The Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), under a multiagency program initiated in 1966, has developed a synoptic sand tracing system capable of operating on the beach, in the surf zone, and offshore. This system has application in determining sediment movement along coastal areas. Some specific problems to which the system can be applied are: (a) mechanisms of sediment movement; (b) improving beach fill criteria; (c) relation of engineering structures to sediment transport; and (d) movement of disposal materials. Sand of the desired size characteristics is plated with gold 198-199 isotopes and sealed in water soluble packets. The packets are injected in the water as either line or point sources by extrusion from the carrier-injection device. Surveying is conducted from an amphibious vehicle (LARC) which tows a ball-like device containing four scintillation detectors. Signals from the detectors are transmitted by cable to the onboard data collection system. The system also collects other data (e.g., navigation, fathometer, etc.) pertinent to surveying; this data are telemetered to a shore-based PDP-8 computer system for field processing. Processed data are plotted on the cathode ray tube (CRT) real-time data display and stored on magnetic tape for further analysis. Data obtained with the RIST system represent nearly synoptic observation of sediment transport within one or all of the nearshore environmental zones over a wide area. Field tracing experiments are designed toward the solution of particular problems. Some of the factors considered in planning the experiment include: selection of the tracer, tidal state, predicted environmental conditions, available support, and acceptance (or licensing) of the use of isotopes. After the isotope is injected, surveys are conducted for several days depending upon dispersion and isotope half-life. Results of recent tracer experiments demonstrate the utility of RIST in research and engineering studies. RIST studies synoptically cover a wider area both offshore and alongshore than is obtainable with other tracer systems such as fluorescent and stable isotope tracers. Since differences in sediment transport exist between the various nearshore environmental zones, RIST studies provide data more indicative of total transport on a scale previously unobtainable.