Airborne Lidar bathymetry (ALB) is a modern measurement technology for obtaining rapid depth measurements in shallow underwater environments. The technique allows recording of the depth below the Secchi disk. ALB datasets are suitable for nearshore coastal mapping purposes, including the determination of submerged morphological bedforms and coastal protection structures. This article presents a novel methodological approach to understand and assess the suitability of ALB for the automatic classification and mapping of the seabed.
Human expansion into coastal areas and their intensive use for economic and recreational purposes require information on their state, evolution and functioning. Effective management of