Partnership to Acquire Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR)

Incorporating Digital Terrain Models Into Natural Resource Assessment

Joe BrennanSoil Scientist (GIS Specialist)USDA-NRCSNorth Dakota Soils Staff

Dr. Rebecca PhillipsPlant PhysiologistUSDA-ARSNorthern Great Plains Research Laboratory

Elevation Technology Background

Digital Elevation Models (DEM) or Digital Terrain Models (DTM)

Series of Coordinates

Elevation Values

Surface Representation

Terrain Model

What is a DEM?

Elevation Technology Background

Existing Technology - USGS Digital Elevation Models

6000 feet

30 meter DEMElevation Coordinates – 100 foot Spacing

Data Widely Available

Variable Elevation Accuracy – 5 -15 meter

Available FreeVery Limited Potential forResource Assessment

Elevation Technology Background

Existing Technology - USGS Digital Elevation Models

10 meter DEMElevation Coordinates – 33 foot Spacing

20% Coverage in North Dakota

Variable Elevation Accuracy – 5-7 meter

$10 – 20/sq mi

6000 feet

Improved Potential forResource Assessment

Elevation Technology Background

Emerging Technology - LiDAR

1 meter DEMElevation Coordinates – 2.5 foot Spacing

Walsh County, Fargo, Sheyenne R. Floodplain

High Elevation Accuracy – As low as 6 in.

Price $100-600/sq mi.

6000 feet

Limitless Potential forResource Assessment

Elevation Technology Background

Emerging Technology - IFSAR

5 meter DEMElevation Coordinates – 16 foot Spacing

California, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming

High Elevation Accuracy – 1 meter (or less)

Price $11.27/sq mi. (NRCS Price)

6000 feet

Most Cost Effective

Remote Wetland Assessment

Source: SPOT, August 2003

0 300150

Meters

Scale= 1:75,000

Vegetation Zones

Marsh

Transition Zone

Open Water

Anthropogenic

< 30 meters Buffer

Low Prairie / Range

Vegetation Zones

Deep Marsh

Shallow Marsh

Open Water

Anthropogenic

Low Prairie / Range

Wet Meadow

For the purpose of assessing the spatial extent of wetland vegetation communities

Missouri Coteau Prairie Glacial Basins

Remote Wetland AssessmentMissouri Coteau Prairie Glacial Basins

Cities

Rivers

Area of Interest

Missouri Coteau (Ducks Unlimited, 2003)

National Wetlands Inventory (1980’s) http://wetlands.fws.gov/mapcodes.htm

Remote Wetland AssessmentMissouri Coteau Prairie Glacial Basins

20022003

2004

Year-to-Year Variability in Water Persistence

Remote Wetland AssessmentMissouri Coteau Prairie Glacial Basins

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

2002 2003 2004Year

Semi-Permanent

Seasonal

Temporary

Total

Landscape Water Coverage

Remote Wetland AssessmentMissouri Coteau Prairie Glacial Basins

Remote Wetland Assessment

Soil-Landscape ModelingMissouri Coteau, MLRA 53B

Existing Soil Survey Information Expert Knowledge

DEM (IFSAR) Derived LayersSSURGO Experienced Soil Scientists

Terrain Analysis

GIS

Soil-Landscape ModelingMLRA 53B Terrain Analysis Project

Repeatable ModelTerrain Criteria 1

Profile Position = Backslope

Terrain Criteria 3

Slope = 3 – 6%

Terrain Criteria 2

Slope Shape = Linear (Across or Down)

Williams Soil Series3 – 6% Slopes

Soil-Landscape ModelingMLRA 53B Terrain Analysis Project

Output – Soil Landscape Relationship

Williams Soil Series3 – 6% Slopes

NRCS Field Office Applications of IFSAR

Engineering Applications

Pipelines

Grassed Waterways

Dugouts/Ponds

NRCS Field Office Applications of IFSAR

WetlandDeterminations (Landscape Position)

Violations (Constructed Drains)

NRCS Field Office Applications of IFSAR

RUSLE2

Slope Gradient, Slope Length

NRCS Field Office Applications of IFSAR

Watershed Management

3 Dimensional Conservation Planning

Proposal to Acquire IFSAR

x $3.92 per square mile ARS Uplift (+35%)ARS Uplift Area = 1297 square miles

ARS Uplift: $5,123

3892 square milesx $11.27 per square mile

Price Subtotal: $43,863

Vendor Quote

NRCS Cost Share: $24,493

Total Cost: $48,986

______