The Remote Sensing Division has ongoing research in the San Francisco area to test the feasibility of using airborne LIght Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and the VDatum transformation tool for shoreline mapping. The method used today by RSD to delineate the shoreline is stereo photogrammetry using tide-coordinated aerial photography controlled by kinematic Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques. Technological advancements in geodetic positioning and airborne remote sensing have led RSD to explore new methods of shoreline mapping.

In October of 2002, the NOAA Citation crew acquired three tide-coordinated LIDAR datasets at the San Francisco study site. In addition to the LIDAR data, tide-coordinated aerial photography was collected to coincide with the mean high water (MHW) flight, along with photo identifiable ground GPS control. The purpose of the experiment is to quantitatively compare LIDAR derived shoreline using VDatum to shoreline compiled using traditional photogrammetric techniques. The aero-triangulation and photo compilation has been completed and reviewed by the RSD Applications Branch and comparisons to the LIDAR shoreline are underway.

Above left: NASA ATM II 1m LIDAR DEM Central California (NAVD 88, meters). Above right: Extracted MHW shoreline.