Merging land-marine realms: Spatial patterns of seamless coastal habitats using a multispectral LiDAR

► We focuse on the structural complexity and mapping of seamless coastal habitats. ► LiDAR temporal return signal of green, red and near-infrared were exploited. ► A bespoke decision tree well assessed the structural complexity (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). ► Combination intensity-elevation enabled the accurate mapping of 19 habitats (k = 0.89). ► A single multispectral LiDAR survey can monitor seamless patterns of coastal habitats.