These are the guidelines that defined technical policy and procedures that were to be followed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Study Contractors in the performance of Flood Insurance Studies and the production of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and related products in support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

As part of its original Map Modernization Plan, FEMA performed an assessment of advanced technologies for possible use in the preparation of FIRMs and related products. In April 1999, FEMA completed Appendix 4B, which presented the guidelines and specifications that were required for the application of Airborne LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) systems for gathering the data necessary to create digital elevation models, digital terrain maps, and other NFIP products.

The Study Contractor Guidelines, including Appendix 4B, were superseded in February 2002 when FEMA released Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners.

Study Contractor Guidelines and Specifications

Appendix 4B: Airborne LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) Systems

These Guidelines and an array of other useful FEMA, NFIP, and Flood Map Modernization resources are now located in the FEMA Library. To search for other resources in the FEMA Library, please click here.