How Does Lidar Help Florida with Coastal Zone Management?

Managing Florida’s coastal zones is more complex than you may think. This is especially true with there being about 1.26 trillion gallons of untreated sewage spilled from America’s aging sewer systems every year. Fortunately, technology is make managing these coastal zones easier. One of the most useful types of technology for this situation is lidar surveying and photogrammetry. This article is going to explore a few key benefits of lidar surveying in Florida.

Lidar is a surveying method that uses light emission to determine distances. Using this technology, people can make 3D models and representations of the area being looked at. The main benefit of using light detection and ranging systems is that it allows the users to cover large areas that may not normally be able to be surveyed with other tools. Because coastal areas have to deal with short tide windows, lidar surveying can help cover the targeted area quickly and efficiently.

Using lidar surveying in Florida, this method can produce three-dimensional ground coordinates. This 3D representation helps experts know where things like buildings, plant life, and underwater objects are in real time.

There are a few reasons lidar technology is used in coastal areas besides understanding elevation and where certain objects are in the area. First, lidar can help experts take a closer look at emerging ecosystems without having to get close in person. This can help avoid disrupting the ecosystem. Additionally, this technology can be used to predict potential hazards in areas that have rising sea levels and recurring storms. And, in general, lidar technology can be used to map shorelines and detect changes in coastlines. So from getting a closer look at coral reef ecosystems to determining where water infrastructures should be built to avoid storm damage, lidar can be used in a variety of ways.

Coastal areas often require special tools and technology because typical tools can’t always go in the water or even look through the water. This is why more and more experts are choosing to utilize lidar technology. With this surveying method, important data can be gathered safely and efficiently so coastal areas can be cared for in the best way possible.