On February 11, 2020, the Arizona Geographic Information Council (AGIC) voted to approve a state wide LiDAR acquisition plan. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) provides high quality elevation data. The document lays out a path for LiDAR acquisition in Arizona, making data freely available and easily accessible for public use.  High quality elevation data plays a key role in public safety as its critical for emergency response, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. The estimated annual benefit of LiDAR data for emergency response and daily business needs would be $12.56 million-dollars. 

The LiDAR acquisition plan helps Federal, State and local agencies and groups plan out LiDAR acquisition and collaboration to reduce costs.  Providing information about types and quality levels of LiDAR data, guidance of how to work with LiDAR vendors, and links to technical specifications from USGS.  The plan also highlights LiDAR use in rural and city areas around Arizona. Some examples include: rural road mapping, stream and stock tank location, and land use and flood plan management.

AGIC functions as Arizona’s primary forum and oversight group for geographic information and technology and collaborated to help bring LiDAR and its products to Arizona.  Council members approved creation of a LiDAR workgroup under the data committee in 2017 which authored the plan and hosts several LiDAR education events each year.

For a copy of the acquisition plan, click on the link below.