A procedure for developing an acceptance test for airborne bathymetric lidar data application to NOAA charts in shallow waters

TitleA procedure for developing an acceptance test for airborne bathymetric lidar data application to NOAA charts in shallow waters
Publication TypeReport
Year2013
AuthorsImahori, G, Ferguson, J, Wozumi, T, Scharff, D, Pe'eri, S, Parrish, CE, White, SA, Jeong, I, Sellars, J, Aslaksen, M
Department NameNOAA Technical Memorandum NOS CS 32
Number of Pages53
Date PublishedJune 2013
Organization NameNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Survey (NOS)
LocationSilver Spring, MD
Keywordsairborne bathymetric lidar, hydrography, Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping, near-shore bathymetry, topographic-bathymetric lidar

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hydrographic data is typically acquired using sonar systems, with a small percent acquired via airborne lidar bathymetry for near-shore areas. This study investigated an integrated approach for meeting NOAA’s hydrographic survey requirements for near-shore areas of NOAA charts, using the existing topographic-bathymetric lidar data from USACE’s National Coastal Mapping Program (NCMP). Because these existing NCMP bathymetric lidar datasets were not collected to NOAA hydrographic surveying standards, it is unclear if, and under what circumstances, they might aid in meeting certain hydrographic surveying requirements. The NCMP’s bathymetric lidar data are evaluated through a comparison to NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey hydrographic data derived from acoustic surveys. As a result, it is possible to assess if NCMP’s bathymetry can be used to fill in the data gap shoreward of the navigable area limit line (0 to 4 meters) and if there is potential for applying NCMP’s bathymetry lidar data to near-shore areas deeper than 10 meters. Based on the study results, recommendations will be provided to NOAA for the site conditions where this data will provide the most benefit. Additionally, this analysis may allow the development of future operating procedures and workflows using other topographic-bathymetric lidar datasets to help update near-shore areas of the NOAA charts.