has similarly inferred linkages between coastal processes (e.g., wave transformation patterns and beach morphodynamics) and geomorphic pattern in the seabed
morphology in southeast Florida. Identifying this relationship between coastal
processes and geomorphic patterns using high resolution LiDAR data is an
important step in the field of marine geology.
Tsunami modeling predicts which coastal areas will be inundated in the event
of a tsunami. LiDAR data provides high resolution continuous seafloor depths and
topographic elevations, which can be used to simulate tsunami propagation and
inundation along the coastline. These high resolution surfaces are needed in order
to realistically model the non-linear wave dynamics of coastal inundation (González et al. 2005; Venturato 2005), because even small variations in nearshore
depths, coastlines and topography can affect the behavior of a tsunami (Tang et al.
2006). In the United States, tsunami inundation predictions and evacuation planning fall under the responsibility of NOAA’s two Tsunami Warning Centers. The
West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) is located in
Palmer, Alaska and is responsible for issuing tsunami warnings for the west and
east coasts of North America. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) is
located in Honolulu, Hawaii and is responsible for issuing warnings for most of the
countries bordering the Pacific Ocean (under the auspices of the UNESCO/IOC
International Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System). In
2006, a new site was proposed for the PTWC on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.
Before the center’s relocation, the vulnerability of the site to inundation by a
tsunami was assessed using a seamless topographic/bathymetric digital elevation
model (Tang et al. 2006). Several datasets were used to create this DEM, including
two LiDAR datasets. One LiDAR dataset was collected by the Joint Airborne
LiDAR Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX) at 1–5 m horizontal resolution using the SHOALS system. The other LiDAR dataset was collected by NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC) at a 3 m horizontal resolution
using the Leica ALS-40 Aerial LiDAR system. Together, these surfaces (and
several acoustic datasets) were combined to create a 10 m resolution digital elevation model for Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Tsunami waveforms were modeled at
16 distinct points (Fig. 6.13) in order to evaluate the potential impacts on Pearl
Harbor. Tang et al. (2006) concluded that none of the 18 modeled tsunami scenarios, or the past recorded tsunami events, have caused inundation at the proposed
NOAA site on Ford Island, Oahu. The NOAA building site on Ford Island is
situated at 3.0 m above mean high water level (MHW) and all of the modeled
tsunami scenarios were less than 1.5 m above MHW.
Airborne LiDAR systems have also been widely applied to map shorelines,
understand coastal geomorphology, and support change detection (Brock and
Purkis 2009). Shoreline information is critical for coastal geomorphologists to
quantify coastal erosion, accretion and estimate sediment transport budgets (Liu
et al. 2007). Traditionally, shoreline extraction for accurate maps was done using
in situ surveys and aerial photography interpretation (Morton et al. 2005). The
LiDAR-derived shorelines, however, can be explicitly referenced to the tidal
datum surface and therefore represent a great improvement from using the beach
6 LiDAR Applications
165
morphology in southeast Florida. Identifying this relationship between coastal
processes and geomorphic patterns using high resolution LiDAR data is an
important step in the field of marine geology.
Tsunami modeling predicts which coastal areas will be inundated in the event
of a tsunami. LiDAR data provides high resolution continuous seafloor depths and
topographic elevations, which can be used to simulate tsunami propagation and
inundation along the coastline. These high resolution surfaces are needed in order
to realistically model the non-linear wave dynamics of coastal inundation (González et al. 2005; Venturato 2005), because even small variations in nearshore
depths, coastlines and topography can affect the behavior of a tsunami (Tang et al.
2006). In the United States, tsunami inundation predictions and evacuation planning fall under the responsibility of NOAA’s two Tsunami Warning Centers. The
West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) is located in
Palmer, Alaska and is responsible for issuing tsunami warnings for the west and
east coasts of North America. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) is
located in Honolulu, Hawaii and is responsible for issuing warnings for most of the
countries bordering the Pacific Ocean (under the auspices of the UNESCO/IOC
International Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System). In
2006, a new site was proposed for the PTWC on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.
Before the center’s relocation, the vulnerability of the site to inundation by a
tsunami was assessed using a seamless topographic/bathymetric digital elevation
model (Tang et al. 2006). Several datasets were used to create this DEM, including
two LiDAR datasets. One LiDAR dataset was collected by the Joint Airborne
LiDAR Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX) at 1–5 m horizontal resolution using the SHOALS system. The other LiDAR dataset was collected by NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC) at a 3 m horizontal resolution
using the Leica ALS-40 Aerial LiDAR system. Together, these surfaces (and
several acoustic datasets) were combined to create a 10 m resolution digital elevation model for Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Tsunami waveforms were modeled at
16 distinct points (Fig. 6.13) in order to evaluate the potential impacts on Pearl
Harbor. Tang et al. (2006) concluded that none of the 18 modeled tsunami scenarios, or the past recorded tsunami events, have caused inundation at the proposed
NOAA site on Ford Island, Oahu. The NOAA building site on Ford Island is
situated at 3.0 m above mean high water level (MHW) and all of the modeled
tsunami scenarios were less than 1.5 m above MHW.
Airborne LiDAR systems have also been widely applied to map shorelines,
understand coastal geomorphology, and support change detection (Brock and
Purkis 2009). Shoreline information is critical for coastal geomorphologists to
quantify coastal erosion, accretion and estimate sediment transport budgets (Liu
et al. 2007). Traditionally, shoreline extraction for accurate maps was done using
in situ surveys and aerial photography interpretation (Morton et al. 2005). The
LiDAR-derived shorelines, however, can be explicitly referenced to the tidal
datum surface and therefore represent a great improvement from using the beach
6 LiDAR Applications
165