Development of a Best Practices Workflow for Rapid Beach Surveying Using a Lower-Cost Mobile Lidar System

This study assesses a lower-cost mobile lidar system along with a 360-degree spherical camera for use in coastal environments, with a focus on rapid post-storm data collection. Testing was completed to create a ‘best methods procedure for planning, data collection and post-processing. The system being used is called the HiWay Mapper, integrated by LidarUSA and consists of a Velodyne HDL-32E lidar sensor, a NovAtel global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and inertial navigation system (INS), and a FLIR Ladybug 360-degree camera. Results show that an initialization driving procedure is needed for better positioning, the point cutoff distance should be, at a maximum, 55 meters, and ground control targets allow greater vertical accuracy. Lastly, the “best methods” procedure is used to collect post-storm data from hurricane Hanna and vertical accuracy assessments were completed to determine the performance of the sensor.