Chestnut Hill Conservancy

With the amazing advances made in technology, it is now so much easier to understand our place in the world and how we got there. One such advance is Lidar- light detection and ranging. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes Lidar as “a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system—generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.”

In built-up urban areas, Lidar technology tends to “remove” all buildings from the landscape, revealing the topography as it would appear without them. In undeveloped areas, Lidar does the same for vegetation, allowing the viewer to see the topography beneath uninterrupted. In the case of the Wissahickon Valley, it can be especially useful, as it shows traces of many man-made structures that are long fallen into disuse. For example, in the Lidar image shown here, Cresheim Creek appears as a dark area running vertically on the left. Towards the right center running diagonally is SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill West rail line.

Between the two are the curves of Cresheim Valley Drive and the right-of-way of what was to be an extension of Lincoln Drive. The latter was created circa 1932 to connect Lincoln Drive north of Allen’s Lane with the section of Lincoln Drive leading to Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill. Though the section in the woods was once paved, it was never opened and was abandoned. It then gradually became overgrown with vegetation, and Lidar helped make it more visible once again.

For more information about Lidar, visit NOAA’s website at https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lidar.html

For Lidar content for Philadelphia available via Penn State University, visit https://maps.psiee.psu.edu/preview/map.ashx?layer=7153

Save the date and join the Chestnut Hill Conservancy on Saturday, May 30, for a memorable evening at a historic Chestnut Hill PA house at our 2026 Spring Gala.

Join the Conservancy for a memorable evening in the garden of Binderton in Chestnut Hill. Binderton was designed by architects Cope and Stewardson in the Jacobethan style and built in 1903 for its first owner, J. Wilmer Biddle. The house features a garden designed by James Frederick Dawson, of the Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects.

The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s 2026 Spring Gala is made possible through the generous support of our Lead Sponsor, Chubb, as well as our General Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and Gala Benefactors. We are grateful to our Spring Gala Sponsors, including Jacobson Strategic Communications, Kurtz Construction Company, Peter Zimmerman Architects, Practiced Hands Tree Care, and Springer Capital.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Learn more at https://chconservancy.org/support/2026-spring-gala/