Using Google Earth in the Study of Shoreline Erosion Process

This paper focuses on the application of Google Earth to the spatial and temporal study of the history of shoreline erosion along a section of Lake Michigan, in particular through a demonstration of the erosion at Illinois Beach State Park north unit area. Besides coastal shoreline erosion, geotechnical site investigations often have been investigated using Google Earth history functions in the industry. The investigation results are of interest to the general public, federal and local governments, environmental protection agency (EPA), practicing engineers and entering undergraduate students of geotechnical engineering in particular. Real time climate precipitation combined with regional geology information can be reviewed for the illustration of using Google Earth in geoengineering site investigation study. Other geotechnical and hydrologic engineering applications of Google Earth are also discussed.