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PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF AIRBORNE LIDAR DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY PROJECTS
by
Mark Molinari, PG, CEG, AEG President
URS Corporation
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 6pm
Sinbad's Restaurant, Pier 2 Embarcadero Street, San Francisco!
Download meeting details and registration form
RSVP and MEETING INFO
Abstracts:
Over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the use of airborne LiDAR (Light
Detection and Ranging) data to create detailed topographic base maps and high-resolution (0.2 - 1 m
vertical accuracy) digital elevation models (DEMs) for a variety of regional and site-specific projects. If
the scope of data acquisition is properly defined and implemented, LiDAR is effective in all types of
terrain and vegetation; however it is particularly useful in densely vegetated areas where conventional
photogrammetry-based topographic maps and resulting DEMs have a relatively low accuracy. In
addition, it is very cost-effective in steep or remote terrain that cannot be easily surveyed by
conventional methods. This talk will present a variety of examples where LiDAR was successfully used
for environmental and engineering geology projects and the type of derivative products that can be
generated using GIS or other computer applications. Primary lessons learned regarding acquisition and
QA/QC review of LiDAR data, management of LiDAR vendors, managing large LiDAR data sets and
automation of LiDAR data processing will also be summarized.
Example projects include:
Use of LiDAR-derived GIS products for proposed timber sale areas
Active fault and landslide mapping
Structural geologic mapping of an inaccessible rock avalanche
Mine tailing and landslide debris volume estimates
Levee evaluation
Detailed topography for surface water- groundwater interaction for a contaminant plume
Floodplain mapping and geomorphic analysis
Biography:
Mark Molinari is a Principal Engineering Geologist at URS Corporation in Seattle, Washington with 25
years consulting experience assessing geologic and seismic hazards, and performing and managing
environmental assessment and remediation projects. He has worked throughout the western U.S.,
including Alaska, and internationally. He has performed geologic and/or seismic hazard assessments
for environmental impact studies, permit applications, and siting and design of onshore and offshore
petroleum facilities, power plants, LNG terminals, dams, linear utility corridors, public and commercial
facilities, and municipal, hazardous and low-level radioactive waste facilities. His environmental project
experience includes due diligence environmental site assessments, hydrogeologic assessments,
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) projects, and remedial actions for a wide range of oil &
gas, aerospace, and commercial and industrial clients. In addition, he has a RI/FS project for a four
square block Brownfield site for the University of Washington. Mr. Molinari has a B.A. from UC Santa
Barbara and MS from University of Nevada-Reno, and is a Licensed Geologist, Hydrogeologist and
Engineering Geologist in Washington; a California Professional Geologist and Certified Engineering
Geologist, and a Nebraska Professional Geologist. He is the 2008-09 AEG President, and served two
years on the AEG board as Washington Section chair and one year on the Governance Committee in
addition to his three previous years on the Executive Council.
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