Featured Project
Mississippi Digital Earth Model NDH to 3DEP Transition
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Statewide, Mississippi
Waggoner (as part of Mississippi Geographic Information, LLC) was contracted by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to serve as the program manager for the team building seven foundational data layers for hydrology in the Mississippi Digital Earth Model (MDEM). Waggoner now leads the team conducting Mississippi’s first 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) project in the Upper Pearl HUC-8 watershed. This initiative significantly leverages high-resolution LiDAR data to improve hydrographic mapping, benefiting statewide flood risk management, water quality monitoring, and environmental resilience efforts.
3D Elevation Program
USGS program for 3D representations of the Nation’s natural and constructed features.
The NDH to 3DEP Program
The National Digital Hydrologic (NDH) Framework to 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) initiative by the US Geological Survey (USGS) aims to enhance the integration of hydrography and topographic data. This program supports the development of a high-resolution 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP), leveraging high-accuracy LiDAR-derived elevation data to improve water resource management, flood modeling, and infrastructure planning.
For Mississippi’s MDEM program, the NDH to 3DEP transition provides:
- Improved Flood Risk Management – Enhanced hydrography data supports more accurate floodplain mapping and risk assessments.
- Better Emergency Response Planning – High-resolution elevation models improve disaster preparedness and response strategies.
- Enhanced Water Resource Management – Supports better watershed modeling, streamflow analysis, and conservation efforts.
- Infrastructure Resilience – Provides crucial data for designing and protecting transportation, utilities, and critical infrastructure.
- Increased Funding and Collaboration – Aligning with USGS programs strengthens funding opportunities and partnerships for Mississippi agencies.