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Two people inspect a metal sign on a vegetated sandy backdrop and blue sky.
USGS personnel install warning signs on the beach
USGS personnel install warning signs on the beach
A woman sitting cross legged on top of a ladder writing in a notebook next to long skinny equipment
USGS researcher uses RTk equipment to locate installed instruments
USGS researcher uses RTk equipment to locate installed instruments
USGS researcher uses RTk equipment to locate installed instruments

USGS researcher Jenna Brown takes a measurement with a real time kinematic GPS receiver, this will give her an accurate position and height of the aluminum pole beneath it, which will have mutliple instruments attached to it to measure water flow and elevation changes.

USGS researcher Jenna Brown takes a measurement with a real time kinematic GPS receiver, this will give her an accurate position and height of the aluminum pole beneath it, which will have mutliple instruments attached to it to measure water flow and elevation changes.

Aerial view of a sandy beach and dune. A scientists holds a post near a black and white marker on the ground.
DUNEX beach profile survey
DUNEX beach profile survey
DUNEX beach profile survey

Overhead image collected by a helikite of field work being conducted in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), USGS scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline.

Overhead image collected by a helikite of field work being conducted in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), USGS scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline.

A camera points down at a sandy coastline lined with vegetated dunes and a pier. Residential area seen in the distance.
Coast Cam at the USACE Field Research Facility
Coast Cam at the USACE Field Research Facility
Coast Cam at the USACE Field Research Facility

USGS scientists mounted this high-resolution digital camera on an observation tower in the dune at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The camera overlooks the beach, dune, and an instrument array, and collects images throughout calm and storm conditions. 

USGS scientists mounted this high-resolution digital camera on an observation tower in the dune at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The camera overlooks the beach, dune, and an instrument array, and collects images throughout calm and storm conditions. 

Wide view of a beach, waves, and a pier. Several metal poles stick out of the sand on the beach.
DUNEX instruments and FRF pier
DUNEX instruments and FRF pier
DUNEX instruments and FRF pier

Metal poles and equipment will installed on the beach and in the surf zone near the Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility pier near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The poles extend about 5 feet above the ground or seabed, to support instruments that continuously measure wave heights, water levels, and currents using acoustics. 

Metal poles and equipment will installed on the beach and in the surf zone near the Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility pier near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The poles extend about 5 feet above the ground or seabed, to support instruments that continuously measure wave heights, water levels, and currents using acoustics. 

A beach with vegetated dunes and ocean waves approaching the shoreline. Houses are seen on the island in the distance.
Outer Banks, North Carolina coastline
Outer Banks, North Carolina coastline
Outer Banks, North Carolina coastline

Coastal communities, especially those on barrier islands, are vulnerable to processes of coastal change. The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) project is a multi-agency, a

Coastal communities, especially those on barrier islands, are vulnerable to processes of coastal change. The DUring Nearshore Event eXperiment (DUNEX) project is a multi-agency, a

A white balloon-shaped kite being held in the air
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline
A helikite used to collect imagery of the coastline

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

A person walks down a sandy shoreline near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

A person walks along a sandy scarped dune near the waves under a cloudy sky, pulling along a white balloon-shaped kite
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach
Flying a helikite to survey the beach

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

An alternative to uncrewed aerial systems (UAS; commonly known as 'drones'), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists use helikites equipped with cameras to collect imagery of the coastline. The pictures collected by these helium-powered kite-balloons are used to create a 3D digital elevation map of the beach.

USGS Partnership to Monitor Volcano Hazards Using Next-Generation UAS
USGS-Black Swift Team Alaska
USGS-Black Swift Team Alaska
USGS-Black Swift Team Alaska

USGS-Black Swift Team with Super Swift UAS, Dutch Harbor Airport, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Left-to-right: Dale Ruckman, Jack Elston, Christoph Kern, Angie Diefenbach, Maciej Stachura, Matt Burgess, Andy Dietrick.

USGS-Black Swift Team with Super Swift UAS, Dutch Harbor Airport, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Left-to-right: Dale Ruckman, Jack Elston, Christoph Kern, Angie Diefenbach, Maciej Stachura, Matt Burgess, Andy Dietrick.

Two men standing on the beach
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle
Preparing to launch the Automnous Surf Vehicle

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski prepares to run into the surf with the ASV nicknamed "Robo Turtle" while USGS investigator Chris Sherwood handles the remote controller.

a photo of the beach and land with hazy blue skies and infrastructure
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station
Data collection at Duck USACE Field Research Station

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

The US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC has set up a variety of sensors and arrays on the beach to measure oceanographic paramters for DUNEX

A cloudy picture of the beach with a man towing a white balloon
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC
Surveying with the Helikite at Pea Island, NC

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

The Helikite in action, being walked by WHOI scientist, Peter Traykovski, at Pea Island DUNEX site, the helium powered balloon kite is used to survey the beach and dune to produce elevation models using Structure from Motion.

several people walking on a beach towards two off road vehicles near the water
DUNEX Crew
DUNEX Crew
DUNEX Crew

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

A calm hazy horizon after the team pushed two boats up and over the dune to be launched from the beach on Pea Island.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

two people stand by a support wire for a tall tower on a vegetated dune
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm
Installing CoastCam at Pea Island before a storm

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

Assembling the CoastCam station, USGS researchers Jenna Brown and Meg Palmsten stake down support wires as a storm approaches the Pea Island field site.

This field work was conducted as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

several poles with instruments attached sticking out of the sand in the surf zone.
DUNEX Cross-Shore Array
DUNEX Cross-Shore Array
DUNEX Cross-Shore Array

Cross-shore array of poles equipped with various sensors to measure water level and other parameters at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. This equipment was deployed as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

Cross-shore array of poles equipped with various sensors to measure water level and other parameters at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. This equipment was deployed as part of the During Nearshore Event Experiment (DUNEX) in 2021. 

 lots of colorful bags and equipment on the beach as two men look on
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry
Planning the ASV Route bathymetry

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

To survey the bathymetry off of the Pea Island DUNEX site WHOI investigator Peter Traykovski, and USGS investigator, Chris Sherwood, prepare to launch the ASV into the water to measure the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX site.

View of a shoreline of soil near the ocean with wooden poles sitting atop a large berm.
Video camera setup at Point Barrow, Alaska
Video camera setup at Point Barrow, Alaska
Video camera setup at Point Barrow, Alaska

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.

View of a shoreline with a wooden pole supported by wires and secured to the soil, with a pickup truck parked nearby.
Video camera setup at Nuvuk, Alaska
Video camera setup at Nuvuk, Alaska
Video camera setup at Nuvuk, Alaska

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.

A pole with instruments strapped to it is supported by wires and stands on a coastal bluff with the ocean in the background.
Video camera setup, Point Barrow, Alaska
Video camera setup, Point Barrow, Alaska
Video camera setup, Point Barrow, Alaska

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.

Point Barrow, Alaska, or Nuvuk, is the northernmost point in the United States. USGS has set up video cameras, mounted to the pole shown here, to study sediment movement and wave dynamics along this dynamic coastline.