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Jin-Si R Over

Jin-Si Over is a geographer with the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. A drone pilot and structure-from-motion specialist, she supports the Remote Sensing Coastal Change group and Aerial Imaging and Mapping group with GIS and surveying experience.

I have a background in micro-paleontology and working in coastal paleo-environments but gained more modern coastal mapping experience through the NOAA Hollings Scholars program in Hawaii - the beach stole my heart.

Now, as a geographer, my job enables me support coastal data collection, management, and scientific dissemination surrounding coastal responses to storms and hurricanes. This centers around GIS data, aerial imagery and stationary imagery, and processing imagery using structure-from-motion. I focus on datasets on Cape Cod National Seashore and on the Outer Banks. I am also a DOI and FAA licensed drone-pilot and assist in operations at beaches and marshes.

Additionally, I am active in science communication and mentoring efforts on the local scale and am passionate about fostering an inclusive and diverse scientific community.

Professional Experience

  • Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, 2020-Present

  • Geomorphologist and GIS specialist, Geoscientists in the Parks Program/Rutgers University, Gateway National Recreation Area, 2019-2020

Education and Certifications

  • M.Sc. Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, B.C., 2019

  • B.S. Geology with minor in Oceanography, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2016

Science and Products

3 close-up views of the toe of the Mud Creek landslide created from air photos after the landslide

Remote Sensing Coastal Change

We use remote-sensing technologies—such as aerial photography, satellite imagery, structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry, and lidar (laser-based surveying)—to measure coastal change along U.S. shorelines.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Big Sur Landslides
Remote Sensing Coastal Change

Remote Sensing Coastal Change

We use remote-sensing technologies—such as aerial photography, satellite imagery, structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry, and lidar (laser-based surveying)—to measure coastal change along U.S. shorelines.
Learn More
A basic map of Pea Island with cartographic symbols and labels

DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

The During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) project is a large collaborative scientific study focusing on understanding the consequences of coastal storms on the morphology of coastal ecosystems. By flying large sections of the coast and collecting still images using structure from motion (SfM) techniques, we hope to contribute high resolution (20cm) elevation maps for time series comparisons...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities
DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

The During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) project is a large collaborative scientific study focusing on understanding the consequences of coastal storms on the morphology of coastal ecosystems. By flying large sections of the coast and collecting still images using structure from motion (SfM) techniques, we hope to contribute high resolution (20cm) elevation maps for time series comparisons...
Learn More
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
Learn More
3DR Solo quadcopter in flight

Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Aerial Imaging and Mapping

Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 38

Topographic and bathymetric data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during UxS operations at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts between September 2024 and March 2025 Topographic and bathymetric data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during UxS operations at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts between September 2024 and March 2025

Surveys with Uncrewed Systems (UxS) were used to collect remote sensing data at Marconi Beach on Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts after the area experienced multiple erosion events after fall storms in 2024 and the loss of National Park Service beach access stairs. The USGS has a stationary camera system (CoastCam) and meteorological station north of the parking lot...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, March to August 2024 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, March to August 2024

The U.S. Geological Survey deployed small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) to collect aerial remote sensing data across sites within the Lower Darby Creek Superfund Site and the adjacent John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (JHNWR) ~5 miles outside of Philadelphia, PA in March and August of 2024. March datasets include aerial images from natural color (RGB) and thermal infra-red (TIR)...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

In situ field data, Coastal Alaska, 2023 to 2025 In situ field data, Coastal Alaska, 2023 to 2025

These field data such as first floor elevation and bathymetric surveys were collected to support development of coastal mapping products and advance storm response and recovery in Alaskan coastal communities. The data consists of essential community infrastructure elevation data to better understand flood exposure and support analysis of flood mitigation solutions, bathymetric surveys to...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Sesuit Marsh, Dennis, Massachusetts, August 12, 2024 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Sesuit Marsh, Dennis, Massachusetts, August 12, 2024

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Sesuit Marsh in Dennis, MA. Raw data from aerial surveys include aerial images from natural color (RGB) and multispectral cameras and raw lidar data. These datasets were processed to produce high resolution digital elevation models (DEM), image mosaics, and lidar point clouds (LPC) to provide...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Supplemental data for Over and Sherwood (2025), Washover and washout locations and landcover classifications after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy in North Carolina, Texas, and New York Supplemental data for Over and Sherwood (2025), Washover and washout locations and landcover classifications after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy in North Carolina, Texas, and New York

The data in this release support the journal article "Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability". The research details the vegetation cover in washover and washout locations in North Carolina, Texas, and New York after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy. Aerial imagery observations indicate that washout sites create ponds and have a...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2021, 2023, 2024): Imagery and Calibration Data USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2021, 2023, 2024): Imagery and Calibration Data

Two digital video cameras (CACO-02) were installed at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (MA) as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research project to study the beach and nearshore environment. The cameras faced north-east (c1) and east (c2) along the beach and every half hour during daylight hours. They ran daily from March through June 2021, Feburary...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2024): Imagery and Calibration Data - Imagery Dataset USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2024): Imagery and Calibration Data - Imagery Dataset

A digital video camera was installed at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (MA) as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research project to study the beach and nearshore environment. The camera faced north-east along the beach and every hour during daylight hours, daily from January 2024 to September 2024, the camera collected raw video and produced snapshots...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts Topographic data, imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Town Neck Beach, a highly trafficked local beach in Sandwich Massachusetts with parking lot, boardwalk, and state maintained sand and vegetation placement. USGS personnel collected natural (RGB) color images, LiDAR, and ground control points starting in December 2023 to support multiple science...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Lidar and photogrammetry point clouds with supporting imagery and GPS information collected during UAS operations at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in Fall 2022 Lidar and photogrammetry point clouds with supporting imagery and GPS information collected during UAS operations at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in Fall 2022

These lidar point clouds and images cover, in high detail, the terrain at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, MA on November 2nd, 2022. USGS researchers tested different sensors that collected lidar and images for photogrammetry point cloud data using Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) to look at differences in coverage and elevation accuracy. The lidar data were acquired with a YellowScan...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared data collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping topography and stream temperature along the Vermilion River, Montana, August and October 2023 LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared data collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping topography and stream temperature along the Vermilion River, Montana, August and October 2023

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared imagery via a multirotor, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) along with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS survey data along a section of the Vermilion River in Montana in August and October 2023. Natural color and thermal infrared imagery was collected in jpg and tiff format respectively and...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Marsh Island, a salt marsh restoration site along New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Remediation of the site will involve direct hydrological and geochemical monitoring of the system alongside the UAS remote sensing data. Baseline conditions were evaluated in October 2023, and future data...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Elevation models, aerial imagery, LiDAR point clouds (LPCs), vegetation survey, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, August 28 to September 1, 2023 (ver. 1.1, July 202 Elevation models, aerial imagery, LiDAR point clouds (LPCs), vegetation survey, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, August 28 to September 1, 2023 (ver. 1.1, July 202

Two DJI M600 small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over various locations within the Lower Darby Creek Superfund Site and the adjacent John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Datasets included natural (RGB) color images, multispectral images, and LiDAR Point Clouds (LPCs). These data were processed to produce high resolution digital...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS
UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh
UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh.

Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Fall 2024 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh.

Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Fall 2024 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions. A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.
The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions. Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.
The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Bird Banding Laboratory
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Bird Banding Laboratory
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment
Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval
Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Marie Bartlett (USGS) removes fence post at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA while recovering pressure sensor. Pressure sensors were attached to fence posts and hammered into the sand to measure total water levels of Hurricane Lee. Photo by Jin-Si Over, USGS. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Marie Bartlett (USGS) removes fence post at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA while recovering pressure sensor. Pressure sensors were attached to fence posts and hammered into the sand to measure total water levels of Hurricane Lee. Photo by Jin-Si Over, USGS. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone
Hurricane Lee drone imagery
Hurricane Lee drone imagery
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

USGS scientists Jen Cramer and Jin-Si Over pilot a drone at Nauset Light Beach in Nauset, MA. Drone imagery will be used to monitor coastal change before and after Hurricane Lee. Photo by Mira Anderberg, USGS.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

USGS scientists Jen Cramer and Jin-Si Over pilot a drone at Nauset Light Beach in Nauset, MA. Drone imagery will be used to monitor coastal change before and after Hurricane Lee. Photo by Mira Anderberg, USGS.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air
UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

A UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with WH-Coastal and Marine Science Center personnel and NE Region administration.

Summer 2023 NER Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

A UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with WH-Coastal and Marine Science Center personnel and NE Region administration.

Summer 2023 NER Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood (USGS) drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat - built by Peter Traykovski (WHOI) - that is mapping the bathymetry of a pond on North Core Banks with a small echo-sounder in Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.
Fall 2022 Photo Contest: Jin-Si Over, Honorable Mention category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood (USGS) drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat - built by Peter Traykovski (WHOI) - that is mapping the bathymetry of a pond on North Core Banks with a small echo-sounder in Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.
Fall 2022 Photo Contest: Jin-Si Over, Honorable Mention category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew (left to right) Sara Zeigler, Alexandra Evans, and Jennifer Cramer walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys with GPS equipment and a quadrat in North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC.

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, Where We Work category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew (left to right) Sara Zeigler, Alexandra Evans, and Jennifer Cramer walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys with GPS equipment and a quadrat in North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC.

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, Where We Work category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work at Assateague Island National Seashore.

(Left to right then front: Sandra Brosnahan, Alexandra Evans, Jennifer Cramer, Seth Ackerman, Erika Lentz, Jin-Si Over)

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work at Assateague Island National Seashore.

(Left to right then front: Sandra Brosnahan, Alexandra Evans, Jennifer Cramer, Seth Ackerman, Erika Lentz, Jin-Si Over)

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Photo Contest Winner | September 2021 | People

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

By
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Photo Contest Winner | September 2021 | People

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

By
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky
USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume
USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two men standing on the beach
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Two men standing on the beach

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two men standing on the beach

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water
DUNEX Crew
DUNEX Crew
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water

DUNEX Crew

DUNEX Crew

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water

DUNEX Crew

DUNEX Crew

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability

Overwash, when high ocean water levels and waves flood a coastline, is a common phenomenon that can lead to washover deposits and barrier rollover. Outwash, by contrast, involves seaward flow, often driven by high back-barrier water levels, and can produce washout channels and nearshore deposition. Our observations show that washout channels were quickly (days to weeks) filled and...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Christopher Sherwood
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Contributions to uncertainty in runup forecasts Contributions to uncertainty in runup forecasts

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides operational forecasts of total water levels (TWL) and coastal change. Uncertainties around forecast TWL are based on the temporal and spatial range of observed beach slopes near the forecast site. This paper investigates other sources of uncertainty that are not accounted for, focusing on four beaches where the USGS has deployed remote cameras...
Authors
Christopher Sherwood, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Peter Traykovski, Jin-Si Over, David Foster, Jennifer Miselis, Tim Nelson, Erdinc Sogut
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Modeling total water level and coastal change at Pea Island, North Carolina, USA Modeling total water level and coastal change at Pea Island, North Carolina, USA

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) was carried out on Pea Island, North Carolina, USA between September-October 2021. We use a coupled numerical model (Windsurf) to hindcast the evolution of the DUNEX transect and produce a time series of hourly water levels at the shoreline from the model output. In addition to assessing the ability of Windsurf to reproduce TWL, we use model...
Authors
Michael Itzkin, Margaret Palmsten, Mark Buckley, Christopher Sherwood, Jenna A. Brown, Jin-Si R. Over, Peter A. Traykovski
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Temporal variability of runup and total water level on Cape Cod sandy beaches Temporal variability of runup and total water level on Cape Cod sandy beaches

In the present study, we evaluate the temporal variability in runup and total water level for sandy beaches along Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA), and their impact on dune and beach erosion. We use a 43-year hindcast of waves and water levels and calculate runup and total water level based on the Stockdon formulation using previously extracted beach slopes. The dominant components of the...
Authors
Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Christopher Sherwood, B.O. Blanton, Jin-Si Over, Peter Traykovski, Erdinc Sogut
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Sound-side inundation and seaward erosion of a barrier island during hurricane landfall Sound-side inundation and seaward erosion of a barrier island during hurricane landfall

Barrier islands are especially vulnerable to hurricanes and other large storms, owing to their mobile composition, low elevations, and detachment from the mainland. Conceptual models of barrier-island evolution emphasize ocean-side processes that drive landward migration through overwash, inlet migration, and aeolian transport. In contrast, we found that the impact of Hurricane Dorian...
Authors
Christopher Sherwood, Andrew Ritchie, Jin-Si Over, Christine Kranenburg, Jonathan Warrick, Jenna A. Brown, Wayne Wright, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Sara Zeigler, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Daniel D. Buscombe, Christie Hegermiller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Human-in-the-Loop segmentation of earth surface imagery Human-in-the-Loop segmentation of earth surface imagery

Segmentation, or the classification of pixels (grid cells) in imagery, is ubiquitously applied in the natural sciences. Manual methods are often prohibitively time-consuming, especially those images consisting of small objects and/or significant spatial heterogeneity of colors or textures. Labeling complicated regions of transition that in Earth surface imagery are represented by...
Authors
Daniel D. Buscombe, Evan Goldstein, Christopher Sherwood, Cameron Bodine, Jenna A. Brown, Jaycee Favela, Sharon Fitzpatrick, Christine Kranenburg, Jin-Si Over, Andrew Ritchie, Jonathan Warrick, Phillipe Alan Wernette
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Labeling poststorm coastal imagery for machine learning: Measurement of interrater agreement Labeling poststorm coastal imagery for machine learning: Measurement of interrater agreement

Classifying images using supervised machine learning (ML) relies on labeled training data—classes or text descriptions, for example, associated with each image. Data-driven models are only as good as the data used for training, and this points to the importance of high-quality labeled data for developing a ML model that has predictive skill. Labeling data is typically a time-consuming...
Authors
Evan Goldstein, Daniel D. Buscombe, Eli Lazarus, Somya Mohanty, Shah Rafique, K Anarde, Andrew Ashton, Tomas Beuzen, Katherine Castagno, Nicholas Cohn, Matthew Conlin, Ashley Ellenson, Megan Gillen, Paige Hovenga, Jin-Si Over, Rose V. Palermo, Katherine Ratlif, Ian Reeves, Lily Sanborn, Jessamin Straub, Luke Taylor, Elizabeth Wallace, Jonathan Warrick, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Hannah Williams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Michael, Hurricanes

Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6—Structure from motion workflow documentation Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6—Structure from motion workflow documentation

IntroductionStructure from motion (SFM) has become an integral technique in coastal change assessment; the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition photogrammetry software to develop a workflow that processes coastline aerial imagery collected in response to storms since Hurricane Florence in 2018. This report details step-by-step instructions to create...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Andrew Ritchie, Christine Kranenburg, Jenna A. Brown, Daniel Buscombe, Tom Noble, Christopher Sherwood, Jonathan A. Warrick, Phillipe Wernette
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Florence, Hurricanes

A survey of storm-induced seaward-transport features observed during the 2019 and 2020 hurricane seasons A survey of storm-induced seaward-transport features observed during the 2019 and 2020 hurricane seasons

Hurricanes are known to play a critical role in reshaping coastlines, but often only impacts on the open ocean coast are considered, ignoring seaward-directed forces and responses. The identification of subaerial evidence for storm-induced seaward transport is a critical step towards understanding its impact on coastal resiliency. The visual features, found in the National Oceanic and...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Jenna A. Brown, Christopher Sherwood, Christie Hegermiller, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Andrew Ritchie, Jonathan Warrick
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Laura, Hurricanes
Researcher Spotlight: Jin-Si Over

Researcher Spotlight: Jin-Si Over

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting Jin-Si Over - an intelligent, effervescent, and downright awesome geographer with the...

Read Article

Science and Products

3 close-up views of the toe of the Mud Creek landslide created from air photos after the landslide

Remote Sensing Coastal Change

We use remote-sensing technologies—such as aerial photography, satellite imagery, structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry, and lidar (laser-based surveying)—to measure coastal change along U.S. shorelines.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Big Sur Landslides
Remote Sensing Coastal Change

Remote Sensing Coastal Change

We use remote-sensing technologies—such as aerial photography, satellite imagery, structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry, and lidar (laser-based surveying)—to measure coastal change along U.S. shorelines.
Learn More
A basic map of Pea Island with cartographic symbols and labels

DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

The During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) project is a large collaborative scientific study focusing on understanding the consequences of coastal storms on the morphology of coastal ecosystems. By flying large sections of the coast and collecting still images using structure from motion (SfM) techniques, we hope to contribute high resolution (20cm) elevation maps for time series comparisons...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities
DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

DUNEX Aerial Imagery of the Outer Banks

The During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) project is a large collaborative scientific study focusing on understanding the consequences of coastal storms on the morphology of coastal ecosystems. By flying large sections of the coast and collecting still images using structure from motion (SfM) techniques, we hope to contribute high resolution (20cm) elevation maps for time series comparisons...
Learn More
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

DUNEX Pea Island Experiment

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) is an aggregation of multiple scientific organizations collaborating to increase understanding of nearshore processes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has chosen Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge as a study location to investigate and characterize the magnitude and timing of changes to coastal morphology (i.e., dunes, shorelines), bathymetry, and...
Learn More
3DR Solo quadcopter in flight

Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Aerial Imaging and Mapping

Aerial Imaging and Mapping

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping group (AIM), at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods (USGS) Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provides UAS services to scientists to advance the science mission of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. Scientists at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center have been using UASs to acquire imagery of coastal and wetland environments, which is then used to...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 38

Topographic and bathymetric data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during UxS operations at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts between September 2024 and March 2025 Topographic and bathymetric data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during UxS operations at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts between September 2024 and March 2025

Surveys with Uncrewed Systems (UxS) were used to collect remote sensing data at Marconi Beach on Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts after the area experienced multiple erosion events after fall storms in 2024 and the loss of National Park Service beach access stairs. The USGS has a stationary camera system (CoastCam) and meteorological station north of the parking lot...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, March to August 2024 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, March to August 2024

The U.S. Geological Survey deployed small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) to collect aerial remote sensing data across sites within the Lower Darby Creek Superfund Site and the adjacent John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (JHNWR) ~5 miles outside of Philadelphia, PA in March and August of 2024. March datasets include aerial images from natural color (RGB) and thermal infra-red (TIR)...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

In situ field data, Coastal Alaska, 2023 to 2025 In situ field data, Coastal Alaska, 2023 to 2025

These field data such as first floor elevation and bathymetric surveys were collected to support development of coastal mapping products and advance storm response and recovery in Alaskan coastal communities. The data consists of essential community infrastructure elevation data to better understand flood exposure and support analysis of flood mitigation solutions, bathymetric surveys to...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Sesuit Marsh, Dennis, Massachusetts, August 12, 2024 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Sesuit Marsh, Dennis, Massachusetts, August 12, 2024

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Sesuit Marsh in Dennis, MA. Raw data from aerial surveys include aerial images from natural color (RGB) and multispectral cameras and raw lidar data. These datasets were processed to produce high resolution digital elevation models (DEM), image mosaics, and lidar point clouds (LPC) to provide...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Supplemental data for Over and Sherwood (2025), Washover and washout locations and landcover classifications after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy in North Carolina, Texas, and New York Supplemental data for Over and Sherwood (2025), Washover and washout locations and landcover classifications after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy in North Carolina, Texas, and New York

The data in this release support the journal article "Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability". The research details the vegetation cover in washover and washout locations in North Carolina, Texas, and New York after hurricanes Florence, Dorian, Harvey, Ike, and Sandy. Aerial imagery observations indicate that washout sites create ponds and have a...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2021, 2023, 2024): Imagery and Calibration Data USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2021, 2023, 2024): Imagery and Calibration Data

Two digital video cameras (CACO-02) were installed at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (MA) as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research project to study the beach and nearshore environment. The cameras faced north-east (c1) and east (c2) along the beach and every half hour during daylight hours. They ran daily from March through June 2021, Feburary...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2024): Imagery and Calibration Data - Imagery Dataset USGS CoastCam CACO-02 at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts (2024): Imagery and Calibration Data - Imagery Dataset

A digital video camera was installed at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (MA) as part of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research project to study the beach and nearshore environment. The camera faced north-east along the beach and every hour during daylight hours, daily from January 2024 to September 2024, the camera collected raw video and produced snapshots...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Topographic data, imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts Topographic data, imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Town Neck Beach, a highly trafficked local beach in Sandwich Massachusetts with parking lot, boardwalk, and state maintained sand and vegetation placement. USGS personnel collected natural (RGB) color images, LiDAR, and ground control points starting in December 2023 to support multiple science...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Lidar and photogrammetry point clouds with supporting imagery and GPS information collected during UAS operations at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in Fall 2022 Lidar and photogrammetry point clouds with supporting imagery and GPS information collected during UAS operations at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in Fall 2022

These lidar point clouds and images cover, in high detail, the terrain at Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, MA on November 2nd, 2022. USGS researchers tested different sensors that collected lidar and images for photogrammetry point cloud data using Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) to look at differences in coverage and elevation accuracy. The lidar data were acquired with a YellowScan...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared data collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping topography and stream temperature along the Vermilion River, Montana, August and October 2023 LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared data collected by uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for mapping topography and stream temperature along the Vermilion River, Montana, August and October 2023

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne LiDAR, natural color and thermal infrared imagery via a multirotor, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) along with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS survey data along a section of the Vermilion River in Montana in August and October 2023. Natural color and thermal infrared imagery was collected in jpg and tiff format respectively and...
By
Fort Collins Science Center

Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over Marsh Island, a salt marsh restoration site along New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Remediation of the site will involve direct hydrological and geochemical monitoring of the system alongside the UAS remote sensing data. Baseline conditions were evaluated in October 2023, and future data...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Elevation models, aerial imagery, LiDAR point clouds (LPCs), vegetation survey, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, August 28 to September 1, 2023 (ver. 1.1, July 202 Elevation models, aerial imagery, LiDAR point clouds (LPCs), vegetation survey, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operations at Lower Darby Creek, Darby Township, Pennsylvania, August 28 to September 1, 2023 (ver. 1.1, July 202

Two DJI M600 small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (sUAS) were used to collect aerial remote sensing data over various locations within the Lower Darby Creek Superfund Site and the adjacent John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Datasets included natural (RGB) color images, multispectral images, and LiDAR Point Clouds (LPCs). These data were processed to produce high resolution digital...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS
UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh
UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh.

Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Fall 2024 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Jen kneeling down attaching a lidar mount to the bottom of a UAS

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh

UAS Pilot Jennifer Cramer attaches a YellowScan Mapper+ lidar sensor to the underside of a DJI M600 in preparation to map the beach and marsh.

Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Fall 2024 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions. A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.
The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
A group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions (AD)

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions. Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.
The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Bird Banding Laboratory
Image of a group of technicians next to a river. Text: The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions.

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

The USGS Northeast Region: Delivering Science for Better Decisions

This video is an introduction of the USGS Northeast Region's science efforts to support society's evolving needs through its engaged and skilled workforce.

By
Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Bird Banding Laboratory
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment
Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval
Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Marie Bartlett (USGS) removes fence post at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA while recovering pressure sensor. Pressure sensors were attached to fence posts and hammered into the sand to measure total water levels of Hurricane Lee. Photo by Jin-Si Over, USGS. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Person kneeling on sandy beach working with equipment

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Hurricane Lee sensor retrieval

Marie Bartlett (USGS) removes fence post at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, MA while recovering pressure sensor. Pressure sensors were attached to fence posts and hammered into the sand to measure total water levels of Hurricane Lee. Photo by Jin-Si Over, USGS. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone
Hurricane Lee drone imagery
Hurricane Lee drone imagery
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

USGS scientists Jen Cramer and Jin-Si Over pilot a drone at Nauset Light Beach in Nauset, MA. Drone imagery will be used to monitor coastal change before and after Hurricane Lee. Photo by Mira Anderberg, USGS.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two people in parking lot standing in front of drone

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

Hurricane Lee drone imagery

USGS scientists Jen Cramer and Jin-Si Over pilot a drone at Nauset Light Beach in Nauset, MA. Drone imagery will be used to monitor coastal change before and after Hurricane Lee. Photo by Mira Anderberg, USGS.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air
UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

A UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with WH-Coastal and Marine Science Center personnel and NE Region administration.

Summer 2023 NER Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
19 people standing on hill near beach watching drone flying in the air

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

A UAS demonstration in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with WH-Coastal and Marine Science Center personnel and NE Region administration.

Summer 2023 NER Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood (USGS) drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat - built by Peter Traykovski (WHOI) - that is mapping the bathymetry of a pond on North Core Banks with a small echo-sounder in Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.
Fall 2022 Photo Contest: Jin-Si Over, Honorable Mention category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat

Chris Sherwood (USGS) drives a remote controlled surface vehicle named the Yellow Cat - built by Peter Traykovski (WHOI) - that is mapping the bathymetry of a pond on North Core Banks with a small echo-sounder in Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.
Fall 2022 Photo Contest: Jin-Si Over, Honorable Mention category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew (left to right) Sara Zeigler, Alexandra Evans, and Jennifer Cramer walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys with GPS equipment and a quadrat in North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC.

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, Where We Work category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys

USGS field crew (left to right) Sara Zeigler, Alexandra Evans, and Jennifer Cramer walk through spike rush as they complete vegetation surveys with GPS equipment and a quadrat in North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC.

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, Where We Work category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work at Assateague Island National Seashore.

(Left to right then front: Sandra Brosnahan, Alexandra Evans, Jennifer Cramer, Seth Ackerman, Erika Lentz, Jin-Si Over)

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Group photo of Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work

The Aerial Imaging and Mapping Group (AIMG) preparing for a day of field work at Assateague Island National Seashore.

(Left to right then front: Sandra Brosnahan, Alexandra Evans, Jennifer Cramer, Seth Ackerman, Erika Lentz, Jin-Si Over)

Fall 2022 Photo Contest Winner: Jin-Si Over, People category

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Photo Contest Winner | September 2021 | People

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

By
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

Photo Contest Winner | September 2021 | People

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment

By
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky
USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume
USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two boats and multiple people on a calm ocean with a clear blue sky

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

USGS personnel and contracted divers work together to install instrume

To install instruments offshore professional divers were hired to work alongside USGS personnel. Here, long segments of pipe are jetted into the seafloor to which instruments will be attached to measure offshore oceanographic conditions.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two men standing on the beach
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Two men standing on the beach

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Two men standing on the beach

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water
DUNEX Crew
DUNEX Crew
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water

DUNEX Crew

DUNEX Crew

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water

DUNEX Crew

DUNEX Crew

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability Outwash events inhibit vegetation recovery and prolong coastal vulnerability

Overwash, when high ocean water levels and waves flood a coastline, is a common phenomenon that can lead to washover deposits and barrier rollover. Outwash, by contrast, involves seaward flow, often driven by high back-barrier water levels, and can produce washout channels and nearshore deposition. Our observations show that washout channels were quickly (days to weeks) filled and...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Christopher Sherwood
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Contributions to uncertainty in runup forecasts Contributions to uncertainty in runup forecasts

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides operational forecasts of total water levels (TWL) and coastal change. Uncertainties around forecast TWL are based on the temporal and spatial range of observed beach slopes near the forecast site. This paper investigates other sources of uncertainty that are not accounted for, focusing on four beaches where the USGS has deployed remote cameras...
Authors
Christopher Sherwood, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Peter Traykovski, Jin-Si Over, David Foster, Jennifer Miselis, Tim Nelson, Erdinc Sogut
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Modeling total water level and coastal change at Pea Island, North Carolina, USA Modeling total water level and coastal change at Pea Island, North Carolina, USA

The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) was carried out on Pea Island, North Carolina, USA between September-October 2021. We use a coupled numerical model (Windsurf) to hindcast the evolution of the DUNEX transect and produce a time series of hourly water levels at the shoreline from the model output. In addition to assessing the ability of Windsurf to reproduce TWL, we use model...
Authors
Michael Itzkin, Margaret Palmsten, Mark Buckley, Christopher Sherwood, Jenna A. Brown, Jin-Si R. Over, Peter A. Traykovski
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Temporal variability of runup and total water level on Cape Cod sandy beaches Temporal variability of runup and total water level on Cape Cod sandy beaches

In the present study, we evaluate the temporal variability in runup and total water level for sandy beaches along Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA), and their impact on dune and beach erosion. We use a 43-year hindcast of waves and water levels and calculate runup and total water level based on the Stockdon formulation using previously extracted beach slopes. The dominant components of the...
Authors
Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Christopher Sherwood, B.O. Blanton, Jin-Si Over, Peter Traykovski, Erdinc Sogut
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Sound-side inundation and seaward erosion of a barrier island during hurricane landfall Sound-side inundation and seaward erosion of a barrier island during hurricane landfall

Barrier islands are especially vulnerable to hurricanes and other large storms, owing to their mobile composition, low elevations, and detachment from the mainland. Conceptual models of barrier-island evolution emphasize ocean-side processes that drive landward migration through overwash, inlet migration, and aeolian transport. In contrast, we found that the impact of Hurricane Dorian...
Authors
Christopher Sherwood, Andrew Ritchie, Jin-Si Over, Christine Kranenburg, Jonathan Warrick, Jenna A. Brown, Wayne Wright, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Sara Zeigler, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Daniel D. Buscombe, Christie Hegermiller
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Human-in-the-Loop segmentation of earth surface imagery Human-in-the-Loop segmentation of earth surface imagery

Segmentation, or the classification of pixels (grid cells) in imagery, is ubiquitously applied in the natural sciences. Manual methods are often prohibitively time-consuming, especially those images consisting of small objects and/or significant spatial heterogeneity of colors or textures. Labeling complicated regions of transition that in Earth surface imagery are represented by...
Authors
Daniel D. Buscombe, Evan Goldstein, Christopher Sherwood, Cameron Bodine, Jenna A. Brown, Jaycee Favela, Sharon Fitzpatrick, Christine Kranenburg, Jin-Si Over, Andrew Ritchie, Jonathan Warrick, Phillipe Alan Wernette
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Labeling poststorm coastal imagery for machine learning: Measurement of interrater agreement Labeling poststorm coastal imagery for machine learning: Measurement of interrater agreement

Classifying images using supervised machine learning (ML) relies on labeled training data—classes or text descriptions, for example, associated with each image. Data-driven models are only as good as the data used for training, and this points to the importance of high-quality labeled data for developing a ML model that has predictive skill. Labeling data is typically a time-consuming...
Authors
Evan Goldstein, Daniel D. Buscombe, Eli Lazarus, Somya Mohanty, Shah Rafique, K Anarde, Andrew Ashton, Tomas Beuzen, Katherine Castagno, Nicholas Cohn, Matthew Conlin, Ashley Ellenson, Megan Gillen, Paige Hovenga, Jin-Si Over, Rose V. Palermo, Katherine Ratlif, Ian Reeves, Lily Sanborn, Jessamin Straub, Luke Taylor, Elizabeth Wallace, Jonathan Warrick, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Hannah Williams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Michael, Hurricanes

Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6—Structure from motion workflow documentation Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6—Structure from motion workflow documentation

IntroductionStructure from motion (SFM) has become an integral technique in coastal change assessment; the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition photogrammetry software to develop a workflow that processes coastline aerial imagery collected in response to storms since Hurricane Florence in 2018. This report details step-by-step instructions to create...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Andrew Ritchie, Christine Kranenburg, Jenna A. Brown, Daniel Buscombe, Tom Noble, Christopher Sherwood, Jonathan A. Warrick, Phillipe Wernette
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Florence, Hurricanes

A survey of storm-induced seaward-transport features observed during the 2019 and 2020 hurricane seasons A survey of storm-induced seaward-transport features observed during the 2019 and 2020 hurricane seasons

Hurricanes are known to play a critical role in reshaping coastlines, but often only impacts on the open ocean coast are considered, ignoring seaward-directed forces and responses. The identification of subaerial evidence for storm-induced seaward transport is a critical step towards understanding its impact on coastal resiliency. The visual features, found in the National Oceanic and...
Authors
Jin-Si Over, Jenna A. Brown, Christopher Sherwood, Christie Hegermiller, Phillipe Alan Wernette, Andrew Ritchie, Jonathan Warrick
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Laura, Hurricanes
Researcher Spotlight: Jin-Si Over

Researcher Spotlight: Jin-Si Over

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting Jin-Si Over - an intelligent, effervescent, and downright awesome geographer with the...

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