Capturing and recording fluvio-geomorphological events is essential since these events can be very sudden and hazardous. Climate change is expected to increase flash floods intensity and frequency in the Mediterranean region, thus enhancing such events will also impact the adjacent riparian vegetation. The aim of this study was to capture and record the fluvial-geomorphological changes of the torrent bed and banks and flood debris events with the use of UAV images along a reach of Kallifytos torrent in northern Greece. In addition, a novel approach to detecting changes and assessing the conditions of the riparian vegetation was conducted by using UAV images that were validated with field data based on a visual protocol. Three flights were conducted using the DJI Spark UAV. Based on the images collected from these flights, orthomosaics were developed. The orthomosaics clearly identified changes in the torrent bed and detected debris flow events after major flood events. In addition, the results on the assessment of riparian vegetation conditions were satisfactory. Utilizing UAV images shows great potential to capture, record, and monitor fluvio-geomorphological events and riparian vegetation. Their utilization would help water managers to develop more sustainable management solutions based on actual field data.
Riparian ecosystems in urban environments are usually degraded. Their sustainable management can reduce water pollution, mitigate climate change while providing recreation opportunities. This study assessed the current condition of the streams/torrents and their riparian areas in the city of Drama in Greece. In addition, practices to improve their functionality and enhance community awareness were recommended. A spatial database of the wider urban setting including suburbs and rural areas (weather, land cover, soils, roads, protected areas, riparian areas, etc.) was developed within GIS. The datasets were then inputted in a hydrologic model to simulate the water balance and stream discharge in the main urban streams and torrents. Field measurements of stream water discharge, and vegetation and stream channel conditions were undertaken using two visual protocols. The results of the protocols indicate that most streams/torrents and their riparian areas are of low ecological quality. Nature-based solutions were recommended to improve their ecological quality. In addition, the implementation of eco-routes was recommended to enhance the awareness of their importance and to promote their sustainable management. Overall, the urban streams/torrents and riparian ecosystems of Drama are degraded and innovative management practices should be implemented to conserve them and feature their ecosystem services.
The study attempts to monitor geomorphological changes (e.g., erosion/deposition) with innovative tools at a typical Mediterranean torrent. The torrent’s geomorphological conditions are studied for an entire affected stream reach. The investigation utilizes two different environments/point views: (a) traditional terrestrial and (b) innovative aerial. The traditional methods include erosion pins at streambanks and field cross-section measurements of the stream channel. For the innovative methods, utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle, in order to monitor the geomorphologic changes in the entire reach during different days over the last 3 years (2020–2022), there was a total of six flights. The results from innovative methods showcase the episodic nature of stream channel changes since erosion and deposition were captured during the different monitoring periods. Even during one flight in one cross-section, the stream bed and two banks in many cases experienced different changes. The significant erosion and deposition recorded showcase the disequilibrium in the torrent. In addition, the impact of the anthropogenic structure (Irish bridge) is evident, since upstream, more substantial deposition was recorded compared to downstream. The similarity of the results between the innovative method and the traditional methods indicates the method’s effectiveness and the potential usefulness in using UAV images for stream bank and bed monitoring. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to monitor the entire reach at substantially lower costs and time compared to the traditional methods. Still, more testing needs to be conducted in different stream and river environments to better refine the method in order to be adopted by land and water managers to be used for stream and river monitoring.
The development of methodologies for analyzing the evolution and pressures exerted on the river channel network is one of the main concerns of researchers today. The assessment of natural or artificial changes of river channels and beds plays an important role in environmental protection, but also in the implementation of integrated water resource management plans. Given the episodic and dynamic nature of river bank and bed erosion, along with the difficulty of reaching certain reaches, a methodological approach that uses aerial imagery, initially from satellite sources and afterwards from unmanned aerial vehicles, is proposed. This approach was utilized in a perennial river in Romania but also in an ephemeral torrent channel in Greece, in order to test the prevalent types of hydrographic network in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. The methodology used was able to identify the location and the volume of the bed material extracted and the time frame in which it occurred. These encouraging results showcase an accurate but also relevantly low-cost monitoring method for illegal anthropogenic activities that can be easily adopted by the responsible authorities. The adoption of the method will contribute to the more efficient monitoring of river protection, by accurately and timely identifying areas of illegal river bed extraction that will enable authorities to enforce European Union and national legislation.
Anthropogenic activities and climate change have accelerated soil erosion in the Mediterranean. In the region, erosion rates are further exacerbated due to frequent wildfires and flash floods. Soil bioengineering works and nature-based solutions need to be placed in targeted areas to provide the greatest erosion control in the burnt areas. The purpose of this study was to provide a targeted approach by utilizing spatial software along with field measurements to place optimally soil erosion prevention works. Specifically, the Gavrilovic soil erosion equation was implemented within the Geographical Information System (GIS) to estimate the areas of greatest erosion potential. The study area was Prinos Watershed of Thasos Island in Greece that was burnt in the summer of 2017. To run the soil erosion equation in GIS, different layers of data were collected or developed. Visual field measurements were taken to estimate the erosion potential factor. The results indicated the areas with the greatest soil erosion and allowed to pinpoint the location for the soil bioengineering works. The recommended works were wooden dams and log erosion barriers. This method could be used by the Greek Forest Service to promote the sustainable restoration of burnt areas.
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