3D LiDAR-based Modeling of Mount Vernon's Viewshed

In an effort to preserve the view shed from the historic home of George Washington, Mount Vernon has increasingly turned toward GIS in its conservation efforts.  From property research and data collection to LiDAR and 3D analysis, GIS is informing our efforts to identify areas at risk of development, preserve land, and reach out to landowners.

Recently, Mount Vernon and its partners have embarked on an ambitious project to transform LiDAR point clouds into digital surface models that depict current vegetative conditions for the surrounding landscapes. Using these high resolution surface models, Mount Vernon is able to understand the anticipated visual impact of proposed development and work with local conservation organizations and county planning and zoning departments to incorporate viewshed impacts into the permitting process and target conservation where appropriate.