scholarly journals Detailed Characterization and Monitoring of a Retrogressive Thaw Slump from Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and Identifying Associated Influence on Carbon and Nitrogen Export

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Kevin W. Turner ◽  
Michelle D. Pearce ◽  
Daniel D. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Surface Model ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Detailed Classification ◽  
Fill Volume ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft ◽  
Total Irradiance ◽  
Retrogressive Thaw Slump ◽  
Rain Events ◽  
Sediment Export

Ice-rich permafrost landscapes are sensitive to ongoing changes in climate. Permafrost retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) represent one of the more abrupt and prolonged disturbances, which occur along Arctic river and lake shorelines. These features impact local travel and infrastructure, and there are many questions regarding associated impacts on biogeochemical cycling. Predicting the duration and magnitude of impacts requires that we enhance our knowledge of RTS geomorphological drivers and rates of change. Here we demonstrate the utility of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) for documenting the volumetric change, associated drivers and potential impacts of the largest active RTS along the Old Crow River in Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada. RPAS surveys revealed that 29,174 m3 of sediment was exported during the initial evacuation in June 2016 and an additional 18,845 m3 continued to be exported until June 2019. More sediment export occurred during the warmer 2017 summer that experienced less cumulative rainfall than summer 2018. However, several rain events during 2017 were of higher intensity than during 2018. Overall mean soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) within sampled thaw slump sediment was 1.36% and 0.11%, respectively. A combination of multispectral, thermal and irradiance (derived from the RPAS digital surface model) data provided detailed classification of thaw slump floor terrain types including raised dry clay lobes, shaded and relatively stable, and low-lying evacuation-prone sediments. Notably, the path of evacuation-prone sediments extended to a series of ice wedges in the northern headwall, where total irradiance was highest. Using thaw slump floor mean SOC and TN values in conjunction with sediment bulk density and thaw slump fill volume, we estimated that 713 t SOC and 58 t TN were exported to the Old Crow River during the three-year study. Findings showcase the utility of high-resolution RPAS datasets for refining our knowledge of thaw slump geomorphology and associated impacts.

scholarly journals Brief communication: Remotely piloted aircraft systems for rapid emergency response: road exposure to rockfall in Villanova di Accumoli (central Italy)

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Santangelo ◽  
Massimiliano Alvioli ◽  
Marco Baldo ◽  
Mauro Cardinali ◽  
Daniele Giordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Response ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
The Road ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Abstract. The use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) in geosciences is often aimed at the acquisition of an image sequence to produce digital models and orthophotographs of the topographic surface. The technology can be applied for rockfall hazard and risk assessment. To study rockfalls, an approach consists in the application of numerical models for the computation of rockfall trajectories. Data required for such simulations include digital terrain models, location of the instability source areas, and the mechanical properties of the terrain. In this article, we present an analysis of the earthquake-triggered rockfall that occurred along the SP18 in Villanova di Accumoli (Lazio, central Italy) during the seismic sequence that started on 24 August 2016. A survey with a multicopter was carried out to obtain a surface model of the terrain and identify and characterize the source areas and other instable blocks in areas not accessible in the field. The investigated area extends for 6500 m2 and was covered by 161 photographs that were used to obtain an orthophoto with a ground resolution of 2.5 cm and a digital surface model with a ground resolution of 20 cm × 20 cm, which was processed and fused with GNSS real-time kinematic data. To obtain a map of potential rockfall trajectories, we run the numerical model STONE, using as origin of the boulders both source areas mapped in the field and pixels with a slope angle above a selected threshold. Results showed that only the part of the road SP18 already affected by the rockfall was exposed to further rockfall impacts. In particular, it was observed that 29.2 % (i.e. 12 123) of the 41 500 simulated trajectories may potentially reach or cross this tract of the road. Based on these data, limited protection measures were suggested. The combined use of RPAS data, fused with ground GPS points, an accurate geomorphological survey, and terrain static and dynamic parameters from the literature allows fast, low-cost, and replicable rockfall numerical modelling useful for emergency response and adoption of proper protection measures.

scholarly journals Brief communication: Remotely piloted aircraft systems for rapid emergency response: road exposure to rockfall in Villanova di Accumoli (Central Italy)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Santangelo ◽  
Massimiliano Alvioli ◽  
Marco Baldo ◽  
Mauro Cardinali ◽  
Daniele Giordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Response ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Rockfall Hazard ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
The Road ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Abstract. The use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs) in geosciences is often aimed at the acquisition of an image sequence to produce digital models and orthophotographs of the topographic surface. The technology can be applied for rockfall hazard and risk assessment. To study rockfalls, an approach consists in the application of numerical models for the computation of rockfall trajectories. Data required for such models include accurate digital terrain models, location of the instability source areas, and the mechanical properties of the terrain. In this article, we present an analysis of the earthquake-triggered rockfall that occurred along the SP18 in Villanova di Accumoli (Lazio, central Italy) during the 24 August 2016 seismic sequence. A survey with a multicopter was carried out to obtain an accurate surface model of the terrain, the identification and characterization of the source areas and of other instable blocks in areas not accessible in the field. The investigated area extends for 6,500 m2 and was covered by 161 photographs that were used to obtain an orthophoto with a ground resolution of 2.5 cm, and a digital surface model with a ground resolution of 20 cm × 20 cm, which was processed and fused with GNSS RTK data. We run the numerical model STONE, using the source areas mapped in the field and adopting a slope threshold to get a map showing the rockfall potential trajectories. Results showed that only the part of the road SP18 hit by the rockfall was exposed to further rockfall impacts. In particular, it was observed that 16 % (i.e. 5,108) of the 31,800 simulated trajectories reached or crossed this tract of the road. Based on these data, limited protection measures were suggested. The combined use of RPAS data, fused with ground GPS points, an accurate geomorphological survey, and terrain static and dynamic parameters from the literature, allows fast, low-cost and replicable numerical modelling for emergency response and adoption of proper protection measures.

scholarly journals The use of RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems in the topographic mapping for mining

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Pereira Lima ◽  
Cleiton Coelho ◽  
Germán Vinueza ◽  
Jean Thiago Grassi ◽  
Luiz Henrique Guimaraes Castiglione
Keyword(s):  
Topographic Mapping ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft

scholarly journals Risk Assessment of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-106
Author(s):  
Monika Kardach ◽  
Paweł Fuć ◽  
Marta Galant ◽  
Marta Maciejewska
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft ◽  
Operating Instructions ◽  
Intensive Growth

Abstract The intensive growth in the popularity of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) used for recreational, sporting and other purposes, may lead to an increase in accidents and incidents involving them. Therefore, it is advisable to raise the awareness of all users, related to safety issues, to harmonize standards and procedures applicable at international and national level. The article presents the legal conditions for unmanned operations and the risk assessment methods used in areas of human activity. On this basis, an original method of risk assessment in unmanned systems was proposed. The method can be part of the operating instructions of the RPAS operator. At the end, final conclusions were drawn up.

scholarly journals Identifying Urine Patches on Intensively Managed Grassland Using Aerial Imagery Captured From Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Maire ◽  
Simon Gibson-Poole ◽  
Nicholas Cowan ◽  
Dave S. Reay ◽  
Karl G. Richards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Imagery ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft ◽  
Intensively Managed
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