[UPDATE 06/04/2008] I downloaded a randomly-selected LiDAR data point in Middlesex County through the Google Earth interface.  The download (a 664 MB ZIP file) took a few minutes to start, but then proceeded smoothly.  The ZIP file unzips into a ~1.3 GB LAS file, and a (seemingly) very complete and thorough HTML metadata file.

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This very welcome piece of news comes to us courtesy of Ron Pristas from the New Jersey Geological Survey.

LiDAR data are now available for Hunterdon and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. Check them out using the USGS web-based GIS data viewer.  The USGS provides an option (a KMZ file) to view the LiDAR coverage (and download data) through Google Earth, which I am testing as I write this.

The USGS web GIS viewer itself merits a separate blog entry. For now just notice the php in the URL. Go, USGS!