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The New Zealand 3D Coastal Mapping project currently underway is an exciting and forward-thinking initiative that will have a significant impact on how the country prepares for natural climate change and manages its coastal environments. By utilizing high-definition Lidar data, the project aims to create detailed, 3D maps of vulnerable coastal areas, which will provide valuable insights into how the coastline is changing over time.
In coastal and marine surveying, traditional methods often struggle to provide a comprehensive view of the land-water interface, especially in areas where land transitions into shallow water. The limitations of sonar in these shallow environments and the inability of traditional LiDAR to capture underwater features have long posed challenges to industries relying on accurate, high-definition data for decision-making and operational planning.
However, recent advancements in topo-bathy LiDAR technology, offer an innovative solution that merges topographic and bathymetric data, giving an unparalleled view of both the land and underwater environments.

A Complete Picture from Land to Sea
By integrating high-resolution topographic LiDAR with bathymetric LiDAR data, we can now achieve a detailed and seamless view of coastal areas that extends from the land’s surface all the way to the depths of shallow waters.
This hybrid approach is particularly crucial in mapping near-shore environments, where traditional sonar struggles due to tidal changes and shallow water conditions. While bathymetric LiDAR has made strides in underwater mapping, it often falls short in detecting features in the intertidal zone, leaving gaps in the data. The integration of topo-bathy LiDAR fills these gaps, providing centimeter-level accuracy that ensures a complete, high-definition mapping solution.
For example, The EDGE LiDAR from Orion Space Solutions is a versatile 2-in-1 bathymetric + topographic mapping system that offers this critical capability. By seamlessly capturing both topographic features on land and underwater structures, this technology provides a rich dataset that was previously unavailable. It allows for precise change detection in areas such as navigation channels, sandbars, and other vital features, making it easier to monitor the effects of storms, erosion, and other environmental changes.


Benefits for Different Industries
This data integration will give significant advantages across a range of industries:
Coastal and Marine Research
Scientists studying coastal dynamics and marine environments benefit from the ability to capture both the land and sea surfaces with high precision. The data aids in monitoring changes to the coast due to natural events, such as storms and hurricanes, and allows for more accurate ecological studies. Researchers can also track underwater habitats, assess biodiversity, and plan for natural climate change impacts with better-informed predictions.

Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance
Traditional infrastructure inspection methods for underwater structures, like bridges, dams, and pipelines, often rely on divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). These methods can be dangerous, costly, and time-consuming. This new method allows for above-water inspection of these structures, including scouring of bridge supports and other underwater features, thus improving safety and reducing inspection costs. This also applies to the inspection of levees, dams, and other critical infrastructure that can impact public safety if left unchecked.
Natural Resource Management
Managing sensitive environmental resources, such as fish breeding grounds, watersheds, and glacial meltponds, requires careful monitoring with minimal impact on the environment. Now we can provide a non-intrusive method for surveying these areas from above the water, enabling informed decision-making for environmental protection and conservation.
Disaster Recovery and Emergency Response
In the wake of natural disasters, having accurate data on coastal morphology, storm surge extent, and water levels is critical for first responders. What is now possible enables fast, accurate measurements that are essential for situational awareness, allowing for more efficient deployment of emergency services and resources in affected areas. This is especially important when assessing the impact on waterways and beach recovery following major storms.
Military and Defense Applications
The military can leverage topo-bathy LiDAR to improve search and rescue operations by detecting underwater hazards like reefs, rocks, and submerged debris. This enhances the safety of personnel and equipment, particularly in littoral environments where hazardous conditions are prevalent. With the integration of LiDAR technology, military operations can become more efficient and safer by detecting potential hazards before deploying teams into risky areas.
Transforming How Businesses Operate
The seamless transition from land to water captured by topo-bathy LiDAR enables industries to make more informed decisions that enhance safety, optimize operations, and reduce costs. In particular, for industries involved in coastal mapping, infrastructure inspection, natural resource management, disaster recovery, and defense, the ability to acquire detailed, high-definition data from both terrestrial and submerged areas opens up new possibilities for improved planning and management.

By integrating topographic and bathymetric data, Seismic Asia Pacific’s EDGE LiDAR system represents a breakthrough in surveying technology. It provides businesses with the tools they need to gain comprehensive, actionable insights and mitigate risks associated with coastal and underwater environments.
With its unparalleled accuracy and ability to cover previously unreachable areas, this system is poised to change the way industries approach coastal mapping, infrastructure inspection, and resource management.
Ultimately, as industries continue to embrace integrated surveying solutions, the data collected through advanced topo-bathy LiDAR systems will drive smarter, more sustainable decisions that help shape the future of coastal and marine operations.