Remote sensing application of shore-based video and unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones) : complementary tools for beach studies

Donatus Bapentire Angnuureng (1) , Philip-Neri Jayson-Quashigah (2) , Rafael Almar (3) , Thomas Stieglitz (4) , Edward J. Anthony (4) , Denis Worlanyo Aheto (1) , Kwasi Appeaning Addo (2)

1 University of Cape Coast [Ghana]
2 University of Ghana
3 LEGOS - Laboratoire d'études en Géophysique et océanographie spatiales
4 CEREGE - Centre européen de recherche et d'enseignement des géosciences de l'environnement

Video camera systems have been used over nearly three decades to monitor coastal dynamics. They facilitate a high-frequency analysis of spatiotemporal shoreline mobility. Video camera usage to measure beach intertidal profile evolution has not been standardized globally and the capacity to obtain accurate results requires authentication using various techniques. Applications are mostly site specific due to differences in installation. The present study examines the accuracy of intertidal topographic data derived from a video camera system compared to data acquired with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone) surveys of a reflective beach. Using one year of 15-min video data and one year of monthly UAV observations, the intertidal profile shows a good agreement. Underestimations of intertidal profile elevations by the camera-based method are possibly linked to the camera view angle, rectification and gaps in data. The resolution of the video-derived intertidal topographic profiles confirmed, however, the suitability of the method in providing beach mobility surveys matching those required for a quantitative analysis of nearshore changes. Beach slopes were found to vary between 0.1 and 0.7, with a steep slope in May to July 2018 and a gentle slope in December 2018. Large but short-scale beach variations occurred between August 2018 and October 2018 and corresponded to relatively high wave events. In one year, this dynamic beach lost 7 m. At this rate, and as also observed at other beaches nearby, important coastal facilities and infrastructure will be prone to erosion. The data suggest that a low-cost shore-based camera, particularly when used in a network along the coast, can produce profile data for effective coastal management in West Africa and elsewhere.

Mots clés: beach profile; shoreline change; intertidal morphology; video camera; UAV; coastal management; Dzita

Domaines: Ingénierie de l'environnement; Interfaces continentales, environnement

Donatus Bapentire Angnuureng, Philip-Neri Jayson-Quashigah, Rafael Almar, Thomas Stieglitz, Edward J. Anthony, et al.. Remote sensing application of shore-based video and unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones) : complementary tools for beach studies. Remote Sensing, 2020, ⟨10.3390/rs12030394⟩. ⟨ird-02482805⟩