New Mexico's Economy Boosted by 3D Elevation Program

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has released a new fact sheet highlighting its economic benefits to New Mexico. The program, which provides high-resolution topographic data, addresses critical management needs and supports various business uses. The 3DEP's lidar data creation a highly detailed three-dimensional model of the Earth's surface and above-ground features has estimated to result in at least $9.32 million in new benefits annually to the state.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 3DEP provides high-quality light detection and ranging (lidar) data, which creates a highly detailed three-dimensional (3D) model of the Earth's surface and above-ground features.
  • The National Enhanced Elevation Assessment estimated that the availability of this lidar data would result in at least $9.32 million in new benefits annually to New Mexico.
  • The top ten business uses for 3D elevation data in New Mexico, based on this assessment, include:

+ Infrastructure and construction management ($3.26 million)

+ Natural resources conservation ($3.25 million)

+ Flood risk management ($1.15 million)

+ Agriculture and precision farming ($0.51 million)

+ Geologic resource assessment and hazard mitigation ($0.47 million)

  • The collection of quality level 2 lidar data has been completed in New Mexico, primarily funded by federal and local sources.
  • The USGS manages the 3DEP in partnership with various agencies to acquire consistent lidar coverage.
  • The data can be used for a wide range of applications, such as preliminary highway design, evaluating existing roadway conditions, and creating more accurate and less expensive hydraulic models for flood studies.
  • The New Mexico office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to acquire additional high-resolution lidar data.

Statistics:

  • $9.32 million: Estimated new benefits annually to New Mexico due to 3DEP's lidar data.
  • $3.26 million: Estimated benefits from infrastructure and construction management.
  • $3.25 million: Estimated benefits from natural resources conservation.
  • $1.15 million: Estimated benefits from flood risk management.
  • $0.51 million: Estimated benefits from agriculture and precision farming.
  • $0.47 million: Estimated benefits from geologic resource assessment and hazard mitigation.

Sources:

  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (2025). The 3D Elevation Program--Supporting New Mexico's Economy. Fact Sheet 2025-3014.
  • National Enhanced Elevation Assessment. (n.d.). National Enhanced Elevation Assessment.