New NWFWMD Website Provides Detailed and Accurate Elevation Data

New NWFWMD Website Provides Detailed and Accurate Elevation Data

HAVANA — The Northwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a website that will make it easier to find detailed information about elevation and surface features of properties in northwest Florida. The new site provides elevation data that is ten times more detailed than previous topographic maps — an important tool for many of the District’s water resource management and flood protection functions. Residents and technical experts can also use this data to better understand, assess and plan for activities ranging from landscaping and building construction to evaluating flood risk.

“Collecting and compiling the most accurate and up-to-date data is a vital part of protecting and managing the water resources of northwest Florida,” said District Executive Director Jon Steverson. “By making this information publicly available, we’re ensuring that our residents and communities have the tools they need to make informed decisions about land use and potential flood risks.”

The District partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Air Force and local communities to acquire detailed elevation data across the panhandle using LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology. LiDAR equipment mounted on airplanes sends out laser light pulses at high frequencies and measures elevation from the return beams.

The new information has been compiled into a web mapping application that makes it easy to access in a variety of formats and for specific geographic areas. Website visitors will be able to see contour elevations for specific areas, such as land around homes or businesses. Users can also click any point on the map to see elevation information for that specific location.

“This information is a valuable tool for many of the District’s water resource projects, including managing and protecting wetlands, flood plains and other water resources,” said Nick Wooten, Chief of the District’s Bureau of Surface Water. “We will use this data as we continue to refine and improve floodplain mapping and water management throughout the district.”

The website’s colored relief display helps users to visualize topography by using imagery that illustrates small changes in land elevation with colorized views of the land surface. It also offers a “clip-zip-ship” function that allows users to select, extract, zip and export data for areas of interest into a downloadable file. 

The new website is available at http://www.nwfwmdlidar.com/

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments