Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Visualization Technician Intern

Organization: TealWaters

Available Internship Positions: 2

Total Hours: 25 (20 hours per week with TealWaters and 5 hours per week with the EarthLab cohort)

Total Summer Stipend: $4,950 disbursed over the 9-week internship plus a one-time $180 transportation stipend

Location:

Internship Activities: Hybrid – Most team meetings after initial onboarding will be hybrid however, the work will require in-person time in the UW Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory (Wallace Hall, as well as field visits to wetlands surrounding UW campus and Seattle. All transportation to the field sites will be provided.*

• Most data collection with the terrestrial laser scanner will require a full 8 hours in the field. We expect 5-7 days (non-consecutive) involving this work.

Cohort Meetings: In-person and required every Tuesday at the EarthLab Office located in Condon Hall

About Host Organization: TealWaters is pioneering cloud-based tools for mapping and modeling wetlands across the United States and beyond, and new methods for modeling connections among wetlands, rivers, and other waters. Our platform uniquely identifies wetland locations and restoration potential, offering precise estimates of environmental benefits like water storage, carbon storage, and biodiversity. TealWaters provides a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive platform that integrates tools for wetland mapping, functional assessment, restoration prioritization, and decision-support all in one place. Our cloud-based system provides free access to national-scale data. We also offer customizable services for users seeking finer-resolution data and expert guidance. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts spanning 23 disciplines such as remote sensing, AI/machine learning, hydrology, ecology, geomorphology, policy, art, environmental humanities, and user-centered design. We work collaboratively with indigenous tribes, local governments, and global partners to deliver cutting-edge products tailored to specific user needs, from local managers to global organizations.

Tasks and Activities:

Two interns will complete the project.

• Intern A: LiDAR data processing and visualization techniques.
• Intern B: Story map content and communications.

The interns in these positions will create visualizations and story maps that demonstrate how terrestrial LiDAR enhances wetland mapping.

See below for more specified tasks by position:

Intern A & B Tasks:

• Develop LiDAR data acquisition protocols and field plans
• Conduct GIS-based site reconnaissance and select scan locations
• Set up control targets, collect terrestrial LiDAR scans, and capture field notes
• Organize, document and archive raw data, metadata, and versioned project files

Intern A Tasks:

• Register point clouds, georeference to control, and perform quality control
• Classify points (ground/vegetation/structures) and remove noise/water artifacts
• Generate products: DEM/DTM, DSM, canopy metrics, cross-sections, intensity maps

Intern B Tasks:

• Create visualizations: shaded relief, hillshade, slope/aspect, profiles, 3D scenes
• Write and publish a story map (content, narrative, figures, captions, credits); this task will also include interviews with TealWaters scientists
• Document methods, maintain a workflow log, and prepare a brief methods guide
• Coordinate with the supervisor; present progress and incorporate feedback

The story maps created will be published online and credited to the interns. Additionally, all the data collected and produced by the interns will be used by TealWaters to develop algorithm pipelines to integrate terrestrial lidar in fine resolution wetland and hydrology characterization.

Takeaways: The interns in this position will:

• Design field protocols and GIS-based site plans for terrestrial LiDAR in wetlands, these will be in-house white papers for TealWaters and will results in resume ready citations
• Acquire LiDAR datasets and ground control; maintain complete metadata and logs
• Process and register point clouds; perform quality control and point classification
• Produce geospatial products (DTM/DSM, intensity maps, cross-sections, canopy metrics)
• Create analysis-ready datasets for TealWaters’ algorithm development pipelines
• Develop and publish online story maps; write methods and workflow documentation

The Candidate best suited for this position:

Required

• Basic GIS proficiency: ArcGIS Pro

Preferred

• Taken coursework in GIS/Remote Sensing
• Familiarity with writing technical memos, methods docs, and story map narratives
• Strong attention to detail and data management discipline
• Comfort working outdoors in wetland environments