utility of this technology. The application of LiDAR for navigational charting,
engineering, benthic habitat mapping, ecological modeling, marine geology and
environmental change detection are presented. The future directions of LiDAR
applications are considered in the conclusion of this chapter, as well as the next
steps for expanding the use of this remote sensing technology in coral reef
environments.
6.1 Introduction
In tropical marine ecosystems, LiDAR systems have been used predominantly to
acquire bathymetric information about the seafloor in order to support navigational
charting (Irish and Lillycrop 1999; McKenzie et al. 2001; Wozencraft et al. 2008),
coastal engineering (Irish and White 1998; Wozencraft et al. 2000), benthic habitat
mapping (Brock et al. 2006; Wang and Philpot 2007; Wozencraft et al. 2008;
Walker et al. 2008; Walker 2009), ecological modeling (Wedding et al. 2008b;
Pittman et al. 2009, 2011a, b), shoreline extraction (Liu et al. 2007) and change
detection (Zhang et al. 2009). Airborne LiDAR has provided accurate seafloor data
for shallow coral reefs, as well as seamless, high resolution land-sea coastal terrain
models with sufficient vertical resolution for the forecasting of flood impacts from
tsunami and sea-level rise (Tang et al. 2009). In addition, vulnerability maps
produced from LiDAR data that depict regions prone to flooding have proven to be
essential to planners and managers responsible for mitigating the associated risks
and costs to both human communities and coral reef ecosystems (Brock and Purkis
2009; Gesch 2009).
6.2 Example LiDAR Applications
This chapter reviews coral reef LiDAR applications and highlights several case
studies to demonstrate the utility of this technology. Here we include examples of
applications of LiDAR related to: (1) navigational charting, (2) characterization
and ecological study of coral reef ecosystems, (3) examination of the geomorphology of coral reefs, (4) coastal engineering and modeling, and (5) understanding and monitoring environmental change. Wherever possible we provide
examples of direct applications of LiDAR to coral reef ecosystems. However, due
to the limited number of LiDAR surveys specifically addressing coral reefs, and
few published studies, some of our examples and applications are focused more
broadly in the coastal zone. We also include several applications that highlight the
potential for LiDAR to improve our knowledge of the broader scale patterns and
processes that influence the structure and function of coastal ecosystems, such as
monitoring coastal sedimentary processes across tropical seascapes.
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engineering, benthic habitat mapping, ecological modeling, marine geology and
environmental change detection are presented. The future directions of LiDAR
applications are considered in the conclusion of this chapter, as well as the next
steps for expanding the use of this remote sensing technology in coral reef
environments.
6.1 Introduction
In tropical marine ecosystems, LiDAR systems have been used predominantly to
acquire bathymetric information about the seafloor in order to support navigational
charting (Irish and Lillycrop 1999; McKenzie et al. 2001; Wozencraft et al. 2008),
coastal engineering (Irish and White 1998; Wozencraft et al. 2000), benthic habitat
mapping (Brock et al. 2006; Wang and Philpot 2007; Wozencraft et al. 2008;
Walker et al. 2008; Walker 2009), ecological modeling (Wedding et al. 2008b;
Pittman et al. 2009, 2011a, b), shoreline extraction (Liu et al. 2007) and change
detection (Zhang et al. 2009). Airborne LiDAR has provided accurate seafloor data
for shallow coral reefs, as well as seamless, high resolution land-sea coastal terrain
models with sufficient vertical resolution for the forecasting of flood impacts from
tsunami and sea-level rise (Tang et al. 2009). In addition, vulnerability maps
produced from LiDAR data that depict regions prone to flooding have proven to be
essential to planners and managers responsible for mitigating the associated risks
and costs to both human communities and coral reef ecosystems (Brock and Purkis
2009; Gesch 2009).
6.2 Example LiDAR Applications
This chapter reviews coral reef LiDAR applications and highlights several case
studies to demonstrate the utility of this technology. Here we include examples of
applications of LiDAR related to: (1) navigational charting, (2) characterization
and ecological study of coral reef ecosystems, (3) examination of the geomorphology of coral reefs, (4) coastal engineering and modeling, and (5) understanding and monitoring environmental change. Wherever possible we provide
examples of direct applications of LiDAR to coral reef ecosystems. However, due
to the limited number of LiDAR surveys specifically addressing coral reefs, and
few published studies, some of our examples and applications are focused more
broadly in the coastal zone. We also include several applications that highlight the
potential for LiDAR to improve our knowledge of the broader scale patterns and
processes that influence the structure and function of coastal ecosystems, such as
monitoring coastal sedimentary processes across tropical seascapes.
146
S. J. Pittman et al.