Insights
  • Community Spotlight
  • Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

Developing and Managing Lidar Data  

lidar data reveals a river and surrounding parcels

For over five years CSS employee owners have supported NOAA’s Digital Coast data development and management, training development and delivery, and tool development and management through our subcontract with Lynker Technologies supporting NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. As part of this effort, CSS employee owners process lidar data from many sources to make it available for custom and bulk downloads from the NOAA Data Access Viewer. This involves ensuring data quality and consistency and preparing the data for dissemination. The end goal is to provide elevation data users with the data they need to make the best decisions for coastal mapping and management efforts.

Graphic shows a flat surface next to a steep incline. A suspension bridge reaches over the flat surface
High resolution lidar data provides enough detail to show specific and identifiable features and landmarks, like the Golden Gate Bridge.

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stream running through a wooded area
  • Success Stories
  • Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

Developing a Stream Assessment Protocol 

CSS has been a significant contributor to the development and implementation of the Oregon Stream Function Assessment Method (SFAM) for more than 10 years. SFAM is a key component of the Oregon Stream Mitigation Program administered by the Oregon Department of State Lands.  The mitigation program is designed to address damage to aquatic resources caused…

  • Success Stories
  • Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

Studying Mesophotic Coral Health

Mesophotic coral can live at depths of 500 feet below the ocean surface. Even at this depth, some of the mesophotic corals in the Gulf of Mexico were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Our coral scientists supporting NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science are studying the extent of this impact.…

Several mobile lab units in a parking lot
  • Success Stories
  • Emergency Preparedness & Response

Continued Analysis of Contaminants from East Palestine Train Derailment

In February 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio spilling chemicals that contaminated surrounding soil, water, and the air. Several Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification Systems (PHILIS) – the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) suite of mobile laboratories designed to provide on-site analysis of chemical agents – and staff were mobilized to the site following the accident to conduct analysis of various contaminated media. The CSS…