Embedded Files
Steep bluffs, eroded from Quaternary glacial sediments, are a dominant coastal feature around the U .S. Great Lakes. Erosion of the bluffs provides both the primary source of sediment to the nearshore zone but is a hazard to land owners and infrastructure as bluff edge retreat encroaches on properties. Bluff edges and edge erosion can be mapped from repeat regional lidar datasets using automated tools.
Steep bluffs, eroded from Quaternary glacial sediments, are a dominant coastal feature around the U .S. Great Lakes. Erosion of the bluffs provides both the primary source of sediment to the nearshore zone but is a hazard to land owners and infrastructure as bluff edge retreat encroaches on properties. Bluff edges and edge erosion can be mapped from repeat regional lidar datasets using automated tools.
This work was supported by the USACE Regional Sediment Management Program and the Great Lakes USACE District.
This work was supported by the USACE Regional Sediment Management Program and the Great Lakes USACE District.
Coastal surveys
Coastal surveys
The National Coastal Mapping Program surveys the U.S. Great Lakes coastlines with airborne lidar regularly, providing an opportunity for large-scale coastal change mapping. I worked with teams at the Chicago USACE district, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, and others at the U.S. Engineer Research and Development Center to conduct a regional-scale assessment of bluffs and sediment budgets for the Great Lakes.
Bluff mapping
Bluff mapping
Bluff crest (top) and toe (bottom) locations were measured using regional topographic lidar products and custom ArcGIS tools developed for this project.
Bluff Recession
Bluff Recession
Bluff recession between historic and lidar-measured crest and toe locations was used to identify erosion hotspots and calculate sediment input to the nearshore zone. This information feeds in to local and regional sediment budgets and informs coastal planning.
To view these datasets visit:
Nearshore Bars
Nearshore Bars
Bathymetric lidar collected in tandem with the topographic data used to map bluffs is also useful for nearshore sediment budget development. I also contributed to research developing and implementing tools to map nearshore sandbars in the U.S. Great Lakes.
Related Publications
Related Publications
Dunkin, L., Eisemann, E., Hartman, M., Wozencraft, J., 2020. Seamless Integration of Lidar-Derived Volumes and Geomorphic Features into the Sediment Budget Analysis System. ERDC TN RSM-20-4. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. DOI: 10.21079/11681/36296
Dunkin, L., Eisemann, E., Hartman, M., Wozencraft, J., Cross, W., Schmidbauer, G., McClain, K. 2019. Bluff Feature Extraction for the Great Lakes Shorelines. Coastal Sediments 2019: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, 27-31 May. DOI: 10.1142/9789811204487_0240
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