89-1 President's Medal: Advancing Geoscience Research and Education with Open Topographic Data and Tools

Session: Advancing Earthquake Geology and Surficial Deformation from Geologic Provinces to Political Entities through Multidisciplinary High-Resolution Data

Presenting Author:

J. Ramon Arrowsmith

Authors:

Crosby, Christopher J.¹, Scott, Chelsea², Nandigam, Viswanath³, Arrowsmith, J. Ramon⁴, Beckley, Matt⁵, Brigham, Cassandra⁶, Phan, Minh⁷, Zawacki, Emily Elizabeth⁸

Abstract:

Topographic data serve as a three-dimensional reference for understanding the Earth's surface, including its topography, vegetation cover, and built environment. These data illuminate Earth surface processes at meter to tens-of-meters scales over large swaths of the globe, generating novel insights with broad applications. The availability of high-resolution topography has revolutionized geosciences.

Utilizing high resolution topographic data to its full potential is a challenge due to massive data volumes, computer-heavy processing, and the expertise required to accurately interpret the data. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), OpenTopography provides efficient community access to these powerful data along with processing tools to facilitate scientific discoveries and innovative applications. 

Making topographic data openly available for the study of active fault zones as an original motivation for OpenTopography. The platform has enabled mapping tectonic landforms, delineating fault zones, reconstructing deformed landscapes, and calculating topographic change.

OpenTopography centralizes access to data, processing services, and knowledge resources to increase the impact of topographic data. Over 300,000 users from diverse communities and applications areas (including many students) have accessed OpenTopography, with over 1200 peer-reviewed publications citing OpenTopography data and processing services with scientific impacts in the earth, environmental, and ecological sciences and beyond. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-6135

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