The US Army has awarded Ohio-based Woolpert a $49.9 million, two-year contract to continue supporting the Interagency Airborne Technologies for Lidar, Analysis, and Surveying (I-ATLAS) program, which delivers coastal mapping and nautical charting services for federal agencies.
The I-ATLAS initiative provides airborne lidar bathymetry data and analytical support to organizations such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard. Under the new contract, Woolpert will handle operations, maintenance, and technical support for program missions, including managing lidar sensor systems, processing survey data, and generating geospatial products.
In addition to operational responsibilities, the company will carry out scientific research, develop technical documentation, and assist with system upgrades and modifications. Airborne lidar bathymetry uses laser-based sensing to capture both terrain elevation and shallow-water depths, enabling precise mapping of coastlines, rivers, and nearshore regions.
These datasets are vital for applications such as dredging, shoreline monitoring, sediment analysis, flood risk assessment, and updating nautical charts to ensure safe navigation. The program has also proven critical in post-disaster scenarios, providing rapid geospatial insights following major storms like Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Maria, and Florence.
Woolpert, which has been involved in I-ATLAS since 2010, will continue its support through March 2028 under the new agreement.
