CITY OF KEY WEST TO CONDUCT ROAD ELEVATION SURVEY

Specialized trucks collect LIDAR data in Marathon to evaluate road elevations for future hardening of city streets and facilities. CONTRIBUTED

Painted arrow targets used to align multiple map scans together. CONTRIBUTED

September 12, 2023 - From September 18th through October 6th, specialized trucks with the name “wood” on the side will be driving Key West streets collecting LiDAR data to evaluate the city’s road elevations.  LiDAR stands for Light Imaging Distance and Ranging and will enable the City to better plan, prioritize and budget elevation projects by vastly improving its street elevation data. The effort is part of a larger strategy to strengthen and harden the City’s infrastructure and facilities in accordance with anticipated sea level rise as well as storm surge and flooding. Staff is already preparing to use the data to further stormwater, tidal, and sea level rise planning projects.

“We want the citizens of Key West to be fully informed about our efforts to protect the City and anticipate future areas of concern,” said Key West Sustainability Coordinator Alison Higgins.  “These maps are important groundwork for our upcoming Climate Adaptation Plan.” 

Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions Inc. has performed LiDAR surveys for Monroe County and all other incorporated areas, working north to south. In Key West, Wood will evaluate 72 miles of road and the first floor elevations for critical facilities. Wood crews will be setting up the control survey for Key West in mid-September, by either painting or taping temporary arrow-like markings onto City streets. These markings are used to help the scanner match images together to enable a centimeter’s accurate picture of our road elevations. 

To stay up to date on the City’s Climate Adaptation Plan, go to www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov and look for the notify me button.  From there you can sign up to receive updates via email.