Oyster reefs provide environmental and economic services within the coastal regions of the United States. Mapping the extent of these reefs and analyzing their composition can be highly beneficial for oyster management and restoration projects. The objectives of this research project included examining the feasibility of the use of low-cost side-scanning sonar (LC-SSS) systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for mapping intertidal oyster reefs at selected sites within the Galveston Bay system, Texas. Two sites in Bastrop Bay and Bastrop Bayou complex were selected following defined criteria that included the existence of intertidal oyster reefs and no aviation restrictions on the operation of UAS.
