Monitoring Coastal Bluff Erosion using LIDAR

Scott Ashford
IGPP May 12, 2006

Abstract

Scott Ashford is an Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at UC 
San DiegoÕs Jacobs School of Engineering, where he has been on the faculty 
for 10 years. Prior to joining UC San Diego, he was on the faculty of the 
Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok for two years, and spent seven 
years in private industry. His current areas of research include coastal 
bluff erosion and geotechnical earthquake engineering.

Professor Ashford will present the results of a 6 year research aimed at
quantifying erosion of the coastal bluffs in North San Diego County using 
LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging), a three dimensional laser scanner that 
can be airborne or ground-based. While LIDAR does not have a long history 
of data like other methods (e.g. aerial photogrammetry), the method shows 
much promise as we move into the future. The results of the research show 
that the eroding bluffs provide more sand to North County beaches than 
previously thought. In addition, the relative effectiveness of erosion 
mitigation alternatives will be presented.