HR: 0800h
AN: H31E-1349    [Abstracts]
TI: A Geoinformatics Approach to LiDAR / ALSM Data Distribution, Interpolation, and Analysis
AU: * Crosby, C J
EM: chris.crosby@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287 United States
AU: Conner, J
EM: jsconner@mainex1.asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287 United States
AU: Frank, E
EM: efrat@sdsc.edu
AF: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 United States
AU: Arrowsmith, J R
EM: ramon.arrowsmith@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287 United States
AU: Memon, A
EM: amemon@sdsc.edu
AF: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 United States
AU: Nandigam, V
EM: viswanat@sdsc.edu
AF: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 United States
AU: Wurman, G
EM: gwurman@asu.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287 United States
AU: Baru, C
EM: baru@sdsc.edu
AF: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 United States
AB: Distribution, interpolation and analysis of large LiDAR (Light Distance And Ranging, also known as ALSM (Airborne Laser Swath Mapping)) datasets pushes the computational limits of typical data distribution and processing systems. The high point-density of LiDAR datasets makes grid interpolation difficult for geoscience users who lack the computing and software resources necessary to handle these massive data volumes. We are using a geoinformatics approach to the distribution, interpolation and analysis of LiDAR data that capitalizes on cyberinfrastructure being developed as part of the GEON project (http://www.geongrid.org). Our approach utilizes a comprehensive workflow-based solution that begins with user-defined selection of a subset of raw data and ends with download and visualization of interpolated surfaces and derived products. The workflow environment allows us to modularize and generalize the procedure. It provides the freedom to easily plug-in new processes, to utilize existing sub workflows within an analysis, and easily extend or modify the analysis using drag-and-drop functionality through the Kepler workflow management system. In this GEON-based workflow, the billions of points within a LiDAR dataset point cloud are hosted in an IBM DB2 spatial database running on the DataStar terascale computer at San Diego Supercomputer Center; a machine designed specifically for data intensive computations. Data selection is performed via an ArcIMS-based interface that allows users to execute spatial and attribute subset queries on the larger dataset. The subset of data is then passed to a GRASS Open Source GIS-based web service, "lservice", that handles interpolation to grid and analysis of the data. Lservice was developed entirely within the open source domain and offers spline and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation to grid with user-defined resolution and parameters. We also compute geomorphic metrics such as slope, curvature, and aspect. Users may choose to download their results in ESRI or ascii grid formats as well as geo tiff. Additionally, our workflow feeds into GEON web services in development that will allow visualization of Lservice outputs in either a web browser window or in 3D through Fledermaus' free viewer iView3D (or our own OpenGL-based tools). This geoinformatics-based system will allow GEON to host LiDAR point cloud data for the greater geoscience community, including data collected by the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM). In addition, most of the functions within this workflow are not limited to LiDAR data and may be used for distributing, interpolating and visualizing any computationally intensive point dataset (such as gravity). By utilizing the computational infrastructure developed by GEON, this system can democratize LiDAR data access for the geoscience community.
UR: http://www.geongrid.org
DE: 1819 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
DE: 1824 Geomorphology: general (1625)
DE: 8175 Tectonics and landscape evolution
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005