Related URL

Link: GET DATA Description: Costa Rica 1998 Data Files. Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE Description: LVIS project homepage.

Geographic Coverage

N: 11.0

S: 7.0

E: -82.0

W: -86.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: J. B. Blair, M. A. Hofton, and D. L. Rabine. Dataset Title: Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) Dataset over Costa Rica Dataset Release Date: 1998 Dataset Publisher: Code 698 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Version: 1.02 Online Resource: http://lvis.gsfc.nasa.gov

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1998-01-01

Stop Date: 1998-12-31

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CENTRAL AMERICA > COSTA RICA

Science Keywords

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >BIOMASS    [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >CANOPY CHARACTERISTICS    [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >CARBON    [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >CROWN    [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >FOREST COMPOSITION/VEGETATION STRUCTURE    [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >TOPOGRAPHY >TERRAIN ELEVATION    [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >GRAVITY/GRAVITATIONAL FIELD >CONTROL SURVEYS    [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >GRAVITY/GRAVITATIONAL FIELD >GRAVITY    [Definition]

SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING >LIDAR >LIDAR BACKSCATTER    [Definition]

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA ELEVATION GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Platform

Aircraft    [Information]

Instrument

LVIS >Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor    [Information]

LIDAR >Light Detection and Ranging    [Information]

Project

LVIS >LASER VEGETATION IMAGING SENSOR    [Information]

Quality

All reasonable efforts have been made to remove data affected to any degree by questionable observational conditions, however questionable data likely are still present. Here are the currently-identified issues with the LVIS dataset: Canopy height bias. 1. Low-lying ground fog was present in some areas (swamps, river valleys etc). This will cause canopy height parameters (zt, rh25, rh50, rh75) to be higher than in reality. 2. Canopy return misselected during data processing. Weak canopy top returns or spurious higher-amplitude background noise samples were misselected during data processing. 3. Misselected ground return. Obviosuly, if the ground location has been misselected then canopy height products will be biased. Data product zc is unaffected since its elevation is relative to the eliposoid, not the ground. Ground elevation bias. 1. Ground return is not contained within the waveform and thus cannot be identified. 2. Ground return misselected during data processing, caused by: - A mode from a higher reflecting layer within the canopy was misselected as the ground return. This misselection usually implies the ground reflection is "weak" (i.e., contains only a small proportion of the reflected energy from the footprint as a whole) and thus has been "overlooked" by the interpretation algorithm. - Spurious, higher ampitude background noise was misselected as the ground return. Noise due to aircraft operations (radio operations) was a problem during the New England mission. 3. Ground return is indistinct, i.e., the lowest reflection has become convolved with reflections from higher surfaces. This effect is compounded by within footprint slope and surface roughness. Improvements in our methods of waveform interpretation will enable better data accuracy. Digitally recording the shape of the return laser pulse means that these improvements can easily be applied.

Access Constraints

While substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of data and documentation, complete accuracy of data sets can not be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is". The LVIS team can not assume responsibility for damages resulting from mis-use or mis-interpretation of datasets or from errors or omissions that may exist in the data. Data users are welcome to collaborate with the LVIS team, as this may minimize the potential for misinterpretation of the data. In order to develop an active community and ensure the flow of ideas between interested parties, the LVIS team makes the following suggestions of individuals who download LVIS data: - On projects that are integrally dependent on LVIS data, you have the option to request collaboration and/or co-authorship from the LVIS team. (NOTE: This is in no way binding. You are free to use the data on your own. You are not expected or required to contact or work with us in any way. This is simply a suggestion.) - Please acknowledge the source of the data set as the LVIS team/ project and the appropriate NASA Grant numbers responsible for funding these data sets in any publications using these data and documentation (see LVIS Citations) - Consider notifying (a simple email will suffice) the LVIS Principal Investigator when any derivative work based on or derived from the data and/or documentation is distributed or presented. (We always appreciate when our data is used and helps result in scientific publications.) - When derivatives of the LVIS data are distributed in any way, notify subsequent users that such derivative work is not the original LVIS data and/or documentation distributed on the LVIS web site - Do not redistribute original data and documentation yourself, instead please direct individuals to http://lvis.gsfc.nasa.gov. It is important that we have the ability to contact users of LVIS data so that we can notify them when we upload new data sets and/or correct mistakes in the existing data sets. - If you would like to share your work with us, we would greatly appreciate it if you would notify us and/or send a reprint of any publications resulting from the use of the data and/or documentation

Use Constraints

See data use at the project home page.

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory, Solar Systems Exploration Division, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA    [Information] Data Center URL: http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.main&&na... Data Center Personnel Name: JAMES B BLAIR Phone: 301-614-6741 Email: James.B.Blair at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Mailstop 694.0 City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution_Media: Online Fees: No fees

Personnel

JAMES B BLAIR Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT Phone: 301-614-6741 Email: James.B.Blair at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Mailstop 694.0 City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA

TYLER B. STEVENS Role: DIF AUTHOR Phone: (301) 614-6898 Fax: 301-614-5268 Email: Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov Contact Address: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Global Change Master Directory City: Greenbelt Province or State: MD Postal Code: 20771 Country: USA