Woolpert collects the data by flying aircraft over coastal areas–the planes are equipped with lidar lasers that can see all the way down to the sea floor along the coastlines.
The data collected is then used by government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update its coastal maps and charts.
"It's the underlying data that the engineers and planners and experts take and use to design and build infrastructure on."
That’s Jeff Lovin, Woolpert's senior vice president. On top of that, he said rising sea levels and extreme weather in coastal areas resulting from climate change make the data they collect even more important to protect lives and economies.
"You need good, accurate data to engineer, plan and build off of to make these coastlines and cities more resilient to these storms and rising sea levels,” Lovin said.
Woolpert received two previous versions of the contract in 2017 and 2019.
Chris Welter is a reporter and corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
