Photogrammetric models have become a standard tool for the study of surfaces, structures and natural elements. As an alternative to Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), photogrammetry allows 3D point clouds to be obtained at a much lower cost. This paper presents an enhanced workflow for image-based 3D reconstruction of high-resolution models designed to work with fixed time-lapse camera systems, based on multi-epoch multi-images (MEMI) to exploit redundancy. This workflow is part of a fully automatic working setup that includes all steps: from capturing the images to obtaining clusters from change detection. The workflow is capable of obtaining photogrammetric models with a higher quality than the classic Structure from Motion (SfM) time-lapse photogrammetry workflow. The MEMI workflow reduced the error up to a factor of 2 when compared to the previous approach, allowing for M3C2 standard deviation of 1.5 cm. In terms of absolute accuracy, using LiDAR data as a reference, our proposed method is 20% more accurate than models obtained with the classic workflow. The automation of the method as well as the improvement of the quality of the 3D reconstructed models enables accurate 4D photogrammetric analysis in near-real time.
The emerging use of photogrammetric point clouds in three-dimensional (3D) monitoring processes has revealed some constraints with respect to the use of LiDAR point clouds. Oftentimes, point clouds (PC) obtained by time-lapse photogrammetry have lower density and precision, especially when Ground Control Points (GCPs) are not available or the camera system cannot be properly calibrated. This paper presents a new workflow called Point Cloud Stacking (PCStacking) that overcomes these restrictions by making the most of the iterative solutions in both camera position estimation and internal calibration parameters that are obtained during bundle adjustment. The basic principle of the stacking algorithm is straightforward: it computes the median of the Z coordinates of each point for multiple photogrammetric models to give a resulting PC with a greater precision than any of the individual PC. The different models are reconstructed from images taken simultaneously from, at least, five points of view, reducing the systematic errors associated with the photogrammetric reconstruction workflow. The algorithm was tested using both a synthetic point cloud and a real 3D dataset from a rock cliff. The synthetic data were created using mathematical functions that attempt to emulate the photogrammetric models. Real data were obtained by very low-cost photogrammetric systems specially developed for this experiment. Resulting point clouds were improved when applying the algorithm in synthetic and real experiments, e.g., 25th and 75th error percentiles were reduced from 3.2 cm to 1.4 cm in synthetic tests and from 1.5 cm to 0.5 cm in real conditions.
<p>More than a century ago, the Puigcerc&#243;s village located in the region of Pallars Juss&#224; (Catalonia, Spain), suffered a large-scale landslide that occurred on January 13th, 1881. More than 5 million m<sup>3</sup> of sediments and rocks were displaced and a 200 m long and 25 m high rock scarp was formed. Luckily, during the main event, the nearby village was not affected, and due to a prompt evacuation and re-location of the entire village, no casualties were reported. Nevertheless, consequent retreat of the main scarp did destroy the big part of the old village, which confirmed not only the necessity for its relocation, but also gave one of the first clearly described and confirmed examples of a successful geologic risk prevention.</p><p>During the last decade, the members of the RISKNAT-UB group have chosen this site to conduct pilot studies of rockfalls and landslides using a multidisciplinary approach. The utilized observational techniques include Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), photogrammetry, GPS, seismic monitoring and geophysical prospecting techniques. The work presented here is an overview of these activities, including the main milestones of the ongoing research. Special emphasis will be given to the use of geodetic techniques for investigating changes on the depositional area of the landslide and around the crown cracks at the upper level of the main scarp. As a result of the GPS observations, for the first time, 130 years after the occurrence of the event, it was possible to observe a continuing geomorphological activity of the depositional zone of this historical landslide, Currently, the RISKNAT-UB group operates cost-effective, high-resolution and low-cost photogrammetric instruments and seismic continuous records at the site, in order to monitor the evolution of the Puigcerc&#243;s rock scarp. The correlation of the seismic and the photogrammetric data and intermittently obtained LiDAR images enables us to monitor and characterize frequent rockfalls and premonitory deformations occurring at the site. These observations have allowed quantifying the rate of retreat of the rock scarp at a rate of 10 to 11 cm/yr and a slow motion of the depositional zone up to 6 mm/yr. Since the geologic risk at the study area is not significant, due to the absence of population and/or infrastructures, this site is an ideal natural laboratory for developing new observational techniques, which can be used to develop early warning systems for rockfalls and landslides.</p><p>The authors would like to acknowledge a financial support from CHARMA (CGL2013-40828-R) and PROMONTEC (CGL2017-84720-R AEI/FEDER, UE) projects, financed&#160;by the Spanish MINEICO. We are also thankful to UNESCO Global Geopark Conca de Tremp-Montsec for their support.</p>
<p>Seismic sensors installed in areas prone to rockfalls provide a continuous record of the phenomenon, allowing real-time detection and characterization. Detection of small scale rockfalls (< 0.001 m<sup>3</sup>), that might be precursors of larger events, can be worthwhile for early warning systems of rockfalls. However, seismic signals are closely dependent on the characteristics of the event and on the geotechnical characteristics of the ground, making the detection of small rockfalls complex and requiring detailed in-situ analyzes. For this reason, an experiment was carried out on the UB experimental site (Puigcerc&#243;s Cliff, Catalonia, NE Spain) on 6<sup>th</sup>-7<sup>th</sup> of June 2013, where 21 rocks with volumes ranging from 0.0015 m<sup>3</sup> to 0.0004 m<sup>3</sup> were thrown from the top of the cliff (200 m long and 27 m high) and the seismic signals were registered with three 3D short period seismic sensors located at different distances from the rock wall: 57 m, 67 m, and 107 m.</p><p>The recorded seismic signals have a frequency content between 10-30 Hz, and the duration of the peak amplitudes varied between 0.3 and 0.6 s. Based on these characteristics, different phases of the dynamics of the rockfalls were identified, including main impacts, rebounds, flights, rolling and final stop of the events. The furthest station recorded the lowest frequency and amplitude values, limiting our ability to detect those blocks smaller than 0.0015 m<sup>3</sup>. Comparing the results with the nearest station, seismic attenuation phenomena is detectable even at distances of 50 m.</p><p>After the experiment, a permanent seismic station was installed in the area, at 107 m from the cliff. Using LiDAR and 2D imagery monitoring, two naturally triggered rockfalls were identified on 30<sup>th</sup> and 31<sup>st</sup> August 2017 (0.28 m<sup>3</sup> and 0.25 m<sup>3</sup> respectively). Based on the results from the experiment and an automatic detection system, these main events and prior minor events have been found in the continuous seismic records of this permanent station. The characteristics of these natural detachments differ partially from the artificially triggered rockfalls during the experiment, since the geometry of the seismic signals is different. The observed shapes of the natural detachments are similar to that of granular flows, much more continuous than the sharp shapes that were observed in the isolated blocks of the experiment. This shows the possibility of incorporating seismic stations for the automatic detection and initial characterization of rockfalls and its effectiveness in detecting frequencies of occurrence.</p><p>In order to evaluate the possibility of estimating rockfall volumes, diverse energy ratios (<em>E<sub>s</sub>/E<sub>p</sub></em>) were calculated. However, precise volume estimation is not possible. Nevertheless, the combination of seismic data with LiDAR and photographic techniques allows accurate new volume calculations of rockfalls to be incorporated progressively into the study of rockfalls.</p><p>ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from CHARMA (CGL2013-40828-R) and PROMONTEC (CGL2017-84720-R AEI/FEDER, UE) projects, Spanish MINEICO. We are also thankful to Origens UNESCO Global Geopark.</p>
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