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USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Field Activity Details for field activity 2022-014-FA

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Other ID: Marconi Beach 2022

Status: Completed

Organization(s): USGS, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Funding Program(s): Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements (LQ00DYN)

Principal Investigator(s): Christopher Sherwood

Affiliate Investigator(s): Peter Traykovski (WHOI)

Information Specialist(s): Jin-Si Over

Data Type(s): Imagery: Photo, Location-Elevation: Navigation, Sonar: Single Beam

Scientific Purpose/Goals: To characterize the beach and nearshore morphology to validate the USGS Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast that uses the ARGUS Camera systems (CoastCams) to visualize and map the beach and nearshore region to determine the types of bar morphologies, their persistence and temporal variability, and the relationship of these changes to wave and water-level conditions. This subaerial survey measurements to map the beach; aerial imagery from kite/balloon to map the beach; and bathymetric soundings from WHOI autonomous surface vehicle to map nearshore.

Vehicle(s):

Start Port/Location: Falmouth, MA

End Port/Location: Falmouth, MA

Start Date: 2022-03-11

End Date: 2022-03-30

Equipment Used: Cerulean Sonar S-500 Sounder, PPK GPS, Aeropoint targets, Digital camera, UAS- heli-kite, Spectra Precision SP80

Information to be Derived: Yearly update on topography and bathymetry of the beach and nearshore region in view of the cameras.

Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: Field Surveys took two days. Helikite survey was completed at low tide with a mix of Aeropoints and tarp targets as ground control. RTK GPS measurements and Propeller network were within 2 cm. PPK GPS data on camera was post processed. Bathymetry was collected a week after the helikite survey - ASV Yellowfin with a single beam echosounder was successful. No issues.

Staff: Marie Bartlett, Jin-Si Over, Christopher Sherwood

Affiliate Staff:

Notes: 2022-03-12: Used helikite, SP80, and aeropoints to collect topography data and imagery (J. Over, M. Bartlett, C. Sherwood, P. Traykovski)

2022-03-16: Bathymetry with Yellowfin and single-beam echosounder (J. Over, C. Sherwood, and P. Traykovski)

Entries for this field activity are based on entries from Field Activity 2021-014-FA for the Head of the Meadow Field Work and from Field Activity 2021-022-FA.

Location:

Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, Cape Cod National Seashore, Barnstable County, MA, United States

Boundaries
North: 41.89900178 South: 41.8898755 West: -69.96565313 East: -69.95105473

Platform(s):

photo of on foot
on foot
photo of WHOI Yellowfin
WHOI Yellowfin

Publications

Over, J.R., Sherwood, C.R., Traykovski, P.A., and Bartlett, M.K., 2022, Topographic and bathymetric data, structure from motion imagery, and ground control data collected at Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, MA in March 2022, U.S Geological Survey Field Activity 2022-014-FA: U.S Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9L1KCQB.

Sherwood, C.R., Aretxabaleta, A.L., Traykovski, P.A., Over, J.R., Foster, D.S., Miselis, J.L., Nelson, T., 2023, INFLUENCE OF SAND BARS ON RUNUP VARIABILITY: , Coastal Sediments 2023.

Sherwood, C.R., Aretxabaleta, A.L., Traykovski, P.A., Over, J.R., Lyons, E.O., Foster, D.S., Miselis, J.L., Nelson, T.R., Sogut, E., 2023, Contributions to uncertainty in runup forecasts: , Proceedings of Coastal Sediment 2023. doi: 10.1142/9789811275135_0037.

Sherwood, C.R., Foster, D.S., Miselis, J.L., Over, J.R., Marsjanik, E.D., Traykovski, P., Variability of Cape Cod Bars: Changes over Space and Time: , Cape Cod National Seashore 2022 Science in the Seashore Symposium.

Portals/Viewers

Data Acquired

Survey EquipmentSurvey InfoData Type(s)Data Collected
Cerulean Sonar S-500 Sounderplaced in ASV to record depth to seafloorSingle Beam
2022014FA_Marconi_Bathymetry_1m_cog (Bathymetric data and grid of offshore Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, on March 16, 2022)
2022014FA_Marconi_Topobathy_1m_cog (Topobathy grid representing the backshore to the nearshore at Marconi Beach, Wellfleet from data collected on March 11 and 16, 2022)
2022014FA_Marconi_raw_bathymetry (Depth soundings along tracklines and GPS locations.)
PPK GPSHot shoed to the camera so there is highly accurate photo location informationNavigation
Aeropoint targetsPlaced in survey area as ground control for structure from motionNavigation
Transects
Profiles
Aeropoints Marconi Beach (XYZ of ground control point - combined with GPS RTK information on Tarp Targets. Data published combined with SP80 data into 2022014FA_Marconi_nav_GCPs.csv)
Digital cameraJPEG taken every 5 seconds. Photo
2022014FA_Marconi_DSM_25cm_cog (Digital surface model representing Marconi Beach, Wellfleet on March 11, 2022. Created with structure-from-motion using images and GCPs.)
2022014FA_Marconi_Orthomosaic_10cm_cog (Orthomosaic representing Marconi Beach, Wellfleet on March 11, 2022. Created with structure-from-motion using images and GCPs)
Aerial photos of Marconi Beach (JPEG images taken with a SONY a6000 with 20mm f2.8 lens. Pictures taken every 5 seconds. Camera was attached to Helikite at Marconi Beach, Wellfleet on March 11, 2022. Picture locations and EXIF information are included in images and as a CSV)
UAS- heli-kiteFilled with helium and towed by hand up and down the beach with a digital camera and ppk GPS attached. Photo
Navigation
Video
Spectra Precision SP80used in RTK mode to provide location information to the tarp targets used as ground controlNavigation
Ground Control Points - Tarps (XYZ of ground control points - combined with Aeropoint information into 2022014FA_Marconi_nav_GCPs.csv.)

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