Washington State Looks to Fund Statewide LiDAR Mapping of Geologic Hazards
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is requesting $6.6 million to expand LiDAR mapping across Washington. The agency is making the case for the high-resolution mapping method due to the landslide disaster at Oso that killed 43 people. Detailed 3D aerial LiDAR surveying is estimated to cost $500 per square mile, and the project would likely take a few years to complete.
“The firestorms and landslides we experienced in 2014 remind us how important it is to prepare for disasters, prevent them when we can, and fight them when we must,” said Goldmark. “This budget will give us the tools we need to improve public safety for the people of Washington.”
The $6.6 million DNR budget request to expand LiDAR mapping of geological hazards also includes a provision to provide technical support to counties, cities, and the public to help them understand the data.
