Real Estate Information Companies (TREIC) which has created a new business unit, TerraPoint LLC, a company combining the business expertise of Transamerica and the technologies of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Goddard Space Flight Center and the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC).