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Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies

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A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 7466

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Vicente Pérez-Peña

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Guest Editor

Department of Geodynamics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: GIS programming; landscape evolución; morphometry; active tectonics

Dr. Stefano Devoto

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Guest Editor

Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Interests: slow-moving landslides; geohazard; coastal geomorphology; coastal boulder deposits; UAVs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Patricia Ruano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Geodynamics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: UAV; tectonic geomorphology; active tectonics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, novel methodologies concerning the creation of high-resolution topographic data have experienced an evident revolution in geomorphology. Terrestrial laser scanners, airborne LiDAR, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and photogrammetry, among others, have allowed for the creation of very-high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), which, in turn, established novel horizons in the analysis and quantification of relief forms and processes.

Of these novel methodologies, photogrammetry is probably the one to have experienced the greatest development, due to its low cost and ease of application. The growth and development of structure-from-motion (Sfm) algorithms for aerial image processing has been a milestone in photogrammetry, making their use relatively inexpensive and requiring little training to apply.

These novel algorithmics allow for both the creation of digital models from high-resolution aerial images obtained from UAVs and the creation of 3D models from images taken at ground level using conventional photographs.

The application of photogrammetric techniques is being used to analyze geomorphological processes in many research fields, including geomorphological risks, the quantification of landforms, fluvial processes, tectonic geomorphology, erosion processes, change detection, etc.

This Special Issue invites geoscientists actively involved in the acquisition and processing of photogrammetric data for the evaluation of the geomorphological characterization of landforms and processes. Topics for consideration include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

UAV digital photogrammetry (UAV DP);
Analysis of landforms and processes using high-resolution topographic data;
Use of photogrammetry for the detection of geomorphic changes;
Photogrammetry applied to geomorphological risk assessments;
Extraction of quantitative geomorphic parameters obtained from DEMs;
Evaluation of different-resolution data in the characterization of geomorphic features.

Prof. Dr. José Vicente Pérez-Peña
Dr. Stefano Devoto
Prof. Dr. Patricia Ruano
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of UAV Photogrammetry and Multispectral Image Analysis for Identifying Land Use and Vegetation Cover Succession in Former Mining Areas

by Volker Reinprecht and Daniel Scott Kieffer

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(3), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17030405 - 24 Jan 2025

Viewed by 465

Abstract

Variations in vegetation indices derived from multispectral images and digital terrain models from satellite imagery have been successfully used for reclamation and hazard management in former mining areas. However, low spatial resolution and the lack of sufficiently detailed information on surface morphology have restricted such studies to large sites. This study investigates the application of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with multispectral sensors for land cover classification and vegetation monitoring. The application of UAVs bridges the gap between large-scale satellite remote sensing techniques and terrestrial surveys. Photogrammetric terrain models and orthoimages (RGB and multispectral) obtained from repeated mapping flights between November 2023 and May 2024 were combined with an ALS-based reference terrain model for object-based image classification. The collected data enabled differentiation between natural forests and areas affected by former mining activities, as well as the identification of variations in vegetation density and growth rates on former mining areas. The results confirm that small UAVs provide a versatile and efficient platform for classifying and monitoring mining areas and forested landslides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies)

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18 pages, 9156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3D Modelling and Measuring Dam System of a Pellucid Tufa Lake Using UAV Digital Photogrammetry

by Xianwei Zhang, Guiyun Zhou, Jinchen He and Jiayuan Lin

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3839; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203839 - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 834

Abstract

The acquisition of the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the complete tufa dam system is of great significance for analyzing the formation and development of a pellucid tufa lake in a fluvial tufa valley. The dam system is usually composed of the dams partially exposed above-water and the ones totally submerged underwater. This situation makes it difficult to directly obtain the real 3D scene of the dam system solely using an existing measurement technique. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) digital photogrammetry has been increasingly used to acquire high-precision 3D models of various earth surface scenes. In this study, taking Wolong Lake and its neighborhood in Jiuzhaigou Valley, China as the study site, we employed a fixed-wing UAV equipped with a consumer-level digital camera to capture the overlapping images, and produced the initial Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the dam system. The refraction correction was applied to retrieving the underwater Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the submerged dam or dam part, and the ground interpolation was adopted to eliminate vegetation obstruction to obtain the DEM of the dam parts above-water. Based on the complete 3D model of the dam system, the elevation profiles along the centerlines of Wolong Lake were derived, and the dimension data of those tufa dams on the section lines were accurately measured. In combination of local hydrodynamics, the implication of the morphological characteristics for analyzing the formation and development of the tufa dam system was also explored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies)

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23 pages, 15519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coastal Storm-Induced Sinkholes: Insights from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Monitoring

by Alice Busetti, Christian Leone, Amerigo Corradetti, Saverio Fracaros, Sebastian Spadotto, Pietro Rai, Luca Zini and Chiara Calligaris

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(19), 3681; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16193681 - 2 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1436

Abstract

In recent decades, the scientific community has increasingly focused on extreme events linked to climate change, which are leading to more intense and frequent natural disasters. The Mediterranean can be considered a hotspot where the effects of these changes are expected to be more intense compared to other regions of the planet. Italy is not exempt; in fact, with its extensive shoreline, it is particularly vulnerable, especially to high sea levels and coastal erosions. In this framework, from late October to early November 2023, six storm surges occurred in the Gulf of Trieste (NE Italy). These events, characterized by winds from 190°N to 220°N and the significant wave height, which reached up to 1.81 m nearshore—an uncommon meteorological condition in the northern Adriatic Sea—caused the occurrence of eight coastal sinkholes and substantial damages to man-made structures. Thanks to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and their derived products (high-resolution orthomosaics, Digital Elevation Models—DEMs, and point clouds), it was possible to study these features over time, enabling long-term coastal dynamics monitoring, which can be crucial for timely and effective response and restoration efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies)

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20 pages, 21985 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aerial SfM–MVS Visualization of Surface Deformation along Folds during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (Mw7.5)

by Kazuki Yoshida, Ryo Endo, Junko Iwahashi, Akira Sasagawa and Hiroshi Yarai

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(15), 2813; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16152813 - 31 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1186

Abstract

This study aimed to map and analyze the spatial pattern of the surface deformation associated with the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake (Mw7.5) using structure-from-motion/multi-view-stereo (SfM–MVS), an advanced photogrammetric technique. The analysis was conducted using digital aerial photographs with a ground pixel dimension of 0.2 m (captured the day after the earthquake). Horizontal locations of GCPs were determined using pre-earthquake data to remove the wide-area horizontal crustal deformation component. The elevations of the GCPs were corrected by incorporating quasi-vertical values derived from a 2.5-dimensional analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) results. In the synclinorium structure area, where no active fault had previously been identified, we observed a 5 km long uplift zone (0.1 to 0.2 km in width), along with multiple scarps that reached a maximum height of 2.2 m. The area and shape of the surface deformation suggested that the induced uplift and surrounding landslides were related to fold structures and their growth. Thus, our study shows the efficacy of SfM–MVS with respect to accurately mapping earthquake-induced deformations, providing crucial data for understanding seismic activity and informing disaster-response strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies)

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36 pages, 12517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Breach Progression Observation in Rockfill Dam Models Using Photogrammetry

by Geir Helge Kiplesund, Fjola Gudrun Sigtryggsdottir and Leif Lia

Remote Sens. 2023, 15(6), 1715; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061715 - 22 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2673

Abstract

Dam failures are examples of man-made disasters that have stimulated investigation into the processes related to the failure of different dam types. Embankment dam breaching during an overtopping event is one of the major modes of failure for this dam type, comprising both earthfill and rockfill dams. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory tests on breach initiation and progression in rockfill dams. Especially eight breaching tests of 1 m-high 1:10 scale embankment dams constructed of scaled well-graded rockfill were conducted. Tests were performed with and without an impervious core and under different inflow discharges. Controlling instrumentation includes up to nine video cameras used for image analysis and photogrammetry. A previously little-used technique of dynamic 3D photogrammetry has been applied to prepare 3D models every 5 s throughout the breaching process, allowing us to track in detail breach development. These dynamic 3D models along with pressure sensor data, flow data, and side-view video are used to provide data on erosion rates throughout the breaching process. One important purpose of this research is to test methods of observing a rapidly changing morphology such as an embankment dam breach that can easily be scaled up to large-scale and prototype-scale tests. The resulting data sets are further intended for the verification of existing empirical and numerical models for slope stability and breach development as well as the development of new models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Digital Aerial Photogrammetry in Geomorphological Studies)

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