Drone Lidar Bathymetry Maps Australia’s Coast in 3D
In a significant move for maritime and climate research, a multi-institution team in Australia has secured $650,000 in ARC Linkage funding to establish the CoastElBathy facility. This project involves the acquisition of advanced drone-based bathymetric lidar scanners, specifically the TDOT3 and TDOT7 Green sensors. These specialized units use green laser technology, which is uniquely capable of penetrating water surfaces to map underwater features like coral reefs and seafloor topography. By combining these with high-resolution cameras, the team can now capture both the terrestrial shoreline and the submerged environment in a single, seamless 3D model. This technology allows researchers to reach dangerous or inaccessible coastal areas that were previously impossible to map with traditional ground-based tools.
The significance of this funding lies in its direct application to climate resilience and environmental preservation. As sea levels rise and storm patterns become more volatile, coastal communities require precise data to project future shoreline changes. The data generated by this lidar equipment will underpin the development of 3D models used to study the intersection of coastal biology and geology. For instance, researchers can now track how sediment moves to form islands or monitor the health of marine communities like algae and corals on the Great Barrier Reef. By integrating underwater bathymetry with land-based elevation data, scientists gain a holistic view of the “active zone” where the land meets the sea, providing essential insights for protecting both natural habitats and human infrastructure.
This investment underscores a growing trend in the earth sciences toward high-performance, mobile scanning solutions that bridge the gap between photogrammetry and traditional surveying. The CoastElBathy facility acts as a shared resource, enabling universities across Australia to collaborate on complex river and shallow-water mapping projects. These efforts will produce high-resolution digital elevation models that serve as a baseline for long-term environmental monitoring.
Read More: https://www.spatialsource.com.au/650000-secured-for-lidar-coastal-scanning/
