3DEP provides expanded benefits to a range of Federal, State, local, and private industry applications.
Learn about 3DEP's high-resolution topographic data applications throughout the stakeholder community with these geonarratives, news articles, and press releases.
A New Paradigm: The Nature Conservancy
A New Paradigm: The Nature Conservancy
A New Paradigm: The Nature Conservancy
California Lidar: Critical Investment
California Lidar: Critical Investment
California Lidar: Critical Investment
Mendocino Complex Burned Area Emergency Response
Mendocino Complex Burned Area Emergency Response
Mendocino Complex Burned Area Emergency Response
Montana State Lidar
Montana State Lidar
Montana State Lidar
Geology of Aggregates
Geology of Aggregates
Geology of Aggregates
Florida Statewide Lidar
Florida Statewide Lidar
Florida Statewide Lidar
Indiana Indiana Geographic Information Council
Indiana Indiana Geographic Information Council
Indiana Indiana Geographic Information Council
Investing in the Forest Service
Investing in the Forest Service
Investing in the Forest Service
Reno Below the Neon
Reno Below the Neon
Reno Below the Neon
The Bare Earth
The Bare Earth
The Bare Earth
Yellowstone Exposed!
Yellowstone Exposed!
Yellowstone Exposed!
Jump to Sections: News Articles | Press releases
News Articles
Page navigation: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013
2022
2021
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Increased Access to Cloud-hosted 3DEP Datasets - OpenTopography: 2021 Year in Review
- See How the Dixie Fire Created Its Own Weather - The New York Times - Oct 2021
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.See How the Dixie Fire Created It's Own WeatherThe terrain model used in this animation is created with 3D Elevation Data. - National Baseline of High-resolution 3D Data - GW Prime, May 2021
- Stormwater Management with Off-The-Shelf Lidar - Lidar Magazine, January 24, 2021
2020

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
- Multiagency initiative starting work on critical minerals and geothermal energy in Nevada - ThinkGeoEnergy, September 17, 2020
- AEG Firm Woolpert Is Blazing Trails with Exponential LiDAR Applications - Point of Beginning, July 15, 2020
- Positional Accuracy Assessment for NAIP/3DEP Pilot - Lidar News, June 22, 2020
- When to Collect New Lidar? - Lidar Magazine, June 14, 2020
- Indiana has identified the need to have ubiquitous access to statewide 3DEP QL2 topographic lidar data - April 23, 2020
- The Challenges and Joys of Mapping America’s Last Frontier: An interview with Dr. Dave Maune - Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing Journal, April 2020
- Lidar vs. Wildfires in Southern California - xyHt Magazine, April 17, 2020
- Innovative 3-D Elevation Program Has Huge Economic Promise - Diplomatic Courier, April 13, 2020
- Ranking Member Roger Marshall's Opening Statement at Joint Subcommittee Hearing on FEMA Flood Maps - February 27, 2020
2019
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. Visit Media to see details.
- Expanding 3DEP Coverage Coast-to-Coast: The Challenges and Opportunities of Improving Elevation Data in the West - Directions Magazine, Oct 2, 2019
- Tennessee Makes LiDAR Mapping Available, With Instructions - TN Dept of Finance and Administration, September 25, 2019
- Use of LiDAR in Disaster Response - Geospatial World, June 27, 2019
- Case Study: TX Coastal Lidar Mapping in Full Flow - Fugro, June 2019
- USGS 3DEP Data Now Available in Global Mapper - Blue Marble Geographics, May 14, 2019
- How Lidar is Being Used to Help With Natural Disaster Mapping and Management - The Engineering Community, May 10, 2019
- Overcoming Hurdles to Modeling River Bathymetry - Lidar Magazine, May 08, 2019
- Lidar Enlightens the Search for Critical Minerals - Lidar Magazine, May 8, 2019
- Congressman Gonzalez Urges Inclusion of Flood Mapping Reform - Point of Beginning, April 3, 2019
- Lidar in Virginia - Division of Geology and Mineral Resources, State of VA - March 2019
- Testimony of GSA Director Kasey White to U.S.House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations- February 26, 2019
- USGS’ 3DEP lidar data now available to the public - Spar3D, February 15, 2019
- Lawmakers reintroduce bill to protect communities from landslides - American Geosciences Institute, February 14, 2019
- USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud now available as Amazon Public Dataset - Geospatial World, February 8, 2019
- USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Repository Available as an Amazon Public Dataset - GIS Lounge, February 7, 2019
2018
- Revealing our dynamic landscape through new high-resolution topographic data - Nevada Today, December, 18, 2018
- U.S. 3D Elevation Project as a model for a National Infrastructure Map - Between the Poles Blog, September 24, 2018
- Quantum Spatial Supports Multiple LiDAR Data Acquisition Projects - Geodatapoint, August 23, 2018
- 3DEP added a dynamic map service for accessing lidar data on the fly - Spar3D, August 13, 2018
- When Predictions Match Reality: The Power of LiDAR for Flood Warnings - GIS Lounge, January 7, 2018
2017
- The 3D Elevation Program- Landslide Recognition, Hazard Assessment, and Mitigation Support - Lidar News, Sept 11, 2017
- The 3D Elevation Program and America's Infrastructure - Lidar Magazine, Jan. 2017
2016
- These gorgeous new Alaska maps could transform our understanding of the Arctic - Washington Post, Sept. 6, 2016
- Tennessee Agencies Collaborate to Gain Multipurpose Lidar Data - LiDAR Magazine, Vol. 6 No. 7, 2016
- How Is That Done Again? Changing Specifications - Lidar Magazine, Aug 27, 2016
- What's a map worth? The big cost and bigger benefit of three-dimensional elevation data - Earth, Jun 30, 2016
2015
- New Mexico in 3-D - Nov 27, 2015
- Partnership Shows LiDAR's Practical Use, Potential in Oregon - Lidar Magazine, Jul 17, 2015
- LiDAR detection may help save lives in the future - Washington Military Dept, March 13, 2015
2014
- Alaska’s outdated maps make flying a peril, but a high-tech fix is slowly gaining ground - Washington Post, Oct 14, 2014
- 3D Mapping Data’s Future: 8 Examples - Information Week, Aug 19, 2014
- 3DEP Goes to Washington - GISUser, July 22, 2014
- USGS Establishes New 3D Elevation Programme - GIM International, July 18, 2014
- Obama Pushes Climate Resilient Infrastructure Forward - Sustainable Business, July 17, 2014
- Obama launches climate tools including 3-D maps - USA Today, July 17, 2014
- USGS Wants You to Know: What's the Deal with 3DEP? - Directions Mag, July 17, 2014
- Obama to meet with climate task force – Texas town rejects fracking ban - Politico, July 16, 2014
- Obama's day: Climate change and congressional Democrats - USA Today, July 16, 2014
- Obama bulking up local defenses against climate change impact - The Hill, July 16, 2014
- Obama announces funds to prepare country for climate change - MSNBC, July 16, 2014
- President's Climate Resiliency Actions Include Risk-Mapping Tool - NRDC, July 16, 2014
- Government: Now is the Time for the Geospatial Community to Contact Congress in Support of 3DEP - Lidar News, June 2, 2014
- Update on USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) initiative - GISUser, May 14, 2014
- Now is the Time for the Geospatial Community to Contact Congress in Support of 3DEP - Lidar News, April 26, 2014
- MAPPS, NSPS Testify on 3DEP, Land Inventory Before House Appropriations Subcommittee - Spatial News
- US Geological Survey to Lead Ambitious 3D Elevation Program - By Larry Sugarbaker, Spring 2014
- 3DEP Program Offers Boatload of Benefits - Point of Beginning, January 21, 2014
2013
- FEMA Flood Mapping: Enhancing Coordination to Maximize Performance. National Academy of Public Administration -November 8, 2013
- A Huge Laser-Mapping Project Is Redrawing America - Motherboard, September 3, 2013
- How Lasers Will Give the U.S. East Coast Precise New Post-Sandy Maps - The Atlantic, September 3, 2013
- The USGS National Three Dimensional Elevation Program:3DEP - Lidar News, January 26, 2013
- Private Sector Capacity for 3DEP - Mapps, January 15, 2013
Press releases
2020
2019
2017
2016
- USGS Support to the Department of Defense - U.S. Northern Command - Nov. 29, 2016
- Imagery Reveals More Landslides in Western Columbia Gorge - Nov. 4, 2016
- Uncharted: Exploring one of America’s fastest faults - Sept. 7, 2016
2014
- White House fact sheet: Taking Action to Support State, Local, and Tribal Leaders as They Prepare Communities for the Impacts of Climate Change - Jul 16, 2014
- Secretary Jewell Announces New Tribal Climate Resilience Program - DOI, July 16, 2014
- Taking Action to Support State, Local, and Tribal Leaders as They Prepare Communities for the Impacts of Climate Change - The White House, July 16, 2014