ANALYSIS OF WEST TENNESSEE GULLY EROSION RATES USING HIGH RESOLUTION TERRESTRIAL LIDAR

Studies of gully erosion in the southeastern United States have been primarily based on traditional field techniques that often yield surface topographic data of relatively low accuracy. The advent of remote sensing techniques, especially Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), has allowed for gathering surface topographic data with large coverage and high accuracy in a more efficient manner. Increasing availability of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR data provides a unique opportunity to detect and monitor the landscape evolution of gully systems. In this study, we use LiDAR to conduct detailed topographical analyses of two gully systems within the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in west Tennessee. The topographic data collected using a terrestrial laser scanner in winter 2014 are compared with airborne LiDAR datasets collected in winter 2012 by the USGS to measure topographic changes of these two gullies. This study demonstrates the use of LiDAR technology for collecting topographic data of sufficient detail to conduct fine scale morphometric analyses and to determine what, if any, human influence is affecting erosion rates within the two gully systems.