Overview of the coastal zone mapping and imaging lidar (CZMIL): a new multisensor airborne mapping system for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Abstract

CZMIL is a new airborne mapping and imaging system designed to simultaneously produce high resolution 3D images of the beach and shallow water seafloor, and to achieve benthic classification and water column characterization. It is designed to have high performance in shallow, turbid waters. The Data Acquisition System (DAS) is composed of a new bathymetric lidar integrated with a commercial imaging spectrometer and digital metric camera. The Data Processing System (DPS) employs new algorithms and software designed to automatically produce environmental image products by combining data from the three sensors within a data fusion paradigm. CZMIL is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the USACE Coastal Mapping Program, and is scheduled to enter field trials in the spring of 2011.

Shallow water seagrass observed by high resolution full waveform bathymetric LiDAR

“…For example, for topography, full waveform was used to determine forest inventory and biomass, especially for the detection of low vegetation that discrete LiDAR returns was unable to identify [6]. In bathymetry, the fusion of the passive hyperspectral imagery and active full waveform LiDAR has helped to improve both the detection and classification of object under water surfaces, water column scattering properties and water depth measurements [7,8]. However, shallow water LiDAR bathymetry full waveform processing has a number of challenging characteristics; for instance the signal returns from the water surface, water column and the benthic layers returns overlap both temporally and spatially.…”

Assimilation of Airborne Imagery with a Wave Model for Bathymetric Estimation

“…The USGS Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL-B; Wright et al, 2014a) and the USACE Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging Lidar (CZMIL; Tuell, Barbor, and Wozencraft, 2010) are examples of mapping systems that provide high-resolution topobathymetric lidar data. These instruments can acquire land elevation and water-depth data simultaneously, which results in data that are ideal inputs for topobathymetric elevation models.…”

Analysis of MABEL Bathymetry in Keweenaw Bay and Implications for ICESat-2 ATLAS

“…One noticeable exception is the relatively low number of observed photoelectrons in the 0-1 m depth range for both the high and low energy channels. This is not unexpected, as the shallow nearshore zone generally poses challenges for all bathymetric lidar systems [68][69][70]. The challenges associated with this depth range stem from a number of environmental factors in the surf zone, such as breaking waves, the associated bubbles, foam, and re-suspended sediment, which are often unavoidable.…”