Lidar Confirms Coastal Impacts of Hurricane Sandy In a new U.S.
Geological Survey analysis of recently collected lidar coastal
data, the devastation and future coastal vulnerability of the
region after Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc is clear. The
research documented particularly dramatic impacts within the
Fire Island National Seashore on Long Island, NY. Lidar (light
detection and ranging) uses lasers to measure elevations in a
specific distance or area. Researchers used the lidar data they
collected during an airborne survey to construct a high-
resolution three-dimensional map of coastal conditions both
before and after the storm. The information the researchers
obtained can help scientists and decision-makers identify the
areas along the shore that have been made more vulnerable to
future coastal hazards in the storm’s wake. "Coastal dunes are
our last line of natural defense from the onslaught of storms
and rising seas," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "They are
dynamic features that retreat from the bat