Abstract

Determination of Excavation Impacts to Brachiopod Habitat by LiDAR Analysis
Track: Lidar and 3D Mapping
Authors: Douglas Wright

Required maintenance on a Chevron Pipe Line Company right-of-way led to regulatory agency investigations of impacts to brachiopod habitat caused by excavation activities. These investigations required studying the hydrology of the habitat area. An initial field survey was conducted using GPS equipment to map wetland habitat also identified as brachiopod habitat. GIS analysis using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst tools and LiDAR topographic data showed that the mapped habitats are high in elevation, drain into the maintenance area, and would not be affected. GIS gave the advantage of using remote sensing to verify the location of the habitats and determine drainage patterns not easily evident in the field. These results provided information that was essential to a regulatory process without a costly, field-based analysis. This analysis could be provided in other areas with LiDAR coverage to assist regulatory investigations.