scholarly journals Influence of DEM Elaboration Methods on the USLE Model Topographical Factor Parameter on Steep Slopes

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3540
Author(s):  
Edyta Kruk ◽  
Przemysław Klapa ◽  
Marek Ryczek ◽  
Krzysztof Ostrowski

Runoff erosion is an important theme in hydrological investigations. Models assessing soil erosion are based on various algorithms that determine the relief coefficient using rasterized digital elevation models (DEMs). For evaluation of soil loss, the most-used model worldwide is the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation), where the most essential part is the LS parameter, which is, in turn, generated from two parameters: L (slope length coefficient) and S (slope inclination). The most significant limitation of LS is the difficulty in obtaining the data needed to generate detailed DEMs. We investigated three popular data generation methods: aerial photographs (AP), aerial laser scanning (ALS), and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) by assessing the quality and effect of DEMs generated from each method over an area of 40 m × 200 m in Silesia, Poland. Additionally, the relationship between particular LSUSLE  parameter components was carried out based on its final distribution. Our results show that resolution strongly influences DEMs and the LSUSLE  parameters. We found a strong relationship between the degree of height data resolution and the accuracy level of the calculated parameters. Based on our investigations we confirmed the highest influence on the LSUSLE  came from the S parameter. Additionally, we concluded that in examinations over large areas, terrestrial laser scanners are not ideal; the benefits of their additional accuracy are outweighed by the additional time and labor consumption; in addition, terrestrial-based scans are sometimes not possible due to ground obstacles the limited scope of most lasers. Aerial photographs or point clouds generated by aerial laser scanners are sufficient for most purposes connected with surface flow, and further developments can be based on the use of these techniques for obtaining ground information for modeling erosion processes.

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1234
Author(s):  
Viera Petlušová ◽  
Peter Petluš ◽  
Michal Ševčík ◽  
Juraj Hreško

The water erosion research was carried out in the lowland type of hilly landscape. The aim was to monitor and evaluate the importance of environmental factors (steepness of slope, relief shapes, aspect, slope length, combination slope length (L) and slope (S)—LS factor, types of land use changes) for the development of water erosion. We focused on the identification of areas threatened by erosion by interpreting aerial photographs from several time periods. This was followed by verification of erosion using soil probes. We identified 408.44 ha of areas affected by erosion, and measured the depth of soil and “A” horizons thickness. The environmental factors were modeled in geographical information systems by tools for spatially oriented data. Subsequently, the influence and significance of individual environmental factors were compared, and the probability of erosion was statistically estimated. The decisive factors in the formation of erosive surfaces are the LS factor and the slope. We also consider the factor of the relief shape to be important. The shape did not appear to be very significant as a separately evaluated factor, but all convex parts correlate with the identified erosion surfaces. The susceptibility of erosion related to the aspect of the slopes to the cardinal directions has not been confirmed. Types of land use changes with the most significant relation of erosion were confirmed in areas of strong intensification. We confirmed the importance of factors and land use for the development of erosion processes.


Author(s):  
A. M. G. Tommaselli ◽  
M. V. A. Moraes ◽  
L. S. L. Silva ◽  
M. F. Rubio ◽  
G. J. Carvalho ◽  
...  

Marginal erosions in reservoirs of hydroelectric plants have caused economic and environmental problems concerning hydroelectric power generation, reduction of productive areas and devaluing land parcels. The real extension and dynamics of these erosion processes are not well known for Brazilian reservoirs. To objectively assess these problems Unesp (Univ Estadual Paulista) and Duke Energy are developing a joint project which aims at the monitoring the progression of some erosive processes and understanding the causes and the dynamics of this phenomenon. Mobile LASER scanning was considered the most suitable alternative for the challenges established in the project requirements. A MDL DynaScan Mobile LASER M150 scanner was selected which uses RTK for real time positioning integrated to an IMU, enabling instantaneous generation of georeferenced point clouds. Two different reservoirs were choose for monitoring: Chavantes (storage plant) and Rosana (run-of-river plant), both in the Paranapanema River, border of São Paulo and Paraná States, Brazil. The monitoring areas are scanned quarterly and analysed with base on the point cloud, meshes, contours and cross sections. Cross sections are used to visualize and compute the rate and the dynamics of erosion. Some examples and quantitative results are presented along with an analysis of the proposed technique. Some recommendations to improve the field work and latter data processing are also introduced.


Author(s):  
J. Elseberg ◽  
D. Borrmann ◽  
J. Schauer ◽  
A. Nüchter ◽  
D. Koriath ◽  
...  

Motivated by the increasing need of rapid characterization of environments in 3D, we designed and built a sensor skid that automates the work of an operator of terrestrial laser scanners. The system combines terrestrial laser scanning with kinematic laser scanning and uses a novel semi-rigid SLAMmethod. It enables us to digitize factory environments without the need to stop production. The acquired 3D point clouds are precise and suitable to detect objects that collide with items moved along the production line.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Ullah ◽  
Matthias Dees ◽  
Pawan Datta ◽  
Petra Adler ◽  
Mathias Schardt ◽  
...  

Digital stereo aerial photographs are periodically updated in many countries and offer a viable option for the regular update of information on forest variables. We compared the potential of image-based point clouds derived from three different sets of aerial photographs with airborne laser scanning (ALS) to assess plot-level forest attributes in a mountain environment. The three data types used were (A) high overlapping pan-sharpened (80/60%); (B) high overlapping panchromatic band (80/60%); and (C) standard overlapping pan-sharpened stereo aerial photographs (60/30%). We used height and density metrics at the plot level derived from image-based and ALS point clouds as the explanatory variables and Lorey’s mean height, timber volume, and mean basal area as the response variables. We obtained a RMSE = 8.83%, 29.24% and 35.12% for Lorey’s mean height, volume, and basal area using ALS data, respectively. Similarly, we obtained a RMSE = 9.96%, 31.13%, and 35.99% and RMSE = 11.28%, 31.01%, and 35.66% for Lorey’s mean height, volume and basal area using image-based point clouds derived from pan-sharpened stereo aerial photographs with 80/60% and 60/30% overlapping, respectively. For image-based point clouds derived from a panchromatic band of stereo aerial photographs (80%/60%), we obtained an RMSE = 10.04%, 31.19% and 35.86% for Lorey’s mean height, volume, and basal area, respectively. The overall findings indicated that the performance of image-based point clouds in all cases were as good as ALS. This highlights that in the presence of a highly accurate digital terrain model (DTM) from ALS, image-based point clouds offer a viable option for operational forest management in all countries where stereo aerial photographs are updated on a routine basis.


Author(s):  
Gülhan Benli

Since the 2000s, terrestrial laser scanning, as one of the methods used to document historical edifices in protected areas, has taken on greater importance because it mitigates the difficulties associated with working on large areas and saves time while also making it possible to better understand all the particularities of the area. Through this technology, comprehensive point data (point clouds) about the surface of an object can be generated in a highly accurate three-dimensional manner. Furthermore, with the proper software this three-dimensional point cloud data can be transformed into three-dimensional rendering/mapping/modeling and quantitative orthophotographs. In this chapter, the study will present the results of terrestrial laser scanning and surveying which was used to obtain three-dimensional point clouds through three-dimensional survey measurements and scans of silhouettes of streets in Fatih in Historic Peninsula in Istanbul, which were then transposed into survey images and drawings. The study will also cite examples of the facade mapping using terrestrial laser scanning data in Istanbul Historic Peninsula Project.


Author(s):  
T. Ogawa ◽  
Y. Hori

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Recently operation systems of laser scanning have been obviously improved; for instance shape matching has been equipped with software on a post processing stage so measurement without any targets is a prerequisite condition of field surveying with laser scanners. Moreover a shape matching method enables us to easily register a pair of point clouds with some errors even if those data are scanned by several type scanners. Those slightly errors can influence accuracy of alignments if the object is large to require a lot of scans. Laser scanning data has random errors and accuracy of alignments can be improved by matching error distributions of pairs of point clouds to natural distributions. This method is called “best fitting” in contrast “shape matching” in a software, PolyWorks |Inspector. In this paper, accuracy of alignments between shape matching and best fitting is discussed. The scan data of three phaseshift laser scanners (FARO Focus 3D MS120, FARO Focus 3D X330 and Z+F Imager 5016) and two time-of-flight scanners (Leica BLK 360 and Leica Scan station C5) are used for analyses. Accuracy of alignments by using shape matching and best fitting methods is demonstrated by showing points of scan data with histograms of error distributions.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3129
Author(s):  
Christoph Gollob ◽  
Tim Ritter ◽  
Ralf Kraßnitzer ◽  
Andreas Tockner ◽  
Arne Nothdurft

The estimation of single tree and complete stand information is one of the central tasks of forest inventory. In recent years, automatic algorithms have been successfully developed for the detection and measurement of trees with laser scanning technology. Nevertheless, most of the forest inventories are nowadays carried out with manual tree measurements using traditional instruments. This is due to the high investment costs for modern laser scanner equipment and, in particular, the time-consuming and incomplete nature of data acquisition with stationary terrestrial laser scanners. Traditionally, forest inventory data are collected through manual surveys with calipers or tapes. Practically, this is both labor and time-consuming. In 2020, Apple implemented a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor in the new Apple iPad Pro (4th Gen) and iPhone Pro 12. Since then, access to LiDAR-generated 3D point clouds has become possible with consumer-level devices. In this study, an Apple iPad Pro was tested to produce 3D point clouds, and its performance was compared with a personal laser scanning (PLS) approach to estimate individual tree parameters in different forest types and structures. Reference data were obtained by traditional measurements on 21 circular forest inventory sample plots with a 7 m radius. The tree mapping with the iPad showed a detection rate of 97.3% compared to 99.5% with the PLS scans for trees with a lower diameter at a breast height (dbh) threshold of 10 cm. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the best dbh measurement out of five different dbh modeling approaches was 3.13 cm with the iPad and 1.59 cm with PLS. The data acquisition time with the iPad was approximately 7.51 min per sample plot; this is twice as long as that with PLS but 2.5 times shorter than that with traditional forest inventory equipment. In conclusion, the proposed forest inventory with the iPad is generally feasible and achieves accurate and precise stem counts and dbh measurements with efficient labor effort compared to traditional approaches. Along with future technological developments, it is expected that other consumer-level handheld devices with integrated laser scanners will also be developed beyond the iPad, which will serve as an accurate and cost-efficient alternative solution to the approved but relatively expensive TLS and PLS systems. Such a development would be mandatory to broadly establish digital technology and fully automated routines in forest inventory practice. Finally, high-level progress is generally expected for the broader scientific community in forest ecosystem monitoring, as the collection of highly precise 3D point cloud data is no longer hindered by financial burdens.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vinci ◽  
F. Todisco ◽  
R. Brigante ◽  
F. Mannocchi ◽  
F. Radicioni

The suitability of a smartphone camera for the structure from motion (SfM) reconstruction for monitoring variations in soil surface characteristics and soil loss originated by a low intensity erosive event was evaluated. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to validate the SfM model. Two surveys of the soil surface, one before and one after the rainfall event, were carried out for SfM and TLS. The point clouds obtained by the SfM were compared to the TLS point clouds (used as reference). From the point clouds, digital elevation models (DEMs) (0.01 m × 0.01 m) were obtained. The differences of the DEMs (DoDs) obtained from the two surveys for SfM and TLS were compared. To assess the uncertainty of the DEMs, from the DoDs the minimum level of detection was derived. The soil loss was evaluated from DoDs (for SfM and TLS, respectively) considering negative values as erosion and positive values as deposition. The SfM appears appropriate and sensitive for detecting small soil surface variations induced by low erosive events. The SfM estimated correctly the measured soil loss, while TLS underestimated 26%. Further studies could be carried out to consolidate these first results.


2012 ◽  
Vol 523-524 ◽  
pp. 356-361
Author(s):  
Ichiro Tanaka ◽  
Hiroshi Masuda ◽  
Masakazu Enomoto ◽  
Kenjiro Takai Miura

Spherical targets are useful for registration of point-clouds. In this paper we discuss the positioning uncertainty by laser scanners. We measured spheres of relatively large diameter from about 9m distance, and calculated their positions by the least-squares fitting. The scanning was iterated thirty times and the standard deviations of fitting result were calculated to indicate positioning uncertainty. The result shows smaller positioning uncertainty in comparison with the range noise listed in the specifications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-45
Author(s):  
Dominik Merkle ◽  
Carsten Frey ◽  
Alexander Reiterer

AbstractMobile mapping vehicles, equipped with cameras, laser scanners (in this paper referred to as light detection and ranging, LiDAR), and positioning systems are limited to acquiring surface data. However, in this paper, a method to fuse both LiDAR and 3D ground penetrating radar (GPR) data into consistent georeferenced point clouds is presented, allowing imaging both the surface and subsurface. Objects such as pipes, cables, and wall structures are made visible as point clouds by thresholding the GPR signal’s Hilbert envelope. The results are verified with existing utility maps. Varying soil conditions, clutter, and noise complicate a fully automatized approach. Topographic correction of the GPR data, by using the LiDAR data, ensures a consistent ground height. Moreover, this work shows that the LiDAR point cloud, as a reference, increases the interpretability of GPR data and allows measuring distances between above ground and subsurface structures.


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