New LiDAR mapping data of the lower Mataura catchment just released

New high-resolution LiDAR elevation mapping of the lower Mataura catchment, incorporating both digital elevation and digital surface models, was released last week.

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.

The resulting high definition maps and models will be useful for a range of applications for councils and others. These include hazard planning, infrastructure planning and policy development, farm mapping, understanding landscape changes and catchments’ hydrological processes such as stream flow estimation and catchment size.

Environment Southland general manager policy and government reform, Lucy Hicks said the benefits of LiDAR are that it is three-dimensional, high resolution and has centimetre accuracy across the landscape.

“The Region hasn’t had a tool before that provides such detail and it is going to be particularly useful in planning for Southland’s future. The Council will use it for flood modelling, coastal inundation mapping and in relation to farm planning, to name a few.”

Murihiku Southland is one of 10 regions partnering with Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to obtain a baseline elevation data set. Co-funding between Southland’s four councils and MBIE Kānoa Provincial Growth Fund is supporting the regional expansion of Toitū Te Whenua’s 3D mapping programme to provide a significant increase in national coverage. So far 93% of Southland has been flown and the images taken.

“We already have LiDAR mapping of Oban in Rakiura Stewart Island, but the lower Mataura catchment is the first significant-size block to be released for Southland. We’re expecting more large blocks from across the region to become available in the next six to 12 months,” said Lucy Hicks.

The lower Mataura catchment map can be accessed on the Toitū Te Whenua LINZ Data Service website:

DEM: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/113172

DSM: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/113173

Index Tiles: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/113174

(ENDS)