Collection, Processing, and Accuracy of Mobile Terrestrial LiDAR Survey Data in the Coastal Environment

Using terrestrial LiDAR scanners coupled with a global position system/inertial navigation system to collect elevation data along the coast can help assess the accuracy of the data.

Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Monitoring the coastline and its surroundings necessitates frequent sampling and mapping to understand the coastal processes and provide guidance for management decisions. Obstacles include continuous tide and wave influence on the morphology as well as the stability of permanent control monuments. The challenges of mapping and monitoring the coastal terrain given the dynamic nature of the system have evolved over the years, with increased spatial and temporal sampling.

Early techniques relied on repeated, cross-shore transects using a survey transit and level rod. The electronic transit integrated with a distance meter (total station theodolite) increased the number of measurements. This was followed by the development of the satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) and LiDAR units, capable of high point-density, three-dimensional (3D) geospatial data. Also known as laser scanning systems, LiDAR has since been coupled with position and orientation sensors, enabling mobile mapping systems (MMS) utilized on both aerial and terrestrial platforms.