USGS:Science for a changing world
Geologic Division

Remote Video Monitoring

Project Leader:
John W. Haines
600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701-4846
E-mail: jhaines@cfcg.er.usgs.gov
Phone: (813) 893-3100 ext. 3022
Fax: (813) 893-3333

The Issue

Quantifying the temporal variability in coastal settings provides critical information relevant to processes studies and for constraining the variability in observed rates from traditional methods. Video techniques provides a cost-effective method to quantify variability for specific sites of management concern. Video data also provides a high-profile product for public consumption.

Variability in shorelines, coastal bluffs, and nearshore morphology occurs on a variety of timescales, particularly in response to extreme storms. Remote Video (ARGUS) technology has proven extremely valuable in the quantification of coastal change over all relevant time scales, operating reliably through extreme conditions. Further development of techniques to rapidly convert video data to accurate environmental measures will provide for cost-effective data collection supporting a variety of program objectives.

How the USGS is addressing this issue

Having proven the utility and reliability of video systems, we continue to support existing field stations (W. Cent. Florida, S. West Washington) and plan to add an additional station in support of NPS efforts in the Cape Cod National Seashore. Further cooperative efforts with Rob Holman (OSU) and Todd Holland (NRL) will focus on improving algorithims to facilitate rapid, objective and labor-efficient packages for the analysis of data. Enhancements to existing systems will be made to provide for broader application and to facilitate data access to researchers and the general public.

1998 Activities

  • Continued support of existing stations in S. West Washington and W. Central Florida. This will include system maintenance and data analysis to provide products as required by project objectives. We will also maintain data archiving facilities and continue to develop existing web-based distribution mechanisms. One additional station will be deployed with financial support from National Park Services research programs.

  • In cooperation with Oregon State University and the Naval Research Lab we will continue to develop simple MatLab based packages for the rapid automated analysis of video data. Program standardization and distribution will provide tools to Argus users throughout the world. Oregon State University personnel will take the lead on algorithim development extending routine ARGUS functionality to include monitoring of breaking waves, alongshore currents, rib currents, and beach-face profiling.

  • Extension of Argus capabilities to include color and/or infrared imagery and real-time network access to imagery.

Accomplishments to Date

  • Deployment of two stations in S. W. Washington and W. Central Florida
    • all equipment and field costs covered by regional projects
    • preliminary results of latter deployment presented at annual workshop, data processing ongoing. Washington station requires survey data for geometry solutions which remains unprocessed. Both stations have generated substantial local interest and some requests for data access

  • Establishment of funding from NPS to fully cover deployment of station in Cape Cod National Seashore in support of NPS science programs.

  • Development of preliminary MatLab code for image geometry solution and rectification.

USGS Cooperators

    Guy GelfenbaumUSGS/C&MP project chief
    (S. W. Wash., W. Cent. Fla.)
    Jim AllenNPS project chief
    (Cape Cod National Seashore)
    Rob HolmanOregon State Univ.
    Argus Video Development
    Todd Holland Navel Res. Lab
    Argus Video Development

    Software/Algorithim Users:
    ARGUS Users/Development Group
    David HuntleyPlymouth University, UK
    Graham SymondsUniv. of New South Wales, AUS
    Kent HathawayUSACOE
    Mark MerrifieldUniv. of Hawaii
    Kathelijne WijnbergUtrecht University, NETH
    Tom LippmannScripps. Institute

Products

  • Plant, N. and Holman, R., (in press), Intertidal Beach Profile Estimation Using Video Images, in press, Marine Geology

  • Holland, K. T., et al., 1997, Practical Use of Video Imagery in Nearshore Oceanographic Field Studies, IEEE J. of Oceanic Engineering, 22 (1), pg. 81.

  • numerous professional presentations at AGU, Int. Coastal Eng. Conf. which demonstrate utility for a range of applications including alongshore currents, rip currents, bathymetry, and wave breaking.

  • Product
    		Time Frame
    Data Series (all stations)semi-annually
    Data results from preliminary analysisas required by regional projects
    Publication on shoreline variabilityFY98
    Standardized software (documented)Late FY98

All data will be distributed as collected on semi-annual CD-ROM compilations. Data is also viewable through the USGS Web server (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/rvm/)

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
This page is: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/projects98/7242-33550.html
Address questions and comments about this page to: webmaster@cfcg.er.usgs.gov
Updated: 18 March, 1998@02:54:13 PM (THF)