Here’s how the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography has been monitoring erosion on Tybee Island

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - A drone will be soaring over Tybee Island’s beaches over the next few days, flown by a research professional with The Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s Alexander lab.

High in the sky, it’s taking photos of the beach and collecting elevation data, using a system known as LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging.

“We’re using laser light pulses from the drone and measuring how long it takes for that pulse to go from the drone back to the land surface and then be reflected back to the drone,” explained Clark Alexander, Director of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.

The naturally occurring erosion on Tybee Island has been ramping up in the last few years, creating a need for more frequent renourishment.

Researchers with the Skidaway institute o