Jeff Danielson is a Physical Geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jeff Danielson has been engaged in topographic science research since 1995. He has an extensive background in working with geographic information systems technologies, image processing, remote sensing, and geospatial elevation data. Danielson has developed hydrologic derivative products from continental-scale digital elevation models and was the project lead on the development of a new global elevation product suite “The Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010.” His current work is leading the USGS Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project. This project is focused on developing high-resolution integrated topobathymetric elevation models from both lidar (land topography) and bathymetric (water depth) data sources that provide a seamless elevation product useful for applications such as, modeling sea level rise, storm surge, and sediment transport. The CoNED project also conducts fundamental algorithm remote sensing (lidar / point cloud) research to extend the data structure for topobathymetric elevation models and create methods for fostering land change science studies.
Education
Jeff Danielson has a BS in Geography and Computer Science and an MS in Geography from South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 34
Alaska North Slope LiDAR
High-resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data were acquired along the north coast of Alaska between 2009 and 2012. The lidar acquisition, from Icy Cape, Alaska to the United States/Canadian border, comprised approximately 11,000 km2. The airborne lidar data were acquired in support of the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program. The purpose of this lidar...
3D Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model for Lake Powell Storage Capacity Assessment
To support the modeling of the Colorado River water storage area capacity tables by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Utah Water Science Center, the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created a 3D high-resolution topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for Lake Powell. Located in south-central Utah and north-central Arizona, the second largest man-made reservoir in...
Sea-Level Rise Viewer for American Samoa: A Co-Developed Visualization and Planning Tool
American Samoa is vulnerable to sea-level rise in part due to the steep terrain of its islands. This terrain requires the majority of the islands’ villages and infrastructure to be located along thin strips of coastal land. The situation is worsened by the recently recognized rapid sinking of the islands, which was triggered by the 2009 Samoa earthquake and is predicted to last for decades. This s...
Southern California / Channel Islands - Topobathymetric Elevation Model of the Channel Islands
Located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the Channel Islands are a chain of eight islands where years of isolation has created unique fauna, flora, and archeological resources. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara), and the waters surrounding these islands make up the Channel Islands National...
Topobathymetric Elevation Model of San Francisco Bay Area, California
Accurate, high-resolution elevation information is vital to understanding the natural hazards that can impact the highly populated San Francisco Bay area, such as sea-level rise, winter storms, cliff erosion, and other coastal hazards. The San Francisco Bay estuary three-dimensional (3D) topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration between U.S. Geological Survey...
Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Northern Gulf of Mexico
Accurate, high-resolution elevation information is vital to understanding the highly dynamic northern Gulf of Mexico coast, the location of North America’s largest delta system and the focus of one of the largest coastal restoration and flood risk reduction efforts in the United States. The northern Gulf of Mexico topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration...
Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound, North Carolina
Pamlico Sound is ecologically important as it is the second largest estuary in the United States, and is the largest lagoon on the U.S. east coast. The sound is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a series of low, sandy barrier islands that are vulnerable to hurricane storm surge and sea-level rise. The seamless high-resolution topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for...
Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands
With an estimated elevation of only 3-meters above sea level, the Majuro Atoll, capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, tsunamis, storm surge, and coastal flooding that could impact the sustainability of the infrastructure, groundwater, and ecosystems. Located in the northern tropical Pacific Ocean, the waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll...
Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Mobile Bay, Alabama
Mobile Bay is ecologically important as it is the fourth largest estuary in the United States. The Mobile Bay topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration between U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) and USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) using a combination of 71 disparate topographic and bathymetric datasets collected from...
Hurricane Sandy Region - Topobathymetric Elevation Model of New Jersey / Delaware
Hurricane Sandy severely impacted the New Jersey/Delaware coast, altering the topography and ecosystems of this heavily populated region. In response to the storm, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program in collaboration with USGS National Geospatial Program , and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration developed three-dimensional (3D) topobathymetric elevation...
Hydrologic-Enforcement of Lidar DEMs
Hydrologic connectivity of light detection and ranging (lidar)-derived elevation data is critical for coastal hydrologic modeling applications. However, unless hydrologically-enforced, raised structures (i.e. bridges, roads overlaying culverts) can block overland flow to coastal waters. Because highly detailed lidar-derived elevation surfaces include features such as bridge decks and road fill...
Shoreline Definition in Emergent Wetland Environments
Coastal shoreline mapping is a particularly complex issue because of the dynamic nature of water levels at the land-water interface, the various tidal vertical datums in use, and the spatial scale of the shoreline delineation. In addition, the definition of a shoreline varies depending on whether the shoreline will be used for nautical charts and navigation, delineating the legal federal and state...
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 34
Alaska North Slope LiDAR
High-resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data were acquired along the north coast of Alaska between 2009 and 2012. The lidar acquisition, from Icy Cape, Alaska to the United States/Canadian border, comprised approximately 11,000 km2. The airborne lidar data were acquired in support of the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program. The purpose of this lidar...3D Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model for Lake Powell Storage Capacity Assessment
To support the modeling of the Colorado River water storage area capacity tables by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Utah Water Science Center, the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center created a 3D high-resolution topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for Lake Powell. Located in south-central Utah and north-central Arizona, the second largest man-made reservoir in...Sea-Level Rise Viewer for American Samoa: A Co-Developed Visualization and Planning Tool
American Samoa is vulnerable to sea-level rise in part due to the steep terrain of its islands. This terrain requires the majority of the islands’ villages and infrastructure to be located along thin strips of coastal land. The situation is worsened by the recently recognized rapid sinking of the islands, which was triggered by the 2009 Samoa earthquake and is predicted to last for decades. This s...Southern California / Channel Islands - Topobathymetric Elevation Model of the Channel Islands
Located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the Channel Islands are a chain of eight islands where years of isolation has created unique fauna, flora, and archeological resources. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara), and the waters surrounding these islands make up the Channel Islands National...Topobathymetric Elevation Model of San Francisco Bay Area, California
Accurate, high-resolution elevation information is vital to understanding the natural hazards that can impact the highly populated San Francisco Bay area, such as sea-level rise, winter storms, cliff erosion, and other coastal hazards. The San Francisco Bay estuary three-dimensional (3D) topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration between U.S. Geological Survey...Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Northern Gulf of Mexico
Accurate, high-resolution elevation information is vital to understanding the highly dynamic northern Gulf of Mexico coast, the location of North America’s largest delta system and the focus of one of the largest coastal restoration and flood risk reduction efforts in the United States. The northern Gulf of Mexico topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration...Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound, North Carolina
Pamlico Sound is ecologically important as it is the second largest estuary in the United States, and is the largest lagoon on the U.S. east coast. The sound is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a series of low, sandy barrier islands that are vulnerable to hurricane storm surge and sea-level rise. The seamless high-resolution topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for...Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands
With an estimated elevation of only 3-meters above sea level, the Majuro Atoll, capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, tsunamis, storm surge, and coastal flooding that could impact the sustainability of the infrastructure, groundwater, and ecosystems. Located in the northern tropical Pacific Ocean, the waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll...Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Mobile Bay, Alabama
Mobile Bay is ecologically important as it is the fourth largest estuary in the United States. The Mobile Bay topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) was developed in collaboration between U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) and USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) using a combination of 71 disparate topographic and bathymetric datasets collected from...Hurricane Sandy Region - Topobathymetric Elevation Model of New Jersey / Delaware
Hurricane Sandy severely impacted the New Jersey/Delaware coast, altering the topography and ecosystems of this heavily populated region. In response to the storm, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program in collaboration with USGS National Geospatial Program , and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration developed three-dimensional (3D) topobathymetric elevation...Hydrologic-Enforcement of Lidar DEMs
Hydrologic connectivity of light detection and ranging (lidar)-derived elevation data is critical for coastal hydrologic modeling applications. However, unless hydrologically-enforced, raised structures (i.e. bridges, roads overlaying culverts) can block overland flow to coastal waters. Because highly detailed lidar-derived elevation surfaces include features such as bridge decks and road fill...Shoreline Definition in Emergent Wetland Environments
Coastal shoreline mapping is a particularly complex issue because of the dynamic nature of water levels at the land-water interface, the various tidal vertical datums in use, and the spatial scale of the shoreline delineation. In addition, the definition of a shoreline varies depending on whether the shoreline will be used for nautical charts and navigation, delineating the legal federal and state... - Data
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