Gridded and reduced point cloud of Devils Sink Hole

Research by Reuben Reyes and Dr. Jerome A. Bellian

The University of Texas at Austin

LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes
Low resolution gridded point cloud data with intensity in VRML format.

LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITH INTENSITY  
  Full data reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 1,151,133  
  File size 8,116,600 bytes  
LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITH INTENSITY  
  1st half reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 553,057  
  File size 3,873,704 bytes  
LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITH INTENSITY  
  2nd half reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 598,778  
  File size 4,227,145 bytes  



Low resolution gridded point cloud data without intensity in VRML format.

LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITHOUT INTENSITY  
  Full data reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 1,151,132  
  File size 5,700,473 bytes  
LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITHOUT INTENSITY  
  1st half reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 553,056  
  File size 2,719,245 bytes  
LIDAR Point Cloud of Devils Sink Hole by Reuben Reyes

  WITHOUT INTENSITY  
  2nd half reduced by gridding  
  Total number of points: 598,778  
  File size 2,984,893 bytes  

Lidar mapping and surface of Devil's Sink hole


This is a detailed 3D (3- to 4-cm point spacing) laser map of a stunning geological feature of the Edwards Plateau.   The purpose of this multifaceted study includes public outreach for the Devils Sinkhole Natural Area, and it offers quantitative data for geological and biological studies of karst and karst-hosted aquifers, as well as cave research.   The data collected provide insight into the relative timing of the formation of the sinkhole and may provide additional analog data for modeling of subsurface paleokarst systems.

Devils Sinkhole, located northeast of Rocksprings in Edwards County, Texas, was "discovered" in 1867 and is a registered National Natural Landmark.   This exquisite karst feature of south- central Texas offers a chance to observe a near-vertical >100-m (>325-ft) stratigraphic section of the Lower Cretaceous, lowermost Washita and Edwards Groups.   The depth of the sinkhole 107 m (351 ft) has earned its standing of third-deepest cave in Texas.   The anomalous cave depth reaches below the water table, making it ideal for Edwards aquifer monitoring.   The underground freshwater lakes around Devils' perimeter support two unique crustacean species an endemic amphipod and a rare aquatic isopod.   The walls of the sinkhole support a Mexican fern species found in few other locations in the United States.   A seasonal population of Brazilian freetail bats leaves the sinkhole each night to forage for insects.   In the bat "off-season," a population of three to four thousand cave swallows inhabits the sinkhole.   Because access to the pit is restricted, the lidar model will allow visitors to experience Devils from the inside out and to take virtual tours from a bat's eye view.


Lidar scanning, mapping and research of this data set by Jerome A. Bellian
Surface rendering and 3D point cloud processing by Reuben Reyes


This project was funded by a grant from contributions by:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Cave Management Association
National Speleological Society National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Devils Sinkhole Society George Veni and Associates
Daniel Holman Photography Kevin McGowan Photography
Pigeon Mountain Industries Bat Conservation International
Will Howie Jerry Atkinson
Don Auburn


How to view VRML models?
You will need a VRML viewer or VRML client for your browser in order to view VRML models.
For Windows use Cortona, Blaxxum, Octaga or Cosmo.   For Mac OS X use Cortona.   For SGI Irix use Cosmo and for Linux use Octaga.


 ParallelGraphics
Cortona
 Blaxxum
3D Viewer
 Cosmo
Player
 Octaga
Player


BEG RCRL