scholarly journals TYPICAL APPLICATIONS OF AIRBORNE LIDAR TECHNOLAGY IN GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

Author(s):  
X. Zheng ◽  
C. Xiao

The technology of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), also referred to as Airborne Laser Scanning, is widely used for high-resolution topographic data acquisition (even under forest cover) with sub-meter planimetric and vertical accuracy. This contribution constructs the real digital terrain model to provide the direct observation data for the landscape analysis in geological domains. Based on the advantage of LiDAR, the authors mainly deal with the applications of LiDAR data to such fields as surface land collapse, landslide and fault structure extraction. The review conclusion shows that airborne LiDAR technology is becoming an indispensable tool for above mentioned issues, especially in the local and large scale investigations of micro-topography. The technology not only can identify the surface collapse, landslide boundary and subtle faulted landform, but also be able to extract the filling parameters of collapsed surface, the geomorphic parameters of landslide stability evaluation and cracks. This technology has extensive prospect of applications in geological investigation.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1802
Author(s):  
Argo Orumaa ◽  
Priit Vellak ◽  
Mait Lang ◽  
Marek Metslaid ◽  
Riho Kägo ◽  
...  

In this article, we introduce an alternative solution for forest regeneration based on unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and describe requirements for external data, which could significantly increase the level of automation. Over the past few decades, the global forested area has decreased, and there is a great need to restore and regenerate forests. Challenges such as the lack of labor and high costs demand innovative approaches for forest regeneration. Mechanization has shown satisfactory results in terms of time-efficient planting, although its usage is limited by high operational costs. Innovative technologies must be cost-efficient and profitable for large scale usage. Automation could make mechanized forest regeneration feasible. Forest regeneration operations can be automated using a purpose built unmanned platform. We developed a concept to automate forest planting operations based on mobility platform. The system requires external data for efficient mobility in clear-cut areas. We developed requirements for external data, analyzed available solutions, and experimented with the most promising option, the SfM (structure from motion) technique. Earth observation data are useful in the planning phase. A DEM (digital terrain model) for UGV planter operations can be constructed using ALS (airborne laser scanning), although it may be restricted by the cost. Low-altitude flights by drones equipped with digital cameras or lightweight laser scanners provided a usable model of the terrain. This model was precise (3–20 cm) enough for manually planning of the trajectory for the planting operation. This technique fulfilled the system requirements, although it requires further development and will have to be automated for operational use.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
Mihnea Cățeanu ◽  
Arcadie Ciubotaru

Laser scanning via LiDAR is a powerful technique for collecting data necessary for Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generation, even in densely forested areas. LiDAR observations located at the ground level can be separated from the initial point cloud and used as input for the generation of a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) via interpolation. This paper proposes a quantitative analysis of the accuracy of DTMs (and derived slope maps) obtained from LiDAR data and is focused on conditions common to most forestry activities (rough, steep terrain with forest cover). Three interpolation algorithms were tested: Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), Natural Neighbour (NN) and Thin-Plate Spline (TPS). Research was mainly focused on the issue of point data density. To analyze its impact on the quality of ground surface modelling, the density of the filtered data set was artificially lowered (from 0.89 to 0.09 points/m2) by randomly removing point observations in 10% increments. This provides a comprehensive method of evaluating the impact of LiDAR ground point density on DTM accuracy. While the reduction of point density leads to a less accurate DTM in all cases (as expected), the exact pattern varies by algorithm. The accuracy of the LiDAR-derived DTMs is relatively good even when LiDAR sampling density is reduced to 0.40–0.50 points/m2 (50–60 % of the initial point density), as long as a suitable interpolation algorithm is used (as IDW proved to be less resilient to density reductions below approximately 0.60 points/m2). In the case of slope estimation, the pattern is relatively similar, except the difference in accuracy between IDW and the other two algorithms is even more pronounced than in the case of DTM accuracy. Based on this research, we conclude that LiDAR is an adequate method for collecting morphological data necessary for modelling the ground surface, even when the sampling density is significantly reduced.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1185-1199
Author(s):  
Mirosław Kamiński

AbstractThe research area is located on the boundary between two Paleozoic structural units: the Radom–Kraśnik Block and the Mazovian–Lublin Basin in the southeastern Poland. The tectonic structures are separated by the Ursynów–Kazimierz Dolny fault zone. The digital terrain model obtained by the ALS (Airborne Laser Scanning) method was used. Classification and filtration of an elevation point cloud were performed. Then, from the elevation points representing only surfaces, a digital terrain model was generated. The model was used to visually interpret the course of topolineaments and their automatic extraction from DTM. Two topolineament systems, trending NE–SW and NW–SE, were interpreted. Using the kernel density algorithm, topolineament density models were generated. Using the Empirical Bayesian Kriging, a thickness model of quaternary deposits was generated. A relationship was observed between the course of topolineaments and the distribution and thickness of Quaternary formations. The topolineaments were compared with fault directions marked on tectonic maps of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. Data validation showed consistency between topolineaments and tectonic faults. The obtained results are encouraging for further research.


Author(s):  
Maxim A. Altyntsev ◽  
◽  
Hamid Majid Saber Karkokli ◽  

The result of laser scanning is an array of laser points. The generation of a single point cloud in a given coordinate system is carried out during the registration process at the stage of preliminary field data processing. At this stage it is also often necessary to filter the data. Laser points with an erroneous position are eliminated during the data filleting. The number of erroneous laser points is determined by the of the laser scanner characteristics, surveyed area peculiarities and weather conditions. The devel-opment of methods and algorithms for filtering laser scanning data is carried out based on the analysis of the laser point spatial position and a certain set of additional characteristics, such as intensity value, echo signal, color value. The technique of mobile laser scanning data filtering for the territory of the road passing among the forest and close to individual industrial facilities and building. The main goal of the proposed filtration technique is to obtain data for automatic generation of an accurate digital terrain model. The filtration technique was developed for data acquired under the least favorable con-ditions – in wet weather. Accuracy estimation of generating digital terrain model based on filtered data was carried out.


2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 227-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radek Roub ◽  
Tomáš Hejduk ◽  
Pavel Novák

Knowing the extent of inundation areas for individual N-year flood events, the specific flood scenarios, and having an idea about the depths and velocities in the longitudinal or transverse water course profile provided by hydrodynamic models is of key importance for protecting peoples’ lives and mitigating damage to property. Input data for creating the watercourse computational geometry are crucial for hydrodynamic models. Requirements for input data vary with respect to the hydrodynamic model used. One-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic models in which the computing track is formed by cross-sectional profiles of the channel are characterized by lower requirements for input data. In two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic models, a digital terrain model is needed for the entire area studied. Financial requirements of the project increase with regard to the input data and the model used. The increase is mainly due to the high cost of the geodetic surveying of the stream channel. The paper aims at a verification and presentation of the suitability of using hydrological measurements in developing a schematization (geometry) of water courses based on topographic data gained from aerial laser scanning provided by the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre. Taking into account the hydrological measurement during the schematization of the water course into the hydrodynamic model consists in the derivation of flow rate achieved at the time of data acquisition using the method of aerial laser scanning by means of hydrological analogy and in using the established flow rate values as a basis for deepening of the digital terrain model from aerial laser scanning data. Thus, the given principle helps to capture precisely the remaining part of the channel profile which is not reflected in the digital terrain model prepared by the method of aerial laser scanning and fully correct geometry is achieved for the hydrodynamic model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitka Elznicová ◽  
Tomáš Matys Grygar ◽  
Jan Popelka ◽  
Martin Sikora ◽  
Petr Novák ◽  
...  

As fluvial pollution may endanger the quality of water and solids transported by rivers, mapping and evaluation of historically polluted fluvial sediments is an urgent topic. The Ploučnice River and its floodplain were polluted by local uranium mining from 1971–1989. We have studied this river since 2013 using a combination of diverse methods, including geoinformatics, to identify pollution hotspots in floodplains and to evaluate the potential for future reworking. Archival information on pollution history and past flooding was collected to understand floodplain dynamics and pollution heterogeneity. Subsequently, a digital terrain model based on laser scanning data and data analysis were used to identify the sites with river channel shifts. Finally, non-invasive geochemical mapping was employed, using portable X-ray fluorescence and gamma spectrometers. The resulting datasets were processed with geostatistical tools. One of the main outputs of the study was a detailed map of pollution distribution in the floodplain. The results showed a relationship between polluted sediment deposition, past channel shifts and floodplain development. We found that increased concentration of pollution occurred mainly in the cut-off meanders and lateral channel deposits from the mining period, the latter in danger of reworking (reconnecting to the river) in the coming decades.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaming Na ◽  
Kaikai Xue ◽  
Liyang Xiong ◽  
Guoan Tang ◽  
Hu Ding ◽  
...  

Accurate topographic mapping is a critical task for various environmental applications because elevation affects hydrodynamics and vegetation distributions. UAV photogrammetry is popular in terrain modelling because of its lower cost compared to laser scanning. However, this method is restricted in vegetation area with a complex terrain, due to reduced ground visibility and lack of robust and automatic filtering algorithms. To solve this problem, this work proposed an ensemble method of deep learning and terrain correction. First, image matching point cloud was generated by UAV photogrammetry. Second, vegetation points were identified based on U-net deep learning network. After that, ground elevation was corrected by estimating vegetation height to generate the digital terrain model (DTM). Two scenarios, namely, discrete and continuous vegetation areas were considered. The vegetation points in the discrete area were directly removed and then interpolated, and terrain correction was applied for the points in the continuous areas. Case studies were conducted in three different landforms in the loess plateau of China, and accuracy assessment indicated that the overall accuracy of vegetation detection was 95.0%, and the MSE (Mean Square Error) of final DTM (Digital Terrain Model) was 0.024 m.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Schmidt ◽  
Johannes Rabiger-Völlmer ◽  
Lukas Werther ◽  
Ulrike Werban ◽  
Peter Dietrich ◽  
...  

The Early Medieval Fossa Carolina is the first hydro-engineering construction that bridges the Central European Watershed. The canal was built in 792/793 AD on order of Charlemagne and should connect the drainage systems of the Rhine-Main catchment and the Danube catchment. In this study, we show for the first time, the integration of Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and geoarchaeological subsurface datasets with the aim to create a 3D-model of Charlemagne’s summit canal. We used a purged Digital Terrain Model that reflects the pre-modern topography. The geometries of buried canal cross-sections are derived from three archaeological excavations and four high-resolution direct push sensing transects. By means of extensive core data, we interpolate the trench bottom and adjacent edges along the entire canal course. As a result, we are able to create a 3D-model that reflects the maximum construction depth of the Carolingian canal and calculate an excavation volume of approx. 297,000 m3. Additionally, we compute the volume of the present dam remnants by Airborne LiDAR data. Surprisingly, the volume of the dam remnants reveals only 120,000 m3 and is much smaller than the computed Carolingian excavation volume. The difference reflects the erosion and anthropogenic overprint since the 8th century AD.


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