CZMIL (Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging Lidar) bathymetric performance in diverse littoral zones

The Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging Lidar system (CZMIL) is an integrated lidar-imagery sensor system, and its complementary HydroFusion software suite is designed for the highly automated generation of physical and environmental information products for mapping the coastal zone. CZMIL is designed to survey over a wide range of water types, ranging from moderately clear to predominantly turbid. In this paper, we will discuss CZMIL's performance over a broad spectrum of environmental conditions. We will demonstrate that high-power laser systems with wide-aperture optics are key to optimum performance in turbid water conditions. We will also discuss the challenges with objective measurement of turbid water optical properties. Finally, we will discuss the small-object detection capability of CZMIL and show how post-processing software enhances the hardware's detection capability.