Preparing for natural disasters: B.C. invests $38M to map topography of province

VICTORIA – The Province of British Columbia is employing state-of-the-art survey technology to prepare communities for natural disasters.

Light detection and ranging, known as LiDAR, uses aerial remote sensing technology to create a detailed map of the Earth’s surface.

The provincial government is investing $38 million over six years to use LiDAR to collect elevation data of the province to “support effective and informed decision-making on the planning and management of wildfires, landslides, floods and other natural events,” reads a news release.

The Journal of Commerce previously reported on the use of LiDAR to help with road resilience construction in the wake of flooding and landslides on the Cariboo Highway.

Beyond helping for disaster preparedness, the LiDAR mapping is expected to be beneficial to natural resource management disciplines such as wildfire and fuels, forestry, surface hydrology, agriculture, ecology, wildfire, habitat management and restoration, geology and geomorphology.