Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

This site is currently in beta, and your feedback is helping shape its ongoing development.

1998 Northeast NOAA/USGS/NASA Airborne LiDAR Assessment of Coastal Erosion (ALACE) Project for the US Coastline

Published by Office for Coastal Management | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: December 08, 2025 | Last Modified: 2000-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
This data set includes data collected during December 1998 and covers coastline in the states of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Maryland coverage is on the eastern shore of the Delmarva peninsula, New York coverage is along the barrier islands of Long Island and Lake Erie, Ohio and Pennsylvania coverage is along Lake Erie, and Massachusetts coverage is on Cape Cod. Laser beach mapping uses a pulsed laser ranging system mounted onboard an aircraft to measure ground elevation and coastal topography. The laser emits laser beams at high frequency and is directed downward at the earth's surface through a port opening in the bottom of the aircraft's fuselage. The laser system records the time difference between emission of the laser beam and the reception of the reflected laser signal in the aircraft. The aircraft travels over the beach at approximately 60 meters per second while surveying from the low water line to the landward base of the sand dunes. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Complete Metadata

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov