RESTON, VA. — MAPPS, the national association of private-sector geospatial firms, has formally endorsed the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In the endorsement, MAPPS urges the Obama Administration, Congress, and the states to cooperatively fund the program at its optimal level of $146 million per year. The primary goal of 3DEP is to systematically collect enhanced elevation data in the form of high-quality light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data over the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories, with data acquired over an eight-year period.

"USGS should be applauded for its diligence developing the 3DEP program, identifying stakeholders in the public and private sector, and coordinating with federal, state and local agency partners and the private sector in an effort to develop and fund the program," said Dick McDonald, PLS, MAPPS President (T3 Global Strategies, Bridgeville, Pa.). "It is because of the partnership and the framework for the program that MAPPS endorses the program and will work in conjunction with USGS to make the program a reality for the benefit the citizens of the United States."

MAPPS conducted a market analysis that indicated that a public-private partnership would spawn economic growth using multiple-award USGS contracts for data collection services and increase the demand in the manufacturing for LiDAR equipment. The study showed that there is excess capacity in the private sector to complete the program in the near-term and over its proposed lifespan.

The 3DEP initiative is being developed to respond to growing need for high-quality elevation data and for a wide range of applications requiring LiDAR of the nation's natural and constructed features. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (ifsar) data will be collected over Alaska, where cloud cover and remote locations preclude the use of LiDAR over much of the State.

The MAPPS Board of Directors unanimously adopted a formal endorsement statement during the association's winter meeting in Sunny Isles, Florida on January 27.
MAPPS provides its 160+ member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.

For more information on MAPPS, visit www.MAPPS.org.