Visualizing a Clay Dune, Port Isabel, Texas

3D Model

Clay dunes, referred to locally as lomas are a unique feature of the Rio Grande Delta. These dunes form in stages as windblown clayey sediments adhere to vegetation and create new surface layers. These surfaces are buried during later depositional events. Lomas contain several buried surfaces spanning thousands of years. Lomas are home to ecologically unique plant communities that provide habitats for endangered animal species like ocelots. They also supported sophisticated Indigenous communities in the distant and recent past. This dune is located just south of Port Isabel, Texas.

This model contains two representations of loma bisected by Highway 48. The bottom plane is based on 2018 LiDAR and textured with aerial imagery. The upppermost model shows a smaller area created with photogrammetry. This visualization is a preliminary step in a larger, multidisciplinary research project at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Explore the model for more information!