Beach Surveys
Coastal erosion is the natural destruction of coastlines caused by tidal forces and extreme weather conditions. Mapping the ever-changing coastlines is now the first line of defence to reduce the risk in loss of land or damage to property.
Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Ltd are highly experienced in littoral surveys and beach erosion projects, with studies often spanning years of data collection. Detailed surveys provide an insight into beach erosion and the mapping of shifting sands.
A number of approaches can be applied to this type of survey from 3D laser scanning which offers a detailed 3D model of the beach and the surrounding area to GNSS, used to survey cross lines at pre-determined intervals across the beach from which digital terrain models [DTM] can be created.
Dependant on the survey extents, mobile data capture can be employed by means of boat, 4×4 quad bike or commercially coded hovercraft, each fitted with appropriate sensors enabling data capture in a single pass.
These data sets can be processed in a variety of ways, offering information on the current topography of the site and enabling isopachyte drawings [difference charts] to be created showing areas or erosion or accretion over a given time lapse whilst also quantifying the volume of material moved.
The use of UAV & LiDAR technology also enables large scale mapping to be completed efficiently given the tidal restraints at such sites. Aerial photographs and historic maps also provide information on temporal variation in coastline position whilst quantitative video monitoring of the coastline is also increasingly being employed, and a service Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Ltd can offer.
