# Coral reef hydrodynamics from unmanned aerial vehicles

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Tulane University (LA) · $589,309

## Abstract

The primary aim of this project is to develop a process for modeling the hydrodynamic flow of coral reefs using observations obtained using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Current methods involve deploying instrumentation in the water column, which is expensive, time-consuming, and prone to lost instrumentation. If successful, this new approach would enable water-flow models to be readily developed and continually used following a single high-resolution LiDAR survey of a reef. The proposed objectives will advance physical oceanography on reef systems, via hydrodynamical modeling that will readily lead into broad-scale heat budget modeling of reefs.

This project will develop hydrodynamic models of wave-driven flow on shallow coral reefs, with constraints for the models coming entirely from data collected by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or “drones”). Past work with in-water instrumentation has demonstrated the effectiveness of hydrodynamic models to capture water flow across shallow reef flats when the pressure gradient from wave setup is measured alongside bathymetry and an estimate of hydrodynamic roughness. This current approach, while effective, requires extensive in-water instrument deployments and the method needs to be “tuned” to each stretch of reef because the hydrodynamic roughness needs to be calibrated in lieu of a more general way to measure it. This project leverages technological advances that allow high-r

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2524545
- **Awardee organization:** Tulane University (LA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** XNY5ULPU8EN6
- **PI:** Thomas DeCarlo
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $589,309
- **Funds obligated:** $589,309
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2524545

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2524545, Coral reef hydrodynamics from unmanned aerial vehicles. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2524545. Licensed CC0.

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