Comparing the utility of LiDAR data vs. multi-spectral imagery for parcel scale water demand modeling

In this paper we examine whether land-cover measures derived from multi-spectral (MS) imagery in combination with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data sources better predict parcel scale urban water consumption than measures derived solely from MS imagery. Land-cover measures such as the percentage of impervious surface and vegetative cover are important predictors of household level water use. This study found that the additional effort required to obtain LiDAR data does not appear to add predictive power for water demand modeling. We suggest that MS imagery is just as useful estimating household level water demand.