ABSTRACT
With coastal aerial imagery acquisition programs dating back to 1919 (Smith, 1981), shoreline mapping is one of the most established civilian applications of photogrammetry and remote sensing. In this chapter we rst discuss the importance of shoreline mapping and some associated denitions. We then describe historical and current methods of mapping shorelines using eld techniques, aerial imagery, satellite imagery, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and other remotely sensed data. A pervasive concept is that the goal of mapping tidally referenced shorelines leads to unique challenges and considerations in planning, acquisition, and processing of remotely sensed data, including tide coordination, spectral band selection, and effects of beach slope. Uncertainty analysis is another important topic. Although it is typically required in any mapping application to assess and quantify the uncertainty (or “error”) in output geospatial data products, it is especially critical in shoreline mapping because of the legal implications of the data and their use in informing complex policy decisions. We conclude with a look at the future of shoreline mapping using various remote-sensing technologies.
