Lidar data for natural release experiment at the USGS Debris Flow Flume 17 May 2017

Lidar data were collected on 17 May 2017 at the USGS debris-flow flume (44.215, -122.254) to monitor the movement of a constructed landslide experiment. A static prism of sediment was emplaced behind a retaining wall at the top of the flume. Water was added via sprinklers to the surface and also via pipes to the subsurface, in order to saturate the sediment mass. The sediment mass eventually failed as a debris flow and moved down the flume. Lidar data were collected from a Riegl VZ-400 terrestrial laser scanner to capture the mass failure. The laser scanner was modified, so that rather than scanning in a 360 degree motion, as it is designed, it only scanned a narrow swath (approximately 1 mm) along the full profile of the constructed [...]