Development of an automated mobile grain size mapping of a mixed sediment beach

Abstract

AbstractGrain sizes influence beach morphologies, processes, and states (e.g., dissipative, reflective and intermediate), however previous studies analysing beach grain size are often spatially and temporarily sparse. In this study, an automated mobile grain size estimation method using digital photographs (mobile digital grain size, MDGS) was developed and tested at a mixed sediment beach consisting of sand and gravels. The data collection system consisted of a downward‐looking camera, Real Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System, and a camera‐triggering single‐board computer, attached to an all‐terrain vehicle. Digital photographs were collected monthly from January 2021 to March 2022 over a section spanning ~700 m alongshore and processed automatically using an existing (non‐mobile) DGS estimation method. The MDGS results were generally consistent with manually estimated grain sizes (n = 962, r2 = 0.74, RMSE = 5.9 mm) and UAV orthomosaic imagery, although the MDGS sometimes overestimated manually estimated grain sizes particularly for photographs with relatively small sediments. Modelled nearshore waves and subaerial beach survey data from mobile terrestrial LiDAR were used to explore using MDGS in morphological studies. Seasonal grain size trends, observed relationships between nearshore wave height and spatially averaged beach grain size, and the general increasing trends of grain sizes with both beach elevation and local roughness/slope were consistent with previous studies, highlighting the use of MDGS for morpho‐sedimentary mixed sediment beach research. The MDGS provides a unique method to conduct spatially and temporarily high‐resolution mapping of gravel size sediments over large areas (>102 m alongshore). Potential improvements of the MDGS include additional low elevation cameras for improved fine (e.g., sand) grain size estimates, decreased time between photo triggering, and automated removal of erroneous photographs containing surface irregularities (e.g., tire tracks) and non‐sediment features (e.g., seaweed). Overall, the MDGS provides improved surface grain size mapping and investigations of complex grain size–morphology relationships of mixed sediment beaches.