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projects > high resolution bathymetric mapping of south florida estuarine and coastal systems
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U.S. Geological Survey Greater Everglades Science Initiative (Place-Based Studies)Fiscal Year 2004 Project Work PlanA. GENERAL INFORMATION:Project Title: High Resolution Bathymetric Mapping of South Florida Estuarine and Coastal Systems Project Summary: Project Objectives and Strategy: Potential Impacts and Major Products: Collaborators: NASA Clients: South Florida Water Management District B. WORK PLANTitle of Task 1: High-Resolution Mapping of Estero Bay Estuary, Caloosahatchee River, and lower portions of Charlotte Harbor Task Summary and Objectives: High resolution, GPS based bathymetric surveying is a proven method to map river, lake, and ocean floor elevations. Of primary interest to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is the quantification of the present day bathymetry of Caloosahatchee Estuary and Estero Bay regions. This information will be used by water management decision-makers to develop Minimum Flows and Levels (MFL) and better preserve fragile habitats. Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures: The plan to acquire bathymetric data for the aforementioned area is to employ two methods which have been developed by the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA). The USGS method is an acoustic based system named System for Accurate Nearshore Depth Surveys (SANDS), and the NASA method is an airborne LIDAR system named Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL). The USGS has developed a hydrographic survey system specifically designed to map in very shallow water. The system can acquire data in water depths of ~25cm, but in practice boat/motor draft limitations prevent surveying in water depths less than 45cm. Precise differential GPS receivers are used to measure boat position and dynamic elevation, a survey quality 200 kHz depth sounder acquires water depth measurements, and a motion sensor measures heave, pitch, and roll of the boat. A measurement is collected about every 3m along a survey line. The vertical accuracy of the system is +/- 8cm and +/- 4cm inches horizontally. EAARL is a new airborne lidar that provides unprecedented capabilities to bays, the nearshore shoreface, benthic habitats, coastal vegetation, and sandy beaches. The EAARL sensor suite includes a rasterscanning- water penetrating full-waveform adaptive lidar, a down-looking color digital camera, a hyperspectral scanner, and an array of precision kinematic GPS receivers which provide for sub-meter georeferencing of each laser and hyper-spectral sample. EAARL has the unique real-time capability to detect, capture, and automatically adapt to each laser return backscatter over a large signal dynamic range and keyed to considerable variations in vertical complexity of the surface target. EAARL limited to water depths greater than 50 cm and can penetrate the water column to approximately 1.5 secchi disk depth. The lidar has a ground footprint of 30cm with vertical and horizontal accuracies equal to the SANDS system. The swath width is 250m which converts to a spatial coverage of approximately 1 laser shot per square meter. The proposed work would use the EAARL system to map shallow (less than 1.5 secchi depth) and nonturbid areas in Estero Bay and nearshore areas. The SANDS system would be used in deeper areas and those which are turbid which include the Caloosahatchee River. Planned Outreach: Maps and reports will be available through the SOFIA web site. C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON HOW PROJECT TASKS SUPPORT THE DOI AND USGS EVERGLADES RESTORATION SCIENCE PLANSRestoring the Everglades involves returning essential functions to a large and diverse ecosystem that has had significant adverse impacts from man's activities over the past 50 years. This project provides scientific data to assure the quantity and quality of drinking water as well as agricultural and industrial water supplies, and in general improve the quality of life for all south Florida's inhabitants. In keeping with the mission of the USGS to provide the Nation with reliable, impartial information to describe and understand the Earth, this project involves mapping and topographic studies that contribute to the safety, health, and well-being of Florida's citizens. The work conducted encompasses high quality data collection which will be utilized for hydrological and ecological modeling, and experimental research and monitoring. |
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
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Last updated: 18 August, 2004 @ 03:21 PM(HSH)