Using a Multi-beam Autonomous Portable Laser Equipement to Study Optical Behaviors in Shallow Waters

In recent years, Airborne Laser Bathymetry (ALB) has proven to be a timely and costly effective method for surveying extensive coastal regions. Along with gathering precise topographic and bathymetric data, ALB systems are now being considered for small target detection, water column characterization, sediment budget evaluation, and nearshore environmental classification. In fact, various environmental features can be classified by correlating the returning laser signal intensities of the ALB systems to the reflectance of specimens sampled on the field. Currently, ALB systems can identify a few marine facies including: bedrock, algae communities, different types of unconsolidated sediments, and the morphology of basic sedimentary structures . However, since simultaneous ground and air sampling is impossible, only limited precision can be achieved between field and flight data.