Minnesota Elevation Mapping Project (LiDAR)

Quick Facts

Source: 
Clean Water Fund
Status: 
In Progress
Activity Type: 
Inventory, Modeling, Analysis/Interpretation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Mapping, Restoration/Enhancement, Assessment/Evaluation, Planning, Research
Counties Affected 
Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington
This project will create a high accuracy elevation dataset - critical for effectively planning and implementing water quality projects - for the state of Minnesota using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geospatial mapping technologies. Although some areas of the state have been mapped previously, many counties remain unmapped or have insufficient or inadequate data. This multi-year project, to be completed in 2012, is a collaborative effort of Minnesota's Digital Elevation Committee and partners with county surveyors to ensure accuracy with ground-truthing. The first year (FY 2010) focuses on Southwest Minnesota. The arrowhead, Twin Cities metro, and central lakes regions will be completed in 2011 and 2012.

About the Issue

Accurate topographic information will greatly enhance the ability of decision makers and resource managers to understand how water interacts with the landscape and will provide the foundation for developing innovative, effective, and defendable resource management strategies. Completion of a statewide elevation dataset will reduce cost and increase effectiveness of clean water projects. The data have myriad additional uses; for example, collecting elevation data over the life of a mining project will allow the state to more accurately document mineral extraction, potentially increasing royalty income from mineral leases.
Status: 
In Progress
Start Date: 
July 2010
End Date: 
January 2013

Project Details by Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year(s): 
2013
Legal Citation / Subdivision: 
M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 6, Art. 2, Sec. 6(h)
Appropriation Language 
$1,350,000 the first year and $1,350,000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and TMDL implementation under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 114D. The money shall be used to collect data for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1, 2007, or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, which shall receive up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if the services cannot otherwise be provided by the department.
Fiscal Year Funding Amount: 
$1,350,000
Administration costs: 
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded: 
0.0
Fiscal Year(s): 
2012
Legal Citation / Subdivision: 
M.L. 2011, First Special Session, Chp. 6, Art. 2, Sec. 6(h)
Appropriation Language 
$1,350,000 the first year and $1,350,000 the second year are to acquire and distribute high-resolution digital elevation data using light detection and ranging to aid with impaired waters modeling and TMDL implementation under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 114D. The money shall be used to collect data for areas of the state that have not acquired such data prior to January 1, 2007, or to complete acquisition and distribution of the data for those areas of the state that have not previously received state funds for acquiring and distributing the data. The distribution of data acquired under this paragraph must be conducted under the auspices of the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, which shall receive up to 2.5 percent of the appropriation in this paragraph to support coordination of data acquisition and distribution. Mapping and data set distribution under this paragraph must be completed within three years of funds availability. The commissioner shall utilize department staff whenever possible. The commissioner may contract for services only if the services cannot otherwise be provided by the department.
Fiscal Year Funding Amount: 
$1,350,000
Direct expenses: 
$1,625,273
Administration costs: 
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded: 
0.0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s) 


In FY12, DNR will acquire LiDAR data over 15,483 square miles covering all or parts of 14 counties in the Central Lakes and Metro project areas.
Measurable Outcome(s) 


In FY12, DNR completed publishing and distribution of LiDAR for the Counties that make up the Minnesota River Basin. In addition, DNR also published and distributed LiDAR data over 19,411 square miles, covering all or parts of 18 counties in the Arrowhead and Metro project areas.

DNR acquired LiDAR data over 16,333 square miles, covering all or parts of Aitkin, Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Ramsey, Scott, Todd, Washington, and Wadena Counties.
Fiscal Year(s): 
2011
Legal Citation / Subdivision: 
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec. 5(d)
Fiscal Year Funding Amount: 
$2,800,000
Direct expenses: 
$3,028,474
Administration costs: 
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded: 
0.0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s) 


In FY11, DNR will publish and make available LiDAR data for the Minnesota River basin. We will develop work orders for the Arrowhead and Metro project areas, rank and make awards, and acquire LiDAR data for these regions in the Spring of 2011 (12520 square miles in 19 counties).
Measurable Outcome(s) 


In FY11, DNR published LiDAR data for the Minnesota River Basin. It is publicly available on-line at the DNR. LiDAR acquisitions were contracted over an area covering 21,933 square miles in 19 counties: Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Meeker, Ramsey, St. Louis, Scott and Washington. This is in addition to the 17,258 square miles in 25 counties that were collected in Fiscal Year 2010.
Fiscal Year(s): 
2010
Legal Citation / Subdivision: 
M.L. 2009, Chp. 172, Art. 2, Sec. 5(d)
Fiscal Year Funding Amount: 
$2,800,000
Direct expenses: 
$670,895
Administration costs: 
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded: 
0.0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s) 


Measurable Outcome(s) 


Fiscal Year(s): 
0

Project Manager

Tim
Loesch
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN
55155
651-259-5475
Email: 
tim.loesch@state.mn.us
Related Topics: 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Inventory, Modeling, Analysis/Interpretation, Digitization/Online Information Access, Mapping, Restoration/Enhancement, Assessment/Evaluation, Planning, Research, Clean Water Fund, Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Carver, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington