Skip Links

USGS HomeContact USGSSearch USGS

Scientific Investigations Map 3049

Pubs Warehouse

## State of Louisiana—Highlighting Low-Lying Areas Derived from USGS Digital Elevation Data

#### By John J. Kosovich

| Abstract
In support of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) disaster preparedness efforts, this map depicts a color shaded relief representation highlighting the State of Louisiana and depicts the surrounding areas using muted elevation colors.  The first 30 feet of relief above mean sea level are displayed as brightly colored 5-foot elevation bands, which highlight low-elevation areas at a coarse spatial resolution.  Areas below sea level typically are surrounded by levees or some other type of flood-control structures.  Standard USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 arc-second (nominally 30-meter) digital elevation model (DEM) data are the basis for the map, which is designed to be used at a broad scale and for informational purposes only.

The NED data are a mixture of data and were derived from the original 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic map bare-earth contours, which were converted into gridded quadrangle-based DEM tiles at a constant post spacing (grid cell size) of either 30 meters (data before the mid-1990s) or 10 meters (mid-1990s and later data).  These individual-quadrangle DEMs were then converted to spherical coordinates (latitude/longitude decimal degrees) and edge-matched to ensure seamlessness.  Approximately one-half of the area shown on this map has DEM source data at a 30-meter resolution, with the remaining half consisting of mostly 10-meter contour-derived DEM data and some small areas of higher-resolution LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) data along parts of the coastline.

Areas below sea level typically are surrounded by levees or some other type of flood-control structures.

State and parish boundary, hydrography, city, and road layers were modified from USGS National Atlas data downloaded in 2003.  The NED data were downloaded in 2007. | Version 1.0

Posted November 2008
-  **Map** PDF (51.7 MB) 
-  **Downloads** Directory  Contains: geospatial database. Refer to the Readme and Metadata files for more information. 
-  **Order a Print** from the USGS Store 

**For additional information contact:**          USGS Central Region Geospatial Information Office          Federal Center          Box 25286          Denver, CO 80225

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

----

### Suggested citation:

Kosovich, J.J., 2008, State of Louisiana—Highlighting low-lying areas derived from USGS digital elevation data: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3049, scale 1:700,000.

AccessibilityFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey	URL: *http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/sim/3049/index.html*	Questions or Assistance: Contact USGS	Last modified: Thursday, 01-Dec-2016 17:12:24 EST