|
World Trade Center
NOAA Images
NOAA's
National Geodetic Survey and Aircraft
Operations Center mapped the wreckage of the World Trade Center in support of recovery and cleanup
efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. The data are being used to
provide a very accurate geographic network. Building and utility engineers will
be able to determine the location of original foundation support structures,
elevator shafts, basement storage areas and building utility connections
enabling them to concentrate their digging and recovery efforts in the proper
location.
These images will also provide
very accurate height measurements as the recovery efforts descend into the
basement, to mitigate possible flooding from the surrounding rivers as well as
to determine the volume of debris and the reach needed by cranes to remove it.
NOAA aerial photo of
ground zero where the World Trade Center once stood taken Sept. 23, 2001.
Credit "NOAA."
Digital Surface
Models created by the LIDAR system provide very accurate 3-dimensional
positioning of the building structures and the surrounding area. The 3-D models,
in this case, have helped to locate original support structures, stairwells,
elevator shafts, basements, etc. When this data is merged with the high
resolution aerial photography taken by NOAA's Citation aircraft, it will create
a very accurate image with relative accuracy around three decimeters.
credit:NOAA
|
