The use of small‐format and low‐altitude aerial photos for the realization of high‐resolution DEMs in mountainous areas: application to the Super‐Sauze earthflow (Alpes‐de‐Haute‐Provence, France)

Abstract

Geomorphologists have to make choices and compromises, as acquisition techniques of geometrical information are numerous, depending on the specific complexity of the targeted three-dimensional objects and the requirements of the end user. This article presents the methodology and the results over a well known and documented site. This ready-to-use, low-altitude, aerial photo methodology reveals itself to be a satisfying compromise between cost, accuracy and difficulty of implementation. The selected equipment package is light enough to enable a quick reaction to unexpected events and the tools and methods are competitive with field acquisition techniques. An evaluation has demonstrated a sub-metric accuracy for the final result.

Assessing the Accuracy of High Resolution Digital Surface Models Computed by PhotoScan® and MicMac® in Sub-Optimal Survey Conditions

“…Therefore, UAV-derived 3D models and associated orthophotographs have a great potential for landscape monitoring: coastal management [1,2], precision agriculture [3], erosion assessment, landslides monitoring [4], etc. In the aforementioned applications, mapping small-scale geomorphological features and identifying subtle topographic variations require very high spatial resolution and very high accuracy.…”

sUAS and their application in observing geomorphological processes

“…Recording is used for the analyses of morphological processes, their dynamics, effects, force, hydrology, vegetation cover changes, etc. Henry et al (2002) described the way and the work methodology of mapping landscape structure with the use of individual flying machines (Fig. 1).…”

Brief Communication: The use of an unmanned aerial vehicle in a rockfall emergency scenario

“…Indeed, two L2 GPS acquiring in static mode during the whole TLS acquisition where used to position the point cloud. The TLS has another important positive advantage: the availability of a very detailed DSM can be used to validate the results obtained via the micro-UAV (Henry et al, 2002;Jabojedoff et al, 2012). Moreover, this can also be used for a multi-temporal comparison aimed to define the morphological changes of the studied area linked to the gravitational phenomenon's evolution (Niethammer et al, 2012;Giordan et al, 2013).…”