Survey and Monitoring -
Topograhic Data
Topographic surveys are a measure of the position of the surface of the beach, this data is captured using a Geographical
Positioning System (GPS) that is accurate to within +/-5mm using several satellites to establish an exact position on the earth's surface.
The survey produces a grid of points covering the beach that can be imported into a Geographical Information System (GIS) for analysis and interpretation. By carrying out a series of topographic surveys over time it is possible to identify trends in the evolution of the beach, which when related to other data can inform our understanding of coastal processes and aid our prediction of the future evolution of the coastline.
The data can be used to produce a colour contour plan where the colours representing beach level (m). These Sefton wide plans can give a quick indication of beach width and steepness, which can indentify potential areas of erosion or accretion for further study.
