Skip to main content

Welcome

The mission of the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) is to:

  • Provide research-quality airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) observations to the scientific community.
  • Advance the state of the art in airborne laser mapping.
  • Train and educate graduate students with knowledge of airborne mapping to meet the needs of academic institutions, government agencies, and private industry.

NCALM is based at the University of Houston and is operated in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley. The center is supported by the National Science Foundation and is associated with the multi-disciplinary Geosensing Systems Engineering & Sciences graduate program at the University of Houston.

News

CEE’s Milillo, International Team Expose Weakness in Bridges Worldwide

Study Shows North American, African Bridges Most at Risk; Scientists Propose Satellite Monitoring to Prevent Failures By: Laurie Fickman A scientist at the University of Houston’s Cullen… 		Pietro Milillo and an international team propose monitoring bridge stability from space. (Credit: Cullen College of Engineering)
CEE's Lee Seeks to Further Expand Flood Forecasting Framework

By: Alex Keimig Kaspar J. Willam Professor Hyongki Lee's satellite-driven inundation forecasting framework, Forecasting Inundation Extents using REOF (Rotated Empirical Orthogonal Function… 		Hyongki Lee's satellite-driven inundation forecasting framework, FIER, has received funding from both NASA and NOAA. (Credit: Cullen College of Engineering)
NCALM Seed Project Program to Focus on Alaskan Acquisitions

2025 Seed Proposal Period: August 25, 2025–January 25, 2026 The National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping surveys up to seven projects every year (each covering no more than 40 km2) for… 		Hillshade from Lidar of Landslide in Denali National Park & Preserve, AK.
NGA Awards Up to $2.1M for NCALM Geodesy Expansion

By: Alex Keimig Kaspar J. Willam Professor Hyongki Lee (PI) and co-PIs Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Chair Professor Craig Glennie, Research Associate Professor… 		NGA Awards Up to $2.1M for NCALM Geodesy Expansion
NCALM Unveils 2024 Seed Proposal Awardees

Advancing Geoscience with Lidar Data The National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping supports innovative geoscience research through its Seed Proposal Program. Each year, NCALM surveys up to… 		National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping