Remote sensing of coastlines: detection, extraction and monitoring

TLDR

Coastal delineation traditionally relies on visual interpretation of airborne remote sensing data, but a variety of remote sensing data and techniques are now available and applicable worldwide. This paper reviews the current status of remote sensing for detecting, extracting, and monitoring coastlines. The review focuses on the US system as an example of how remote sensing is applied to coastline detection, extraction, and monitoring. The techniques reviewed have matured to the point of operational deployment.

Abstract

This paper reviews the current status of the use of remote sensing for the detection, extraction and monitoring of coastlines. The review takes the US system as an example. However, the issues at hand can be applied to any other part of the world. Visual interpretation of airborne remote sensing data is still widely and popularly used for coastal delineation. However, a variety of remote sensing data and techniques are available to detect, extract and monitor the coastline. The developed techniques have reached a level of maturity such that they are applied in operational settings.