What advantage does airborne lidar have when surveying coastal areas compared to vessel-based scanning?

Airborne lidar offers the advantage of faster data collection when surveying coastal areas compared to vessel-based scanning. This speed is largely due to the ability of airborne platforms, such as drones or aircraft, to cover large areas quickly without being constrained by the physical limitations of watercraft navigating through surf or shallow waters.

Airborne lidar can also operate at higher altitudes, allowing for rapid acquisition of data over extensive coastal regions. This efficiency is particularly beneficial in coastal surveys, where time-sensitive environmental assessments may be required.

In contrast, vessel-based scanning can be slower due to the necessity of navigating through complex coastal environments, which can involve shallow waters, rocks, and other navigational hazards that reduce operational speed. Furthermore, inclement weather conditions can further impact the efficiency of vessel-based methods. Therefore, the advantage of quicker data collection with airborne lidar is a significant benefit in coastal surveying.