Terrestrial　laser-scanning　(TLS)　techniques　have　been　proven　to　be　efficient　tools　for　collecting　three-dimensional　high-density　and　high-accuracy　point　clouds　for　coastal　research　and　resource　management.　However,　TLS　collects　a　massive　number　of　surveying　points.　The　processing　and　presenting　of　the　large　volumes　of　data　sets　is　always　a　challenge　for　research　when　targeting　a　large　area　with　high　resolution.　This　article　introduces　a　practical　workflow　using　shell-scripting　techniques　to　chain　together　tools　from　the　Generic　Mapping　Tools　(GMT),　Geographic　Resources　Analysis　Support　System　(GRASS),　and　other　command-based　open-source　utilities　for　automating　TLS　data　processing.　TLS　point　clouds　acquired　in　the　beach　and　dune　area　near　Freeport,　Texas,　in　May　2015　were　used　for　the　case　study.　GMT　is　an　open-source　collection　of　programs　designed　for　manipulating　and　displaying　geographic　data　sets.　Shell　scripts　for　rotating　the　coordinate　system,　removing　anomalous　points,　assessing　data　quality,　generating　high-accuracy　bare-earth　digital　elevation　models　(DEMs),　and　quantifying　changes　of　beach　and　sand　dune　features　(shoreline,　cross-shore　section,　dune　ridge,　toe,　and　volume)　are　presented　in　this　article.　This　investigation　indicated　that　GMT　provides　efficient　and　robust　programs　for　regridding　and　filtering　massive　TLS　point-cloud　data　sets,　generating　and　displaying　high-resolution　DEMs,　and,　finally,　producing　publication-quality　maps　and　graphs.　The　methods　and　scripts　presented　in　this　article　will　benefit　a　large　research　and　application　community　of　geomorphologists,　geologists,　geophysicists,　engineers,　and　others　who　need　to　handle　large　volumes　of　topographic　data　sets　and　generate　high-resolution　DEMs.　(C)　2017　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.