Overview Field Activity Collections System (FACS) Log

Topic
Information
USGS Activity ID i.e. YYPRJ## *
12CCH03
Other ID (if any)
XSTORMS.h20120902
Organization(s)/Program
U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Project/Theme
Extreme Storm Coastal Change Hazards
Area of Operation
Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana Barrier Islands
Principal Investigator(s)
Karen L.M. Morgan
Information Specialist(s)
Karen Westphal
Activity Type
Oblique Aerial Photo Survey
Scientific Purpose/Goals
Post-Hurricane Isaac survey to document the storm impact on the coast.
Platform
Cessna 172, tail number N737FK.
Starting Date
September 2, 2012
Starting Port/Location
New Orleans, La.
Ending Date
September 3, 2012
Ending Port/Location
Abita Springs, La.
Equipment Used
Canon EOS Rebel T2i, Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
Information to be Derived (e.g., Grain Size, Depth to Basement)
Analysis of coastal change due to extreme storms
Summary of Activity and Data Gathered
1,932 digital images
Notes (include staff, shop time, etc.)
Flight departed from Air Reldan, Inc., based in Abita Springs, La., which provided a Cessna 172 with extended range tanks, piloted by Ned Downie (0902) and Brandon Campbell (0903). The plane had a forward wing strut to work around, and the window that opened for pictures was on the right side, so the flight path to document the Gulf shoreline was north to south along the Chandeleur Island chain and east to west along the Alabama and Mississippi barrier shorelines. Oblique aerial photography was obtained from an approximate altitude of 500 feet and about 800-1000 feet away from the shoreline to include the horizon and nearshore bedforms in the frame. Some areas captured more nearshore water to allow for shoreline migration in comparison photos.

September 2, 2012
The flight departed from Atlantic Aviation in New Orleans, La. At 14:15 UTC. Chandeleur Islands were photographed first from north to south, and the Alabama/Mississippi barriers islands were photographed from Dauphin Island in the east to Cat Island in the west. The plane returned to the airfield at 19:00 UTC. 

September 3, 2012 
The flight departed from the St Tammany airfield in Abita Springs, La at 13:00 UTC. The survey was started at Sandy Point just west of the Mississippi River delta and followed the shoreline east to Raccoon Point at the west end of the Isles Dernieres. The plane returned to the airfield at 16:15 UTC.