Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Bathymetric surveys in coastal zones are often missing data in shallow water areas due to the danger tonavigation for marine survey vessels and the inability of traditional topographic lidar surveys to penetrate thewater column. The lack of elevation information on coastal maps is often referred to as the ""white ribbon gap""and poses unique challenges to researchers and commercial groups operating within the coastal zone. TheApplied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) within the Nova Scotia Community College has recentlyacquired an AHAB Chiroptera 2 topographic-bathymetric (topo-bathy) lidar system capable of seamlesslymeasuring the land topography and shallow water bathymetry to eliminate this gap in freshwater and coastalenvironments. AGRG will partner with Leading Edge Geomatics (LEG), an established remote sensingmapping firm that specializes in digital aerial photography and topographic lidar acquisition, to research themost efficient method to use this new equipment to survey the coastal zone and produce maps that are ofcommercial value. The project will involve aerial surveys in the Northumberland Strait where shellfishaquaculture is prominent, the Atlantic Ocean coast and the Bay of Fundy where tanker traffic is expected toincrease and the coastal area supports a variety of natural habitats for the commercial fishery (sea urchins, kelpbeds), and host environmentally sensitive coastlines such as salt marshes. This new technology will alsosupport small craft harbours to map channels for safe navigation and identify areas that may require dredging aswell as mapping the submerged seaweed and ecologically sensitive plants.