GEON Databases, Tools, and Application Development 61 Enabling Access to High-Resolution LiDAR Topography through Cyberinfrastructure-Based Data Distribution and Processing

Digital data acquisition technologies such as LiDAR (Light Distance And Ranging) topography have resulted in an increase in the volume and complexity of scientific data that must be effi-ciently managed, distributed and processed in order for it to be of use to the scientific commu-nity. Capable of generating digital elevation models (DEMs) more than an order of magnitude more accurate than those currently available, LiDAR data offers the opportunity to study earth surface processes at resolutions not previously possible yet essential for their appropriate repre-sentation. Unfortunately, access to these datasets for the average user is difficult because of the massive volumes of data generated by LiDAR. The distribution and processing of large LiDAR datasets, which frequently exceed billions of data-points, challenge internet-based data distribution sys-tems and readily available desktop software. Figure 1 shows the conceptual workflow required to produce results for scientific analysis using LiDAR. Our approach to the distribution and processing of LiDAR data capitalizes on cyberinfrastruc-ture developed by the GEON projec