Are project locations outside the United States accepted?
Projects must be in the contiguous/conterminous United States. Projects outside of the contiguous U.S. will not be funded under the NCALM NOW program.
What airborne platform will be used to collect data?
An airplane or helicopter will be used (no UAS), depending on what platform is available for the mapping campaign. There is not an option to choose.
Can a specific instrument be requested?
NCALM generally chooses the most cost-effective platform for acquiring the dataset. Only in some cases will there be an opportunity to specify instrument type.
Will NCALM collect bathymetry data?
We will consider proposals to collect bathymetry data for an NCALM NOW project.
Can aerial photography or hyperspectral imagery be requested?
NCALM NOW proposals are for airborne topographic lidar data only. We will consider, on a case-by-base basis, other types of data collection (e.g., bathymetry, aerial photography, or hyperspectral imaging).
What data density (i.e. points/m2) will be acquired?
NCALM will work with the proposing investigators to determine the correct point density for acquisition. In general, point densities from 8–40 points/m2 are normally acquired for airborne acquisitions, and the higher the data density, the smaller the acquisition area that can be supported.
Can specific mapping dates be requested?
NCALM will attempt to meet the requirements for perishable data collection. However, it cannot be guaranteed that data will be collected on an exact chosen date due to weather and airborne operational constraints.
Can special point cloud classifications be requested?
NCALM will run a ground classification algorithm on the data. Data will be classified as ground and non-ground. Special classifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can the project be split into multiple areas?
A single box is preferred, but multiple boxes will be considered if located in the same general area and within reason.
Can the project location be changed after an NCALM NOW acquisition is granted?
Substantive changes in the context are not allowed.
Do NCALM NOW awards include financial support for the university PI and/or their students?
NCALM NOW projects do not provide financial support to the proposing PI. Awards are for data collection only. However, PIs and/or students are encouraged to meet with staff in Houston or Berkeley (either virtually or in person) to learn more about the post-processing of their data.
Can multiple flights be requested for change detection, etc.?
Repeat data collection proposals can be supported if they are justified by the intellectual merit of the proposal.
Can investigators from foreign universities submit an NCALM NOW proposal?
Investigators must be full-time faculty or research staff at a U.S. institution to be eligible. NCALM NOW funding comes from the U.S. National Science Foundation.