Weekly Photo Highlight: Beam Squad
LIDAR-Equipped Drone Set to Aid Coastal Erosion Monitoring on a California Beach
A LIDAR-equipped drone is being prepared for launch to aid in coastal erosion monitoring efforts. The launch location is a beach north of La Jolla, California, and the project is being overseen by researcher Adam Young.
The drone's primary purpose is to supplement the ongoing monitoring efforts, which are currently being carried out using a pickup truck equipped with a LIDAR system. The drone's capabilities expand the scope of coastal erosion monitoring, allowing it to access areas inaccessible to the truck and map features not visible from the beach.
The drone is equipped with topographic LIDAR, which enables it to map shoreline features including coastal cliffs, beaches, dunes, and other landforms subject to erosion. When combined with bathymetric LIDAR (which penetrates shallow water), it can also map underwater coastal environments such as seabed contours, coastal reefs, and shallow marine habitats.
The drone's functions are not limited to the beach area. It can map the top of the cliff, monitor wave run-up, and be used during high tides when the beach is too narrow. By generating dense point cloud data, the drone enables the creation of precise 3D models over time to assess erosion rates and inform coastal management decisions.
By providing detailed, repeated 3D maps of both shorelines and adjacent shallow marine environments, the drone detects changes in landforms and sediments that are vital for understanding and managing coastal erosion processes effectively. When combined with other datasets like satellite imagery or sonar, the drone LIDAR helps produce a robust environmental model to support sustainable coastal planning.
Research and development engineer Brian Woodward and Greg Boyd from Scripps Oceanography are involved in the preparation of the drone. Adam Young confirmed the drone's functions and benefits, stating that it will provide valuable data for coastal erosion research and management.
[1] Coastal Monitoring and Management with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): A Review, Journal of Coastal Research, 2019. [3] LiDAR for Coastal Zone Management, Coastal Management, 2016.
- The LIDAR-equipped drone, a valuable technology, will enhance its capabilities, providing data for coastal erosion research and management, complementing the gadgets like the pickup truck equipped with a LIDAR system.
- The drone's advanced gadgetry, including topographic and bathymetric LIDAR, enables it to generate detailed 3D maps, helping in understanding and managing coastal erosion processes effectively, a significant contribution to the field of technology.
