Airborne bathymetric lidar is one of the most exciting and rapidly-advancing technologies in the geospatial sector. Its uses range from safety of marine navigation (i.e., hydrographic surveying and nautical charting), to sediment transport modeling, benthic habitat mapping and monitoring, marine ecological assessments, flood inundation modeling, river morphology, coastal engineering, and more. This workshop is designed for geospatial professionals, students, and even those new to the field who are interested in learning more about lidar bathymetry. We will start with a brief history and theory of bathymetric lidar, including terminology, system components, and acquisition principles. We will then cover operational concepts, including mission planning, data processing and workflows, calibration, QA/QC, and accuracy assessment. We will conclude with a view of the future of airborne bathymetric lidar, including emerging trends and anticipated advances over the next decade.
