West Lynn Canal Orthophotography and LiDAR Project
The West Lynn Canal orthophotography and LiDAR project was designed to deliver accurate contour mapping and high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) data to the client for 3-D modeling of avalanche chutes and the proposed road corridor for an access highway connecting Skagway to Juneau.
This project involved mapping avalanche paths from their accumulation zones to the run-out zones at the shoreline of Lynn Canal. Primary and alternate routes totaled approximately 116 miles. These routes generally follow the shorelines with elevations ranging from sea level to over 2,600 feet. There are numerous small stream crossings and the routes are forested with hemlock, spruce, and alder.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF) provided ground control for the project. The AKDOT&PF conducted baseline processing and finalized network adjustments. One of the strong advantages of LiDAR is its ability to function in weather conditions that would make aerial photography impossible. Original flight plans called for acquisition from 4,000 feet above mean terrain. However, when low clouds prohibited flying at that altitude, the system operator was able to redesign the flight plan while airborne. AeroMetric also collected Airborne GPS/IMU controlled color aerial photography over the project. AeroMetric acquired photography at 1"=1500' scale for orthophoto production with a pixel resolution of 1.5-feet. LiDAR proved to be an excellent tool for this application because of its ability to penetrate through openings in the vegetation to reach the ground.
Juneau to Skagway Access Road LiDAR & Orthophotography 
