scholarly journals 4D-SFM PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR MONITORING SEDIMENT DYNAMICS IN A DEBRIS-FLOW CATCHMENT: SOFTWARE TESTING AND RESULTS COMPARISON

Author(s):  
S. Cucchiaro ◽  
E. Maset ◽  
A. Fusiello ◽  
F. Cazorzi

In recent years, the combination of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) algorithms and UAV-based aerial images has revolutionised 3D topographic surveys for natural environment monitoring, offering low-cost, fast and high quality data acquisition and processing. A continuous monitoring of the morphological changes through multi-temporal (4D) SfM surveys allows, e.g., to analyse the torrent dynamic also in complex topography environment like debris-flow catchments, provided that appropriate tools and procedures are employed in the data processing steps. In this work we test two different software packages (3DF Zephyr Aerial and Agisoft Photoscan) on a dataset composed of both UAV and terrestrial images acquired on a debris-flow reach (Moscardo torrent – North-eastern Italian Alps). Unlike other papers in the literature, we evaluate the results not only on the raw point clouds generated by the Structure-from- Motion and Multi-View Stereo algorithms, but also on the Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) created after post-processing. Outcomes show differences between the DTMs that can be considered irrelevant for the geomorphological phenomena under analysis. This study confirms that SfM photogrammetry can be a valuable tool for monitoring sediment dynamics, but accurate point cloud post-processing is required to reliably localize geomorphological changes.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Zhang ◽  
Emilien Aldana-Jague ◽  
François Clapuyt ◽  
Florian Wilken ◽  
Veerle Vanacker ◽  
...  

Abstract. Images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and processed by structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry are increasingly used in geomorphology to obtain high-resolution topography data. Conventional georeferencing using ground control points (GCPs) provides reliable positioning, but the geometrical accuracy critically depends on the number and spatial layout of the GCPs. This limits the time and cost effectiveness. Direct georeferencing of the UAV images with differential GNSS, such as PPK (post-processing kinematic), may overcome these limitations by providing accurate and directly georeferenced surveys. To investigate the positional accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of digital surface models (DSMs) generated by a UAV–PPK–SfM workflow, we carried out multiple flight missions with two different camera–UAV systems: a small-form low-cost micro-UAV equipped with a high field of view (FOV) action camera and a professional UAV equipped with a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. Our analysis showed that the PPK solution provides the same accuracy (MAE: ca. 0.02 m, RMSE: ca. 0.03 m) as the GCP method for both UAV systems. Our study demonstrated that a UAV–PPK–SfM workflow can provide consistent, repeatable 4-D data with an accuracy of a few centimeters. However, a few flights showed vertical bias and this could be corrected using one single GCP. We further evaluated different methods to estimate DSM uncertainty and show that this has a large impact on centimeter-level topographical change detection. The DSM reconstruction and surface change detection based on a DSLR and action camera were reproducible: the main difference lies in the level of detail of the surface representations. The PPK–SfM workflow in the context of 4-D Earth surface monitoring should be considered an efficient tool to monitor geomorphic processes accurately and quickly at a very high spatial and temporal resolution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Kumar Verma ◽  
Mary Carol Bourke

Abstract. We have generated sub-millimetre-resolution DEMs of weathered rock surfaces using SfM photogrammetry techniques. We apply a close-range method based on structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry in the field and use it to generate high-resolution topographic data for weathered boulders and bedrock. The method was pilot tested on extensively weathered Triassic Moenkopi sandstone outcrops near Meteor Crater in Arizona. Images were taken in the field using a consumer-grade DSLR camera and were processed in commercially available software to build dense point clouds. The point clouds were registered to a local 3-D coordinate system (x, y, z), which was developed using a specially designed triangle-coded control target and then exported as digital elevation models (DEMs). The accuracy of the DEMs was validated under controlled experimental conditions. A number of checkpoints were used to calculate errors. We also evaluated the effects of image and camera parameters on the accuracy of our DEMs. We report a horizontal error of 0.5 mm and vertical error of 0.3 mm in our experiments. Our approach provides a low-cost method for obtaining very high-resolution topographic data on weathered rock surfaces (area < 10 m2). The results from our case study confirm the efficacy of the method at this scale and show that the data acquisition equipment is sufficiently robust and portable. This is particularly important for field conditions in remote locations or steep terrain where portable and efficient methods are required.


Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1981
Author(s):  
Juan Moyano ◽  
Juan E. Nieto-Julián ◽  
Daniel Antón ◽  
Elena Cabrera ◽  
David Bienvenido-Huertas ◽  
...  

The digitisation of architectural heritage has experienced a great development of low-cost and high-definition data capture technologies, thus enabling the accurate and effective modelling of complex heritage assets. Accordingly, research has identified the best methods to survey historic buildings, but the suitability of Structure-from-Motion/Multi-view-Stereo (SfM/MVS) for interior square symmetrical architectural spaces is unexplored. In contrast to the traditional SfM surveying for which the camera surrounds the object, the photograph collection approach is divergent in courtyards. This paper evaluates the accuracy of SfM point clouds against Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) for these large architectural spaces with a symmetrical configuration, with the main courtyard of Casa de Pilatos in Seville, Spain, as a case study. Two different SfM surveys were conducted: (1) Without control points, and (2) referenced using a total station. The first survey yielded unacceptable results: A standard deviation of 0.0576 m was achieved in the northwest sector of the case study, mainly because of the difficulty of aligning the SfM and TLS data due to the way they are produced. This value could be admissible depending on the purpose of the photogrammetric model.


Heritage ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1835-1851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafizur Rahaman ◽  
Erik Champion

The 3D reconstruction of real-world heritage objects using either a laser scanner or 3D modelling software is typically expensive and requires a high level of expertise. Image-based 3D modelling software, on the other hand, offers a cheaper alternative, which can handle this task with relative ease. There also exists free and open source (FOSS) software, with the potential to deliver quality data for heritage documentation purposes. However, contemporary academic discourse seldom presents survey-based feature lists or a critical inspection of potential production pipelines, nor typically provides direction and guidance for non-experts who are interested in learning, developing and sharing 3D content on a restricted budget. To address the above issues, a set of FOSS were studied based on their offered features, workflow, 3D processing time and accuracy. Two datasets have been used to compare and evaluate the FOSS applications based on the point clouds they produced. The average deviation to ground truth data produced by a commercial software application (Metashape, formerly called PhotoScan) was used and measured with CloudCompare software. 3D reconstructions generated from FOSS produce promising results, with significant accuracy, and are easy to use. We believe this investigation will help non-expert users to understand the photogrammetry and select the most suitable software for producing image-based 3D models at low cost for visualisation and presentation purposes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Shohei Kameyama ◽  
Katsuaki Sugiura

This study examines the effects of differences in structure from motion (SfM) software on image processing of aerial images by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the resulting estimations of tree height and tree crown area. There were 20 flight conditions for the UAV aerial images, which were a combination of five conditions for flight altitude, two conditions for overlap, and two conditions for side overlap. Images were then processed using three SfM programs (Terra Mapper, PhotoScan, and Pix4Dmapper). The tree height and tree crown area were determined, and the SfM programs were compared based on the estimations. The number of densified point clouds for PhotoScan (160 × 105 to 50 × 105) was large compared to the two other two SfM programs. The estimated values of crown area and tree height by each SfM were compared via Bonferroni multiple comparisons (statistical significance level set at p < 0.05). The estimated values of canopy area showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in 14 flight conditions for Terra Mapper and PhotoScan, 16 flight conditions for Terra Mapper and Pix4Dmapper, and 11 flight conditions for PhotoScan and Pix4Dmappers. In addition, the estimated values of tree height showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in 15 flight conditions for Terra Mapper and PhotoScan, 19 flight conditions for Terra Mapper and Pix4Dmapper, and 20 flight conditions for PhotoScan and Pix4Dmapper. The statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the estimated value and measured value of each SfM was confirmed under 18 conditions for Terra Mapper, 20 conditions for PhotoScan, and 13 conditions for Pix4D. Moreover, the RMSE and rRMSE values of the estimated tree height were 5–6 m and 20–28%, respectively. Although the estimation accuracy of any SfM was low, the estimated tree height by Pix4D in many flight conditions had smaller RMSE values than the other software. As statistically significant differences were found between the SfMs in many flight conditions, we conclude that there were differences in the estimates of crown area and tree height depending on the SfM used. In addition, Pix4Dmapper is suitable for estimating forest information, such as tree height, and PhotoScan is suitable for detailed monitoring of disaster areas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Al Khalil

During the past few years, new developments have occurred in the field of 3D photogrammetric modeling of culture heritage. One of these developments is the expansion of 3D photogrammetric modeling open-source software, such as VisualSfM, and cost-effective licensed software, such as Agisoft Metashape into the practical and affordable world. This type of SfM (Structure from Motion) software offers the world of 3D modelling of culture heritage a powerful tool for documentation and visualization. On the other hand, low-cost cameras are now available on the market. These cameras are characterized by high resolution and good quality lens, which makes them suitable for photogrammetric modelling. This paper reports on the results of the application of a SfM photogrammetry system in the 3D modelling of Safita Tower, a medieval structure in Safita, north-western Syria. The applied photogrammetric system consists of the Nikon Coolpix P100 10 MP digital camera and the commercial software Agisoft Metashape. The resulted 3D point clouds were compared with an available dense point cloud acquired by a laser scanner. This comparison proved that the low-cost SfM photogrammetry is an accurate methodology to 3D modeling historical monuments. 


Author(s):  
T. W. Yeh ◽  
R. Y. Chuang

Abstract. Landslides are one major kind of natural disasters and geomorphological processes on Earth’s surface. Accurate geodetic observations are crucial for understanding morphological changes, providing a quantitative basis of further research in surface process and hazard management. In recent years, the development of UAVs and SfM technology enhance research to build high quality digital surface models of landforms with low budget and efficiency. In areas of extreme topography where landslides occur on steep slopes, however, it is required to specifically design the UAV-SfM workflow to keep the data quality. This study aims to use UAS-SfM workflow to develop a low-cost, efficient methodology to detect detailed morphological change of landslide morphology in extreme topography. The study focuses on examining results of different flight design and GCPs distribution geometry, which are important components in the workflow. In addition, we applied a mathematical model to compare point clouds to calculate volumetric change of the landslide with reduced distortion.


Author(s):  
A. Hosseininaveh ◽  
R. Yazdan ◽  
A. Karami ◽  
M. Moradi ◽  
F. Ghorbani

The optical methods for 3D modelling of objects can be classified into two categories including image-based and range-based methods. Structure from Motion is one of the image-based methods implemented in commercial software. In this paper, a low-cost and portable system for 3D modelling of texture-less objects is proposed. This system includes a rotating table designed and developed by using a stepper motor and a very light rotation plate. The system also has eight laser light sources with very dense and strong beams which provide a relatively appropriate pattern on texture-less objects. In this system, regarding to the step of stepper motor, images are semi automatically taken by a camera. The images can be used in structure from motion procedures implemented in Agisoft software.To evaluate the performance of the system, two dark objects were used. The point clouds of these objects were obtained by spraying a light powders on the objects and exploiting a GOM laser scanner. Then these objects were placed on the proposed turntable. Several convergent images were taken from each object while the laser light sources were projecting the pattern on the objects. Afterward, the images were imported in VisualSFM as a fully automatic software package for generating an accurate and complete point cloud. Finally, the obtained point clouds were compared to the point clouds generated by the GOM laser scanner. The results showed the ability of the proposed system to produce a complete 3D model from texture-less objects.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit K. Verma ◽  
Mary C. Bourke

Abstract. We have generated sub-millimetre resolution DEMs of weathered rock surfaces using SfM photogrammetry techniques. We apply a close-range Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry-based method in the field and use it to generate high-resolution topographic data for weathered boulders and bedrock. The method was pilot tested on extensively weathered Triassic Moenkopi Sandstone outcrops near Meteor Crater in Arizona. Images were taken in the field using a consumer grade DSLR camera and were processed in commercially available software Agisoft Photoscan to build dense point cloud. Dense point clouds were registered to a local 3D coordinate system (x, y, z) which was developed using a specially designed triangle coded control target and then exported as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). The accuracy of the DEMs was validated under controlled experimental conditions. A number of checkpoints were used to calculate errors. We also evaluated the effects of image and camera parameters on the accuracy of our DEMs. We report a horizontal error of 0.5 mm and vertical error of 0.3 mm in our experiments. Our approach provides a low-cost method, for obtaining very high-resolution topographic data on weathered rock surfaces (area


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2489
Author(s):  
Marta García-Fernández ◽  
Enoc Sanz-Ablanedo ◽  
Dimas Pereira-Obaya ◽  
José Ramón Rodríguez-Pérez

In viticulture, information about vine vigour is a key input for decision-making in connection with production targets. Pruning weight (PW), a quantitative variable used as indicator of vegetative vigour, is associated with the quantity and quality of the grapes. Interest has been growing in recent years around the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones fitted with remote sensing facilities for more efficient crop management and the production of higher quality wine. Current research has shown that grape production, leaf area index, biomass, and other viticulture variables can be estimated by UAV imagery analysis. Although SfM lowers costs, saves time, and reduces the amount and type of resources needed, a review of the literature revealed no studies on its use to determine vineyard pruning weight. The main objective of this study was to predict PW in vineyards from a 3D point cloud generated with RGB images captured by a standard drone and processed by SfM. In this work, vertical and oblique aerial images were taken in two vineyards of Godello and Mencía varieties during the 2019 and 2020 seasons using a conventional Phantom 4 Pro drone. Pruning weight was measured on sampling grids comprising 28 calibration cells for Godello and 59 total cells for Mencía (39 calibration cells and 20 independent validation). The volume of vegetation (V) was estimated from the generated 3D point cloud and PW was estimated by linear regression analysis taking V as predictor variable. When the results were leave-one-out cross-validated (LOOCV), the R2 was found to be 0.71 and the RMSE 224.5 (g) for the PW estimate in Mencía 2020, calculated for the 39 calibration cells on the grounds of oblique images. The regression analysis results for the 20 validation samples taken independently of the rest (R2 = 0.62; RMSE = 249.3 g) confirmed the viability of using the SfM as a fast, non-destructive, low-cost procedure for estimating pruning weight.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document