High resolution mapping and analysis of shore platform morphology in Galicia, northwestern Spain

Most research on shore platforms has been at fairly large spatial scales over distances ranging from hundreds to thousands of metres. Other work much smaller scales, one several decimetres, often corresponds the dimensions micro-erosion meter stations. Few studies have concerned with platform morphology in which basic data are acquired intermediate or meso-scales up a few This is due, part, terrestrial surveying being time-consuming while aerial surveys using LiDAR expensive. A meso-scale study was made three western Galicia, northwestern Spain an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) produce high resolution Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and calculate local surface elevation, roughness, slope, joint density 0.5 m pixel scale, orientation length. supplemented by Equotip field measurements rock hardness. granitic higher had rougher surfaces steeper slopes than two schist. The relationship between hardness complex, however, reflecting part role schistosity accounting for formation low, regular hard schists low density. suggested that tidal range, inheritance, other environmental evolutionary factors can be dominant determining macro- regional geological, particularly structural, become increasingly important Galicia as scale diminishes, they generally meso-scale.