Low-cost aerial surveys for coastal studies

This paper presents three case studies where aerial surveys utilizing a small craft and digital camera proved useful in addressing coastal problems. The three case studies addressed in this paper are: 1) monitoring of thermal discharge behavior from the cooling system of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station; 2) responses of San Diego beaches to sand nourishment; and 3) mapping of sedimentation from Goat Canyon deposited within the southern Tijuana Estuary. These three cases address three different questions, showing the wide applicability and value of this low-cost technique.