Structure-from-motion point clouds of an approximately 13 km long section of the Big Sur coast, California for 33 flights between 2017-01-25 and 2023-06-08

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Helen W. Dow
Originator: Jonathan A. Warrick
Originator: Andrew C. Ritchie
Publication_Date: 20250903
Title:

Structure-from-motion point clouds of an approximately 13 km long section of the Big Sur coast, California for 33 flights between 2017-01-25 and 2023-06-08

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: point cloud digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P13FEC44

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44
Online_Linkage:

https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data-releases/datarelease/10.5066-P13FEC44/

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Helen W. Dow
Originator: Jonathan A. Warrick
Originator: Andrew C. Ritchie
Publication_Date: 2025
Title:

Topographic point clouds and change analysis for the Big Sur, California coastline from structure-from-motion photogrammetry from aerial photographs, 2017–2023

Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P13FEC44

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested Citation: Dow, H.W., Warrick, J.A., and Ritchie, A.C., 2025, Topographic point clouds and change analysis for the Big Sur, California coastline from structure-from-motion photogrammetry from aerial photographs, 2017–2023: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Description:

Abstract:

Presented here are point clouds derived from aerial photography collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) using an oblique plane-mounted camera system, covering approximately 13 km of the coastline near Big Sur, California. These point clouds are referenced to previously published lidar data and contain RGB information as well as XYZ. Point cloud coordinates are in NAD83 UTM Zone 10 meters. Imagery was collected with a Nikon D800 camera in RAW format and processed using structure-from-motion photogrammetry with Agisoft PhotoScan version 1.7 through 2.0. Point clouds were clipped to an area of interest (AOI) using LASTools. The AOI was created in ArcGIS Pro 3.3.1.

Purpose:

Data were collected as part of ongoing monitoring of the California coastline within the USGS Remote Sensing Coastal Change (RSCC) Project.

Supplemental_Information:

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document the dataset in nonproprietary form, as well as in Esri format, this metadata file may include some Esri-specific terminology.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20170125
Ending_Date: 20230608

Currentness_Reference: ground condition at time data were collected

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.659423
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.583232
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.147515
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.042181

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:d06ce0f9-85d8-47fe-9efd-a27d1461fd58

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation
Theme_Keyword: elevation
Theme_Keyword: imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
Theme_Keyword: transportation

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Marine Realms Information Bank (MRIB) keywords
Theme_Keyword: geomorphology
Theme_Keyword: coastal change hazards topics
Theme_Keyword: coastal landsliding
Theme_Keyword: aerial and satellite photography
Theme_Keyword: agents of coastal change
Theme_Keyword: anthropogenic agents of coastal change
Theme_Keyword: coastal landslides
Theme_Keyword: coastal processes
Theme_Keyword: coastal sediment budget
Theme_Keyword: coastal zone management
Theme_Keyword: effects of coastal change
Theme_Keyword: human responses to coastal change
Theme_Keyword: hazards and disasters

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: landslides
Theme_Keyword: coastal processes
Theme_Keyword: hazards
Theme_Keyword: topography
Theme_Keyword: remote sensing
Theme_Keyword: aerial photography
Theme_Keyword: image analysis
Theme_Keyword: image collections

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Data Categories for Marine Planning
Theme_Keyword: Bathymetry and Elevation

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
Theme_Keyword: CMHRP
Theme_Keyword: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Theme_Keyword: PCMSC

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Place_Keyword: State of California
Place_Keyword: Monterey County
Place_Keyword: Big Sur

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Common geographic areas
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: California
Place_Keyword: Central California Coastal
Place_Keyword: Monterey

Access_Constraints: No access constraints
Use_Constraints:

USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Contact_Person: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 2885 Mission Street
City: Santa Cruz
State_or_Province: CA
Postal_Code: 95060
Country: United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 831-427-4747
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows versions 10 and 11, Agisoft PhotoScan version 1.7 through 2.0, LASTools 180322 through 230327 were used to process data for this release.

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Jin-Si R. Over
Originator: Andrew C. Ritchie
Originator: Christine J. Kranenburg
Originator: Jenna A. Brown
Originator: Daniel D. Buscombe
Originator: Tom Noble
Originator: Christopher R. Sherwood
Originator: Jonathan A. Warrick
Originator: Phillipe A. Wernette
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:

Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6-Structure from motion workflow documentation

Other_Citation_Details:

Over, J.R., Ritchie, A.C., Kranenburg, C.J., Brown, J.A., Buscombe, D., Noble, T., Sherwood, C.R., Warrick, J.A., and Wernette, P.A., 2021, Processing coastal imagery with Agisoft Metashape Professional Edition, version 1.6—Structure from motion workflow documentation: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2021–1039, 46 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211039.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20211039

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Jonathan A. Warrick
Originator: Andrew C. Ritchie
Originator: Gabrielle Adelman
Originator: Kenneth Adelman
Originator: Patrick W. Limber
Publication_Date: 20170101
Title:

New Techniques to Measure Cliff Change from Historical Oblique Aerial Photographs and Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry

Other_Citation_Details:

Warrick, J.A.; Ritchie, A.C.; Adelman, G.; Adelman, K., and Limber, P.W., 2017. New techniques to measure cliff change from historical oblique aerial photographs and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry: Journal of Coastal Research 33(1), 39-55, (1 January 2017). https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00095.1.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00095.1

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report: No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Coordinates recorded for each point in the point cloud describe discrete positions in space and the visual reflectance (in RGB values) at the time of capture. This final point cloud was checked for accuracy by rotating the point cloud to view from multiple angles to ensure that obvious spurious points do not cause artifacts in measurements or derivative products (Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Orthomosaic). Although some outlying points were eliminated during processing, there may still be points that do not represent ground features but are instead artifacts generated by erroneous tie points or spurious matches in the photogrammetric process.

Completeness_Report:

Data set is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Ground control was derived from three photo- and lidar-identifiable, stable locations that were dispersed across the length of coastline analyzed. These synthetic ground control points consisted of the centers of physical structures and one point of transition between older road and freshly paved and painted road. Positions for these locations were derived from 2018 airborne lidar point data. The vertical and horizontal accuracies for these positions were assumed to be 0.25 m for the lidar-derived data. The lidar-derived data include the additional uncertainty of accurately matching the irregularly spaced lidar points to the photo-identifiable points, which is difficult to measure, but estimated to be an additional 0.25 m, resulting in a total estimated 3D uncertainty of 0.5 m.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication_Date: 20230221
Title:

PCMSC PlaneCam – Field data from periodic and event-response surveys of the U.S. West Coast.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: application/service
Other_Citation_Details:

https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data-services/rscc/pcmsc_planecam/pcmsc_planecam_metadata.xml

Online_Linkage:

https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data-services/rscc/pcmsc_planecam/

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2023

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition at time data were collected

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: PCMSC PlaneCam photographs
Source_Contribution:

We used aerial imagery to produce point clouds using photogrammetry techniques.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication_Date: 20210205
Title:

2018 FEMA Lidar: Region 9, CA Point Cloud files with Orthometric Vertical Datum North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) using GEOID18

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: point cloud digital data
Other_Citation_Details:

https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/laz/geoid18/9269/2018_ca_fema_region9_metadata.xml

Online_Linkage:

https://rockyweb.usgs.gov/vdelivery/Datasets/Staged/Elevation/LPC/Projects/CA_AZ_FEMA_R9_Lidar_2017_D18/CA_FEMA_Z4_B2_2018/LAZ/

Online_Linkage:

https://noaa-nos-coastal-lidar-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/laz/geoid18/9269/index.html

Online_Linkage:

https://portal.opentopography.org/usgsDataset?dsid=CA_FEMA_Z4_B2_2018

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2018

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition at time data were collected

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2018 lidar
Source_Contribution: ground control

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Aerial imagery for the study area were downloaded. Imagery had previously been collected using a USGS platform built to collect survey-grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data and simultaneously collect images at 1-second intervals on a Nikon D810 camera mounted obliquely on a Cessna 210.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: PCMSC PlaneCam Photographs
Process_Date: 2023

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

These process steps following the general technique presented in Warrick and others (2017) and the detailed procedures outlined in Over and others (2021) 1. Geotagged images containing imagery from the survey area were imported into Agisoft Photoscan Professional v. 1.7-2.0 software using the 'Add photos' tool. 2. PPK post-processed positions were imported for all flights where data were available (accuracy set to 10 cm horizontal 15 cm vertical). 3. The photos were processed through an initial alignment and optimization procedure using the following settings: Alignment - Accuracy: 'High'; Pair selection: 'Reference, generic'; Key point limit: 0 (unlimited); Tie point limit: 0 (unlimited). Optimization - Lens-calibration parameters f, cx, cy, k1, k2, k3, p1, and p2 were included; b1, b2, and higher-order parameters k4, p3, and p4 were not. 4. The sparse point cloud (tie points; created as a result of photo alignment and optimization) was edited using an iterative error-reduction procedure to filter the data. This was done in several iterations of a process called "Gradual Selection" to first reduce reconstruction uncertainty (to a unitless value of 10) and then projection accuracy (to a weighted value of 6). 5. Synthetic ground control points (SGCPs) were created from identifiable, stable ground features (for example, buildings, road intersections) clearly visible in both lidar and imagery. 6. SGCP location files, which assigned coordinates (northing, easting, and elevation in UTM Zone 10 North meters in NAD83 and NAVD88 coordinate systems) were imported, markers were manually placed on photos where they were visible, and another optimization procedure was performed. 7. Another round of "Gradual Selection" was done to reduce the reprojection error (to a value of 0.3 pixels). 8. Confidence filtering was done to remove points with low confidence (confidence 0-4 removed). 9. A dense point cloud was then created with the parameters "High" quality and "Mild" depth filtering.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: PCMSC PlaneCam photographs
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2018 lidar
Process_Date: 2023

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The dense point cloud was exported in LAZ format and clipped to a polygon of the study area using lastools

Process_Date: 2023

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Indirect_Spatial_Reference:

An approximately 13 km (8 miles) section of the Big Sur coast, Monterey County, California, from Anderson Canyon bridge to Gamboa Point.

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 10
Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -123.0
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
False_Easting: 500000.0
False_Northing: 0.0

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.01
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.01

Planar_Distance_Units: METERS

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: NAD83
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Altitude_System_Definition:

Altitude_Datum_Name:

North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (EPSG:5703), derived using GEOID18

Altitude_Resolution: 0.01
Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
Altitude_Encoding_Method:

Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

The attribute information associated with point cloud follows the LAZ file standard. Attributes include location (northing, easting, and elevation in the NAD83/UTM zone 10N (EPSG:26910) horizontal and NAVD88 vertical coordinate systems), color (red, blue, and green components), and confidence (an alignment product).

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS; 2013, https://www.asprs.org/committee-general/laser-las-file-format-exchange-activities.html) and Isenburg (2013, https://doi.org/10.14358/PERS.79.2.209)

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - CMGDS

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 2885 Mission Street
City: Santa Cruz
State_or_Province: CA
Postal_Code: 95060

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 831-427-4747
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Resource_Description:

These data are available in LAZ format contained in zip folders organized by flight dates accompanied by CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata.

Distribution_Liability:

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 5 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20170125, 20170222, 20170308, 20170405, and 20170519.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1900

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20170125_to_20170519.zip" in the Location-Elevation section

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 5 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20170627, 20171221, 20180129, 20180307, and 20180605.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1700

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20170627_to_20180605.zip" in the Location-Elevation section

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 5 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20180910, 20190223, 20190311, 20190610, and 20191031.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1800

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20180910_to_20191031.zip" in the Location-Elevation section.

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 4 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20200125, 20200319, 20200705, and 20210110.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1500

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20200125_to_20210110.zip" in the Location-Elevation section.

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 4 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20210129, 20210326, 20211218, and 20220204.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1800

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20210129_to_20220204.zip" in the Location-Elevation section.

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 6 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20220609, 20230101, 20230106, 20230112, 20230123, and 20230208.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1800

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20220609_to_20230208.zip" in the Location-Elevation section.

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: LAZ
Format_Version_Number: LAS 1.2
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains 4 point clouds in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification) for flight dates 20230302, 20230313, 20230317, and 20230608.

File_Decompression_Technique: Unzip. Data are compressed into a zip file.
Transfer_Size: 1100

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13FEC44

Access_Instructions:

Data can be downloaded using the Network_Resource_Name link and scrolling down to "BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_20230302_to_20230608.zip" in the Location-Elevation section.

Fees: None.

Technical_Prerequisites:

This zip file contains point cloud data in LAZ format (LAS 1.2 specification). The user must have software capable of uncompressing the .zip compressed file and displaying or processing the .laz format file.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20250903
Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Contact_Person: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 2885 Mission Street
City: Santa Cruz
State_or_Province: CA
Postal_Code: 95060
Country: United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 831-427-4747
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/CMGDS_DR_tool/DR_P13FEC44/BigSur_TopographicPointClouds_metadata.html>