Bowman Wins $3.9M USGS Lidar & Hydrography Contracts

Consulting firm to conduct airborne lidar data acquisition and produce elevation-derived hydrography products across multiple states.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:08am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. has announced a $3.9 million contract with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct airborne lidar data acquisition and produce elevation-derived hydrography products. The deal, executed through the Merrick–Surdex Joint Venture, will see Bowman collecting data across Missouri, Kansas, and Alabama to support a range of applications including infrastructure planning, flood risk assessment, precision agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

Why it matters

The contract reflects the growing demand for high-resolution geospatial data across multiple sectors. Accurate elevation data is crucial for designing effective drainage systems, predicting floodplains, and optimizing irrigation strategies. The USGS's 3D Hydrography Program, which will benefit from the elevation-derived hydrography products, demonstrates the increasing need for comprehensive geospatial coverage.

The details

The new contract will see Bowman conducting data acquisition using airborne lidar, a remote sensing method that uses laser light to create detailed 3D models of the Earth's surface. This data will then be used to produce elevation-derived hydrography products, which map water features like rivers, streams, and lakes more efficiently and accurately than traditional surveying methods.

  • The contract was announced on March 24, 2026.

The players

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd.

A publicly traded consulting firm that provides a range of services including geospatial data acquisition and analysis.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

A scientific agency of the U.S. government that conducts research and collects data on the nation's natural resources, including water, energy, and land.

Merrick–Surdex Joint Venture (MSJV)

A joint venture between Merrick & Company and Surdex Corporation that has a long-standing relationship with the USGS for geospatial data projects.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These assignments 'strengthen our federal backlog of high-value revenue and increase the long-term visibility of manned-aerial revenue.'”

— Gary Bowman, Founder and CEO of Bowman Consulting Group Ltd.

What’s next

Bowman anticipates further opportunities as the USGS advances national initiatives requiring consistent, high-quality topographic data, including the upcoming GPSC5 award cycle in 2026.

The takeaway

This contract highlights the growing importance of high-resolution geospatial data across various industries, as well as the strategic use of joint ventures to tackle large-scale, complex projects in the geospatial market.