Lidar + Sonar = A Revolution in Seafloor Mapping
Lidar + Sonar = A Revolution in Seafloor Mapping
The Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative (FSMI) demonstrates a revolutionary approach to charting the ocean floor by strategically combining aerial topobathymetric Lidar with ship-based multibeam sonar. This synergy creates high-resolution digital elevation models of Florida’s complex coastal environments, blending the best of both worlds.
The technical deployment is astounding. Lidar sensors are used from aircraft to capture shallow-water data up to 48 meters deep, while R2Sonic multibeam sonar systems map the deeper zones. The FSMI leverages cutting-edge autonomous uncrewed vessels (USVs) and innovative real-time “follow the sun” data processing systems to acquire and analyze data at an unprecedented, fast-paced scale.
These petabytes of seamless 3D data are vital assets, going beyond simple modeling. This clarity enhances safer navigation, pinpoints critical ecological habitats like coral reefs, and significantly boosts coastal resilience and fishery management, setting a new global standard for the future of marine spatial data.
Written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. Connect with him on LinkedIn: Adam Clark
Read More: https://www.hydro-international.com/content/article/lidar-sonar-a-revolution-in-seafloor-mapping
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