This is a seamless bare earth digital elevation model (DEM) created from lidar terrain elevation data for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It represents the elevation of the surface with vegetation and structures removed. The spatial resolution of the map is 1 meter. The elevation of each 1-meter square cell was linearly interpolated from classified lidar-derived point data.This version of the DEM stores the elevation values as integers. The native VALUE field represents the elevation above/below sea level in meters. MassGIS added a FEET field to the VAT (value attribute table) to store the elevation in feet as calculated by multiplying VALUE x 3.28084.Dates of lidar data used in this DEM range from 2010-2015. The overlapping lidar projects were adjusted to the same projection and datum and then mosaicked, with the most recent data replacing any older data. Several very small gaps between the project areas were patched with older lidar data where necessary or with models from recent aerial photo acquisitions. See https://www.mass.gov/doc/lidar-project-areas-original/download for an index map.This DEM is referenced to the WGS_1984_Web_Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere spatial reference.See the MassGIS datalayer page to download the data as a file geodatabase raster dataset.View this service in the Massachusetts Elevation Finder.

These data consist of ground surface elevations derived from source lidar measurements collected in April and August 2022 in the vicinity of Petersham, MA during the SMAPVEX19-22 campaign. This location was chosen due to its forested land cover, as SMAPVEX19-22 aims to validate satellite derived soil moisture estimates in forested areas. The two acquisition periods occurred to characterize differences during "leaf-on" and "leaf-off" conditions.

This tile layer from MassGIS displays elevation and shaded relief imagery derived from 2013-2021 lidar data for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The elevation data is symbolized with a custom color ramp. The shaded relief data is symbolized with the sunlight shining from the northwest (315 degrees) at a sun angle of 45 degrees. The two image datasets are displayed using a blending mode as mapped in ArcGIS Pro software.Data for the eastern and central areas of the mainland was captured in 2021, Nantucket from 2018, and the western part of the state from 2013 and 2014. The tile service will display at scale levels 7 (1:4.6M) to 19 (1:1128).For more information and links to data downloads, see MassGIS' Lidar Terrain Data page.

This map service from MassGIS displays the Lidar (2013-2021) DEM Mosaic Index with download URLs. The Best Quality Lidar layer is symbolized by year and quality level.This layer is used in the Lidar 2013-2021 DEM Mosaic Index app.

Elevation maps (also known as Digital Elevation Models or DEMs) of Cape Cod National Seashore were produced from remotely-sensed, geographically-referenced elevation measurements in cooperation with NASA and NPS. Point data in ascii text files were interpolated in a GIS to create a grid or digital elevation model (DEM) of each beach surface. Elevation measurements were collected in Massachusetts, over Cape Cod National Seashore using the NASA Experimental Advanced Airborne Research LiDAR (EAARL), a pulsed laser ranging system mounted onboard an aircraft to measure ground elevation and coastal topography. The system uses high frequency laser beams directed at the earth's surface through an opening in the bottom of the aircraft's fuselage. The laser system records the time difference between emission of the laser beam and the reception of the reflected laser signal in the aircraft. The plane travels over the beach at approximately 60 meters per second while surveying from the low-water line to the landward base of the sand dunes. The EAARL, developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) located at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, measures ground elevation with a vertical resolution of 15 centimeters. A sampling rate of 3 kHz or higher results in an extremely dense spatial elevation data set. Over 100 kilometers of coastline can be easily surveyed within a 3- to 4-hour mission time period. The ability to sample large areas rapidly and accurately is especially useful in morphologically dynamic areas such as barrier beaches. Quick assessment of topographic change can be made following storms comparing measurements against baseline data. When subsequent elevation maps for an area are analyzed, they provide a useful tool to make management decisions regarding coastal development. For more information on Lidar science and the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL) system and surveys, see http://ngom.usgs.gov/dsp/overview/index.php and http://ngom.usgs.gov/dsp/tech/eaarl/index.php .

This data release of dune metrics for the Massachusetts coast is part of a 2018 update to the Massachusetts Shoreline Change Project. Because of continued coastal population growth and the increased threat of coastal erosion, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. Maps of historic shoreline locations from the mid-1800s to 1978 were produced from multiple data sources, and in 2001, a 1994 shoreline was added to enable the calculation of long- and short-term shoreline change rates. In 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with CZM, delineated an additional oceanfront shoreline using 2007 topographic lidar data and 2008–9 color aerial orthoimagery. Further cooperation between CZM and the USGS resulted in this 2018 update, intended to increase the understanding of coastal erosion and to support coastal management decision making. This update includes beach shorelines, marsh shorelines, and dune metrics, all of which were derived from topographic lidar data. This data release, which is part of the 2018 update, defines the position and elevation of the most seaward dune crest and toe along the Massachusetts coast as derived from 2013–14 lidar data. In the absence of a dune, the peak of the berm or the seaward edge of a bluff, headland, or hard structure (for example, a seawall, road, or parking lot) was chosen as a proxy for the dune crest. Where possible, the dune toe was placed at the base of the proxy feature.

The Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX) has performed a coastal survey along the Atlantic coast of MA in 2011. The data types collected include bathymetry and topographic lidar point data, true color imagery and hyperspectral imagery. The collection effort follows the coastline and extends 500m inland and 1000m offshore or to laser extinction, whichever comes first. Topographic lidar is collected with 200% coverage, yielding a nominal 1m x 1m post-spacing. Where water conditions permit, the bathymetry lidar data will have a nominal post spacing of 4m x 4m. The true color imagery will have a pixel size approximately 35cm and the hyperspectral imagery will be provided in 1m pixels containing 36 bands between 375 - 1050 nm with 19 nm bandwidth. The final data will be tied to horizontal positions, provided in decimal degrees of latitude and longitude, and are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). Vertical positions are referenced to the NAD83 ellipsoid and provided in meters. The National Geodetic Survey's (NGS) GEOID03 model is used to transform the vertical positions from ellipsoid to orthometric heights referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).

Elevation from LiDAR data for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, symbolized with a custom color ramp and served as a cached tile layer from MassGIS' ArcGIS Online account.

This tile service, hosted by MassGIS, features Lidar-derived elevation and shaded relief for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The service uses statewide versions of the digital elevation model and shaded relief from the Lidar DEM and Shaded Relief imagery.MassGIS created the tile service in ArcGIS Pro, using the "Multiply" Darkening blending mode to "burn in" the shaded relief to the elevation layer. The elevation layer is symbolized with a custom color ramp. The shaded relief is displayed with 45% transparency.View the data along with an elevation image service in the Massachusetts Elevation Finder.

These data are the lidar points collected for FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) for the Merrimack River Watershed. This area falls in portions of Hillsborough, Belknap, Merrimack, Rockingham and Strafford counties in New Hampshire and portions of Essex, Middlesex and Worcester counties in Massachusetts. Using a Leica ALS60 LiDAR system, a total of 268 flight lines of hig...

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the Massachusetts coast. Seventy-six maps were produced in 1997 depicting a statistical analysis of shoreline change on ocean-facing shorelines from the mid-1800s to 1978 using multiple data sources. In 2001, a 1994 shoreline was added. More recently, in cooperation with CZM, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) delineated a new shoreline for Massachusetts using color aerial ortho-imagery from 2008 to 2009 and topographic lidar data collected in 2007. This update included a marsh shoreline, which was defined to be the tonal difference between low- and high-marsh seen in ortho-photos. Further cooperation between CZM and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has resulted in another update in 2018, which includes beach shorelines, marsh shorelines and dune parameters, all of which were calculated from 2013-14 topographic lidar data. This metadata file describes the marsh shoreline that is part of the 2018 update. The marsh shoreline was defined to be the steep slope found at the seaward edge of the marsh vegetation. This definition was used because the marsh edge is the preferred shoreline indicator for computing rates of change and making position forecasts.

description: The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC contracted with Sanborn to provide LiDAR mapping services for the Boston area. Utilizing multi-return systems, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data in the form of 3-dimensional positions of a dense set of mass points was collected for approximately 90 square miles. All systems consist of geodetic GPS positioning, orientation derived from high-end inertial sensors and high-accurate lasers. The sensor is attached to the aircraft's underside and emits rapid pulses of light that are used to determine distances between the plane and terrain below. Specifically, the Leica ALS-50 LiDAR system was used to collect data for the survey campaign. The LiDAR system is calibrated by conducting flight passes over a known ground surface before and after each LiDAR mission. During final data processing, the calibration parameters are inserted into post-processing software. Lidar Acquisition Parameters: Instrument: Leica ALS50 Flight Altitude: near 1500m AGL Airspeed: near 120 Knots Scan Frequency: 46 Hertz Pulse Rate: 74,400 Hertz Scan Width Half Angle: 25 Degrees Sidelap: 30 percent This Lidar survey achieved a point spacing of 1.0 meter.; abstract: The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC contracted with Sanborn to provide LiDAR mapping services for the Boston area. Utilizing multi-return systems, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data in the form of 3-dimensional positions of a dense set of mass points was collected for approximately 90 square miles. All systems consist of geodetic GPS positioning, orientation derived from high-end inertial sensors and high-accurate lasers. The sensor is attached to the aircraft's underside and emits rapid pulses of light that are used to determine distances between the plane and terrain below. Specifically, the Leica ALS-50 LiDAR system was used to collect data for the survey campaign. The LiDAR system is calibrated by conducting flight passes over a known ground surface before and after each LiDAR mission. During final data processing, the calibration parameters are inserted into post-processing software. Lidar Acquisition Parameters: Instrument: Leica ALS50 Flight Altitude: near 1500m AGL Airspeed: near 120 Knots Scan Frequency: 46 Hertz Pulse Rate: 74,400 Hertz Scan Width Half Angle: 25 Degrees Sidelap: 30 percent This Lidar survey achieved a point spacing of 1.0 meter.

This map includes shoreline change data for the state of Massachusetts hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.The active data layer in this map is Massachusetts Shoreline Change Transect (1970-2014) with short-term shoreline change rates. To view long-term rates, open map in Map Viewer to turn on layer.The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. The shoreline position and change rate are used to inform management decisions regarding the erosion of coastal resources. In 2001, a shoreline from 1994 was added to calculate both long- and short-term shoreline change rates along ocean-facing sections of the Massachusetts coast. In 2013, two oceanfront shorelines for Massachusetts were added using 2008-9 color aerial orthoimagery and 2007 topographic lidar datasets obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center. In 2018 two new mean high water (MHW) shorelines for Massachusetts were extracted from lidar collected between 2010 and 2014 (described below). 2018 addition shoreline 1The North Shore and South Coast uses 2010 lidar data collected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise. The South Shore and Outer Cape uses 2011 lidar data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Geospatial Program Office. Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard uses 2012 lidar data collected by the USACE (post Sandy)from a 2012 USACE Post Sandy Topographic lidar survey. 2018 addition shoreline 2The North Shore, Boston, South Shore, Cape Cod Bay, Outer Cape, South Cape, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and the South Coast (around Buzzards Bay to the Rhode Island Border) is from 2013-14 lidar data collected by the (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program. This 2018 update of the rate of shoreline change in Massachusetts includes two types of rates. Some of the rates include a proxy-datum bias correction, this is indicated in the filename with “PDB”. The rates that do not account for this correction have “NB” in their file names. The proxy-datum bias is applied because in some areas a proxy shoreline (like a High Water Line shoreline) has a bias when compared to a datum shoreline (like a Mean High Water shoreline). In areas where it exists, this bias should be accounted for when calculating rates using a mix of proxy and datum shorelines. This issue is explained further in Ruggiero and List (2009) and in the process steps of the metadata associated with the rates. This release includes both long-term (~150 years) and short term (~30 years) rates. Files associated with the long-term rates have “LT” in their names, files associated with short-term rates have “ST” in their names.

Spectrum Mapping was tasked by ENSR International (now a subsidiary of AECOM Technology Corporation) to collect LIDAR data and digital ortho imagery to generate breaklines and a bare earth DEM to support 2-foot contour intervals in accordance with FEMA Appendix A. The project area for Connecticut River floodplain was approximately 143 square miles in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The Spectrum aircraft was equipped with the RAMS system, including a 26 Khz Laser, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a dual frequency GPS receiver and antenna. The RAMS sensor system also includes a RAMS 4K X 4K color digital camera mounted to the LIDAR unit.

description: Due to continued coastal population growth and increased threats of erosion, current data on trends and rates of shoreline movement are required to inform shoreline and floodplain management. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. In 2001, a 1994 shoreline was added to calculate both long- and short-term shoreline change rates at 40-meter intervals along ocean-facing sections of the Massachusetts coast. The Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, has compiled reliable historical shoreline data along open-facing sections of the Massachusetts coast under the Massachusetts Shoreline Change Mapping and Analysis Project 2013 Update. Two oceanfront shorelines for Massachusetts (approximately 1,800 km in total length) were (1) delineated using 2008/09 color aerial orthoimagery, and (2) extracted from topographic LIDAR datasets (2007) obtained from NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center. The new shorelines were integrated with existing Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and USGS historical shoreline data in order to compute long- and short-term rates using the latest version of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS).; abstract: Due to continued coastal population growth and increased threats of erosion, current data on trends and rates of shoreline movement are required to inform shoreline and floodplain management. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management launched the Shoreline Change Project in 1989 to identify erosion-prone areas of the coast. In 2001, a 1994 shoreline was added to calculate both long- and short-term shoreline change rates at 40-meter intervals along ocean-facing sections of the Massachusetts coast. The Coastal and Marine Geology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, has compiled reliable historical shoreline data along open-facing sections of the Massachusetts coast under the Massachusetts Shoreline Change Mapping and Analysis Project 2013 Update. Two oceanfront shorelines for Massachusetts (approximately 1,800 km in total length) were (1) delineated using 2008/09 color aerial orthoimagery, and (2) extracted from topographic LIDAR datasets (2007) obtained from NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center. The new shorelines were integrated with existing Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and USGS historical shoreline data in order to compute long- and short-term rates using the latest version of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS).

The Massachusetts Statewide LiDAR from 2005 has been classified to show high elevations in Central and Western Massachusetts. The Digital Elevation Model has been classified as follows:Elevations below 1,700 feet are light blueElevations between 1,700 and 2,199 feet are light greenElevations between 2,200 and 3,000 feet are brownElevations greater than 3,000 feet are white. To view the full Massachusetts Forest Action Plan, click here. *For source data information, please see credits.

LIDAR Products dataset current as of 2005. Mass Points from 2004/2005 Terrain Mapping Project.

These data are qualitatively derived interpretive polygon shapefiles and selected source raster data defining surficial geology, sediment type and distribution, and physiographic zones of the sea floor from Nahant to Northern Cape Cod Bay. Much of the geophysical data used to create the interpretive layers were collected under a cooperative agreement among the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Coastal and Marine Geology Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Initiated in 2003, the primary objective of this program is to develop regional geologic framework information for the management of coastal and marine resources. Accurate data and maps of seafloor geology are important first steps toward protecting fish habitat, delineating marine resources, and assessing environmental changes because of natural or human effects. The project is focused on the inshore waters of coastal Massachusetts. Data collected during the mapping cooperative involving the USGS have been released in a series of USGS Open-File Reports (http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/html/current_map.html). The interpretations released in this study are for an area extending from the southern tip of Nahant to Northern Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. A combination of geophysical and sample data including high resolution bathymetry and lidar, acoustic-backscatter intensity, seismic-reflection profiles, bottom photographs, and sediment samples are used to create the data interpretations. Most of the nearshore geophysical and sample data (including the bottom photographs) were collected during several cruises between 2000 and 2008. More information about the cruises and the data collected can be found at the Geologic Mapping of the Seafloor Offshore of Massachusetts Web page: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/.

These data are the lidar points collected for FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) for the Nashua River Watershed. This area falls in portions of Hillsborough County in New Hampshire and portions of Middlesex and Worcester counties in Massachusetts. Using a Leica ALS60 LiDAR system, a total of 35 flight lines of high density (Nominal Pulse Spacing of 2.0 m) were collected over...

Topographic basemap of Dedham, Massachusetts. Contours in this basemap where generated from a LiDAR based digital elevation model (DEM) with hydro enforced break lines. The LiDAR data collected as part of the 2013-14 New England CMGP SANDY LiDAR collection. Data over Dedham, MA was collected December 8th, 2013 and April 7th, 2014. The DEM was preprocessed using Esri Focal Statistics tool to generated smoother contours.Update Frequency: As NeededLast Update: 8/26/2015Additional metadata: GIS Data Dictionary