UP opens access to high-res map data of Taal Volcano and its surroundings

The University of the Philippines (UP) has allowed public access to high-resolution map data on Taal Volcano and its surrounding areas, two weeks after the volcano showed signs of unrest.

According to the UP Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry (TCAGP), some of the data—which can be viewed for free here—are comprised of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point clouds, Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and Orthophotographs (ORTHO).

LiDAR technology uses laser light beams to quickly and accurately map the surface of the land.

"The main use of the LiDAR point clouds and DEM are to give detailed topographic information. You can think of them as the main raw digital data used to make topographic maps," said TCAGP assistant professor Mark Tupas.

According to him, the map has a "high resolution of 1m and a high vertical accuracy of 20 cm."

"It can be used to determine profiles and cross-sections which can be used in designing infrastructure. It can also be used to get details from above-ground structures like heights and other measurements," he added.

Tupas, however, emphasized that the data was collected before the Taal Volcano eruptions, and that they should be used "with caution due to reported ground deformation."

In an email interview with GMA News Online, the professor said that the data—which was collected from 2014 to 2017—was not updated in real-time.

"To get these types of high accuracy data we need to fly our airborne systems, process them with specialized software, calibrate, and validate them. Given the resources, UP TCAGP would be more than happy to collect new data," Tupas said.

Laymen and non-scientists who wish to use the map data first need to have basic knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Tupas added that some GIS users have already started making their own visualizations and analysis using the data.

Previously, the high-resolution map data of Taal Volcano and its surroundings was available only to the government, and to researchers and scientists who had to submit data access requests.

"With the concurrence of our partners and co-implementors, what's new is that we released them openly, meaning anybody can freely and easily access the data no questions asked...The more people have access, more people would be able to create added value and analysis out of these data to help out the calamity stricken area," Tupas said.

On Thursday, alert level 3 was still maintained over Taal Volcano as magmatic activity continued beneath it. — BM, GMA News