Jason Stoker, Ph.D.
Biography
Dr. Jason Stoker is a US Geological Survey Physical Scientist for the National Geospatial Program. Jason oversees strategic planning, development and coordination of the 3D Elevation Program and science and application related data, tools, and services. Jason provides technical expertise, prepares roadmaps and plans for elevation products and services, and helps determine the long-term vision for 3DEP products and services. Prior to this position, for over twelve years he led the lidar research and development activities at USGS EROS Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was the founder of CLICK: the USGS Center for Lidar Information Coordination and Knowledge. Jason is the former Director of the Lidar Division of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), and acts as President-elect of ASPRS in a personal capacity. Jason received his B.S and M.S from Colorado State University and his Ph.D from South Dakota State University.
Science and Products
Evaluation and testing of standardized forest vegetation metrics derived from lidar data
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is managing the acquisition of lidar data across the Nation for high resolution mapping of the land surface, useful for multiple applications. Lidar data is initially collected as 3-dimensional “point clouds” that map the interaction of the airborne laser with earth surface features, including vegetation, buildings, and ground features. Generally the...
Defining technology operational readiness for the 3D Elevation Program—A plan for investment, incubation, and adoption
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is an acquisition strategy that uses data from commercial remote sensing technologies to create three-dimensional maps of the United States and U.S. territories. Currently, light detection and ranging and interferometric synthetic aperture radar are the two commercial technologies being used to provide three-...
Stoker, Jason M.The 3D Elevation Program and energy for the Nation
High-resolution light detection and ranging (lidar) data are used in energy infrastructure siting, design, permitting, construction, and monitoring to promote public safety through the reduction of risks. For example, lidar data are used to identify safe locations for energy infrastructure by analyzing terrain parameters and identifying and...
Thatcher, Cindy A.; Lukas, Vicki; Stoker, Jason M.General external uncertainty models of three-plane intersection point for 3D absolute accuracy assessment of lidar point cloud
The traditional practice to assess accuracy in lidar data involves calculating RMSEz (root mean square error of the vertical component). Accuracy assessment of lidar point clouds in full 3D (dimension) is not routinely performed. The main challenge in assessing accuracy in full 3D is how to identify a conjugate point of a ground-surveyed...
Kim, Minsu; Park, Seonkyung; Danielson, Jeffrey J.; Irwin, Jeffrey; Stensaas, Gregory L.; Stoker, Jason M.; Nimetz, JoshuaAn integrated framework for ecological drought across riverscapes of North America
Climate change is increasing the severity and extent of extreme droughts events, posing a critical threat to freshwater ecosystems, particularly with increasing human demands for diminishing water supplies. Despite the importance of drought as a significant driver of ecological and evolutionary dynamics, current understanding of drought...
Kovach, Ryan; Dunham, Jason B.; Al-Chokhachy, Robert; Snyder, Craig; Beever, Erik A.; Pederson, Gregory T.; Lynch, Abigail; Hitt, Nathaniel P.; Konrad, Christopher P.; Jaeger, Kristin; Rea, Alan H.; Sepulveda, Adam J.; Lambert, Patrick M.; Stoker, Jason M.; Giersch, J. Joseph; Muhlfeld, Clint C.The 3D elevation program
No abstract available.
Stoker, Jason M.; Lukas, Vicki; Jason, Allyson L.; Eldridge, Diane F.; Sugarbaker, Larry J.Multi-year data from satellite- and ground-based sensors show details and scale matter in assessing climate’s effects on wetland surface water, amphibians, and landscape conditions
Long-term, interdisciplinary studies of relations between climate and ecological conditions on wetland-upland landscapes have been lacking, especially studies integrated across scales meaningful for adaptive resource management. We collected data in situ at individual wetlands, and via satellite for surrounding 4-km2 landscape...
Sadinski, Walter; Gallant, Alisa L.; Roth, Mark; Brown, Jesslyn F.; Senay, Gabriel; Brininger, Wayne L.; Jones, Perry M.; Stoker, Jason M.The 3D Elevation Program national indexing scheme
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) acquires high-resolution elevation data for the Nation. This program has been operating under an opportunity-oriented approach, acquiring light detection and ranging (lidar) projects of varying sizes scattered across the United States. As a result, the national 3DEP elevation...
Thatcher, Cindy A.; Heidemann, Hans Karl; Stoker, Jason M.; Eldridge, Diane F.USGS integrated drought science
Project Need and OverviewDrought poses a serious threat to the resilience of human communities and ecosystems in the United States (Easterling and others, 2000). Over the past several years, many regions have experienced extreme drought conditions, fueled by prolonged periods of reduced precipitation and exceptionally warm temperatures. Extreme...
Ostroff, Andrea C.; Muhlfeld, Clint C.; Lambert, Patrick M.; Booth, Nathaniel L.; Carter, Shawn L.; Stoker, Jason M.; Focazio, Michael J.Status of the 3D Elevation Program, 2015
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is a cooperative activity to collect light detection and ranging (lidar) data for the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and U.S. territories; and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IfSAR) elevation data for Alaska during an 8-year period. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and partner organizations acquire...
Sugarbaker, Larry J.; Eldridge, Diane F.; Jason, Allyson L. ; Lukas, Vicki; Saghy, David L.; Stoker, Jason M.; Thunen, Diana R.Evaluation of single photon and Geiger mode Lidar for the 3D Elevation Program
Data acquired by Harris Corporation’s (Melbourne, FL, USA) Geiger-mode IntelliEarth™ sensor and Sigma Space Corporation’s (Lanham-Seabrook, MD, USA) Single Photon HRQLS sensor were evaluated and compared to accepted 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) data and survey ground control to assess the suitability of these new technologies for the 3DEP. While...
Stoker, Jason M.; Abdullah, Qassim; Nayegandhi, Amar; Winehouse, Jayna3D Elevation Program—Virtual USA in 3D
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) uses a laser system called ‘lidar’ (light detection and ranging) to create a virtual reality map of the Nation that is very accurate. 3D maps have many uses with new uses being discovered all the time.
Lukas, Vicki; Stoker, J.M.Evaluating lidar point densities for effective estimation of aboveground biomass
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) was recently established to provide airborne lidar data coverage on a national scale. As part of a broader research effort of the USGS to develop an effective remote sensing-based methodology for the creation of an operational biomass Essential Climate Variable (Biomass ECV) data...
Wu, Zhuoting; Dye, Dennis G.; Stoker, Jason M.; Vogel, John M.; Velasco, Miguel G.; Middleton, Barry R.Pre-USGS Publications
PE&RS February 2014 Cover
This is the cover of the February 2014 Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing journal
USGS Releases New Lidar Base Specification
The U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Program (NGP) has released a new version of the USGS Lidar Base Specification (LBS) that defines deliverables for nationally consistent lidar data acquisitions.
USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Switching to New Distribution Format
In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats, the U.S. Geological Survey National Geospatial Program is announcing plans to migrate its 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Digital Elevation Models (DEM) to a new data delivery format called Cloud Optimized Geotiff (COG) during the first half of fiscal year 2020.
An Integrated Framework for Ecological Drought Across Riverscapes of North America
Climate change is increasing extreme droughts events, posing a threat to freshwater ecosystems, particularly with human demands for diminishing water supplies.
USGS 3DEP Lidar Point Cloud Now Available as Amazon Public Dataset
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is excited to announce the availability of a new way to access and process lidar point cloud data from the 3DEP repository.
New Elevation Map Service Available From the USGS 3D Elevation Program
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) announces the availability of a new dynamic map service.
The 3D Elevation Program Distributing Lidar Data in LAZ Format
In support of ongoing efforts to provide efficient, cloud ready, open data formats for the use of lidar data, the USGS National Geospatial Program and its associated 3D Elevation Program is transitioning all of its lidar data distribution files to LAZ format by September 30, 2018.
The 3D Elevation Program – Flood Risk Management
Flooding is the leading cause of Presidential disaster declarations. On average, the water hazard has resulted in more than 80 fatalities and cost the U.S. nearly $8 billion annually.
Lidar Base Specification Version 1.3 Released
The US Geological Survey National Geospatial Program has released a new version of the USGS Lidar Base Specification that defines deliverables for nationally consistent lidar data acquisitions.
National Geospatial Program Garners Elevation Award
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) team has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 “LIDAR Leader Award”, presented February 5 at the International LIDAR Mapping Forum in Denver.
The 3D Elevation Program and America's Infrastructure
The USGS is seeing a dramatic increase in the use of 3D geospatial data for infrastructure planning, modeling and construction
New USGS Science Plan Designed to Help Plan for Drought Effects on People, Communities, and Ecosystems
The U. S. Geological Survey is poised to bring a dynamic array of science and tools to help decision-makers manage and offset effects of increased drought across the United States, according to a drought plan report released today.
Maps Made with Light Show the Way
The topic, officially, was water. But during a scientific conference in Butte, Montana, in 2013, earthquake expert Michael Stickney glimpsed something unexpected in a three-dimensional lidar image of the Bitterroot Valley in nearby Missoula.