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Remote Sensing
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Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards
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Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 27309

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fabio Matano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze del Mare (CNR-ISMAR), Naples, Italy
Interests: geomorphology; geology; remote sensing; natural hazard; monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giuseppe Esposito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNR-IRPI, Via Cavour, 4/6, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Interests: natural hazards; landslide; flood; active faults; sea cliff erosion; risk prevention; remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Every year, natural hazards have catastrophic impacts on environmental and anthropic systems throughout the world, causing huge economic loss and countless victims. Moreover, people and infrastructures are exposed to increasing levels of risk due to the effects of global climate change.

Spatially and temporally detailed monitoring is an essential basis for all strategies aimed at reducing the consequences of natural hazards. In recent decades, high-resolution topography data acquired by different remote sensing systems are becoming of primary importance in assessing and monitoring a wide spectrum of natural hazards. Among the available techniques, LIDAR and photogrammetry play a relevant role. A significant advantage of these techniques consists in the acquisition of dense and accurate terrain data with sensors mounted on different fixed and mobile platforms, allowing the integrated monitoring of topographically complex areas. In addition, recent technological advances, algorithm developments, and processing techniques can attain tridimensional high-resolution topography data at low cost, promoting their widespread utilization for natural hazard monitoring among the scientific community.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect original research articles about LIDAR and photogrammetry applications in monitoring several categories of natural hazards. Authors are encouraged to submit articles that may include monitoring applications related to slope failures, erosion, floods, coastal processes, subsidence, ground deformation, earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and glacier processes. Multi-hazard monitoring applications are considered strongly intriguing. Review papers and case studies about the integrated employment of LIDAR and photogrammetry techniques are particularly welcome.

Dr. Fabio Matano
Dr. Giuseppe Esposito
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 7246 KiB  
Article
Morphological Changes Detection of a Large Earthflow Using Archived Images, LiDAR-Derived DTM, and UAV-Based Remote Sensing
by Massimo Conforti, Michele Mercuri and Luigi Borrelli
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(1), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13010120 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4160
Abstract
In mountainous landscapes, where strongly deformed pelitic sediments outcrop, earthflows can dominate denudation processes and landscape evolution. This paper investigated geological and geomorphological features and space-time evolution over a 65-year time span (1954–2019) of a large earthflow, representative of wide sectors of the [...] Read more.
In mountainous landscapes, where strongly deformed pelitic sediments outcrop, earthflows can dominate denudation processes and landscape evolution. This paper investigated geological and geomorphological features and space-time evolution over a 65-year time span (1954–2019) of a large earthflow, representative of wide sectors of the Apennine chain of southern Italy. The landslide, with a maximum length of 1.85 × 103 m, affects an area of 4.21 × 105 m2 and exhibits two source zones: a narrow and elongated transport zone and a lobate accumulation zone. Spatial and temporal morphological changes of the earthflow were assessed, comparing multi-source and multi-temporal data (aerial photographs, Google Earth satellite images, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) system data). Geomorphic changes, quantified using Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of differences, highlighted an extensive lowering of the topographic surface in the source area and a significant uplift at the landslide toe. Moreover, the multi-temporal analysis showed a high increase of landslide surface (more than 66%) during the last 65 years. The volumetric analyses showed that different sectors of the earthflow were active at different times, with different rates of topographic change. Overall, the used approach highlighted the great potentiality of the integration of multi-source and multi-temporal data for the diachronic reconstruction of morphological landslide evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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18 pages, 8618 KiB  
Article
Time-Lapse Landform Monitoring in the Pisciarelli (Campi Flegrei-Italy) Fumarole Field Using UAV Photogrammetry
by Alessandro Fedele, Renato Somma, Claudia Troise, Karen Holmberg, Giuseppe De Natale and Fabio Matano
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13010118 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4080
Abstract
The utility of new imaging technologies to better understand hazardous geological environments cannot be overstated. The combined use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and digital photogrammetry (DP) represents a rapidly evolving technique that permits geoscientists to obtain detailed spatial data. This can aid [...] Read more.
The utility of new imaging technologies to better understand hazardous geological environments cannot be overstated. The combined use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and digital photogrammetry (DP) represents a rapidly evolving technique that permits geoscientists to obtain detailed spatial data. This can aid in rapid mapping and analyses of dynamic processes that are modifying contemporary landscapes, particularly through the creation of a time series of digital data to help monitor the geomorphological evolution of volcanic structures. Our study comprises a short-term (in geological terms) monitoring program of the dynamic and diffuse Pisciarelli degassing structure caused by the interplay between intensive rainfall and hydrothermal activity. This area, an unstable fumarole field located several hundred meters east of the Solfatara Crater of the Campi Flegrei caldera (southern Italy), is characterized by consistent soil degassing, fluid emission from ephemeral vents, and hot mud pools. This degassing activity is episodically accompanied by seismic swarms and macroscopic morphology changes such as the appearance of vigorously degassing vents, collapsing landslides, and bubbling mud. In late-2019 and 2020, we performed repeated photogrammetric UAV surveys using the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique. This approach allowed us to create dense 3D point clouds and digital orthophotos spanning one year of surveys. The results highlight the benefits of photogrammetry data using UAV for the accurate remote monitoring and mapping of active volcanoes and craters in harsh and dangerous environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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22 pages, 6081 KiB  
Article
Decoding Complex Erosion Responses for the Mitigation of Coastal Rockfall Hazards Using Repeat Terrestrial LiDAR
by Matthew Westoby, Michael Lim, Michelle Hogg, Lesley Dunlop, Matthew Pound, Mateusz Strzelecki and John Woodward
Remote Sens. 2020, 12(16), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12162620 - 13 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3759
Abstract
A key factor limiting our understanding of rock slope behavior and associated geohazards is the interaction between internal and external system controls on the nature, rates, and timing of rockfall activity. We use high-resolution, monthly terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveys over [...] Read more.
A key factor limiting our understanding of rock slope behavior and associated geohazards is the interaction between internal and external system controls on the nature, rates, and timing of rockfall activity. We use high-resolution, monthly terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveys over a 2 year monitoring period to quantify rockfall patterns across a 0.6 km-long (15.3 × 103 m2) section of a limestone rock cliff on the northeast coast of England, where uncertainty in rates of change threaten the effective planning and operational management of a key coastal cliff top road. Internal system controls, such as cliff material characteristics and foreshore geometry, dictate rockfall characteristics and background patterns of activity and demonstrate that layer-specific analyses of rockfall inventories and sequencing patterns are essential to better understand the timing and nature of rockfall risks. The influence of external environmental controls, notably storm activity, is also evaluated, and increased storminess corresponds to detectable rises in both total and mean rockfall volume and the volumetric contribution of large (>10 m3) rockfalls at the cliff top during these periods. Transient convergence of the cumulative magnitude–frequency power law scaling exponent (ɑ) during high magnitude events signals a uniform erosion response across the wider cliff system that applies to all lithologies. The tracking of rockfall distribution metrics from repeat terrestrial LiDAR in this way demonstrably improves the ability to identify, monitor, and forecast short-term variations in rockfall hazards, and, as such, provides a powerful new approach for mitigating the threats and impacts of coastal erosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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18 pages, 24504 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Tuff Sea Cliff Stability Integrating Geological Surveys and Remote Sensing. Case History from Ventotene Island (Southern Italy)
by Ruberti Daniela, Marino Ermanno, Pignalosa Antonio, Romano Pasquale and Vigliotti Marco
Remote Sens. 2020, 12(12), 2006; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12122006 - 22 Jun 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3061
Abstract
This study provides a detailed integrated analysis of the erosional processes affecting the volcanoclastic headlands of a pocket beach, of a typical Tyrrhenian volcanic island (Ventotene, south Italy). It compares the survey carried out in 2012 and the recent landslides that occurred in [...] Read more.
This study provides a detailed integrated analysis of the erosional processes affecting the volcanoclastic headlands of a pocket beach, of a typical Tyrrhenian volcanic island (Ventotene, south Italy). It compares the survey carried out in 2012 and the recent landslides that occurred in 2018–2020. The studied tuff cliff is characterised by steep, up to overhanging walls affected by a fracture network, which locally isolates blocks in precarious equilibrium. The stability conditions of the southern Cala Nave Bay sea cliff were evaluated by integrating a geological field survey, structural analysis of discontinuities, and a detailed topographic survey consisting of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) and photogrammetry data acquisition and processing, providing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the sea cliff. The 3D model of the area affected by the recent landslides was created using proximity photogrammetry, the Structure for Motion (SfM) methodology. The fracture network was represented by using high-resolution digital models and projected to realize geostructural vertical mapping of the cliff. The data acquired in 2012 were more recently compared with further surveys carried out, following rock failures that occurred in winter 2019–2020. The detachment planes and failure modalities coincide perfectly with the ones previously assessed. The applied techniques and the comparison with the recent rock failures have proven to be important in defining these conditions to address risk mitigation interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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23 pages, 22061 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning-Based and 3D Kinematic Models for Rockfall Hazard Assessment Using LiDAR Data and GIS
by Ali Mutar Fanos, Biswajeet Pradhan, Abdullah Alamri and Chang-Wook Lee
Remote Sens. 2020, 12(11), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12111755 - 29 May 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3754
Abstract
Rockfall is one of the most hazardous phenomena in mountainous and hilly regions with high and steep terrain. Such incidents can cause massive damage to people, properties, and infrastructure. Therefore, proper rockfall hazard assessment methods are required to save lives and provide a [...] Read more.
Rockfall is one of the most hazardous phenomena in mountainous and hilly regions with high and steep terrain. Such incidents can cause massive damage to people, properties, and infrastructure. Therefore, proper rockfall hazard assessment methods are required to save lives and provide a guide for the development of an area. The aim of this research is to develop a method for rockfall hazard assessment at two different scales (regional and local). A high-resolution airborne laser scanning (ALS) technique was utilized to derive an accurate digital terrain model (DTM); next, a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) was used to capture the topography of the two most critical areas within the study area. A staking machine-learning model based on different classifiers, namely logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), was optimized and employed to determine rockfall probability by utilizing various rockfall conditioning factors. A developed 3D rockfall kinematic model was used to obtain rockfall trajectories, velocity, frequency, bouncing height, kinetic energy, and impact location. Next, a spatial model combined with a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (fuzzy-AHP) integrated in the Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed to assess rockfall hazard in two different areas in Ipoh, Malaysia. Additionally, mitigation processes were suggested and assessed to provide a comprehensive information for urban planning management. The results show that, the stacking random forest–k-nearest neighbor (RF-KNN) model is the best hybrid model compared to other tested models with an accuracy of 89%, 86%, and 87% based on training, validation, and cross-validation datasets, respectively. The three-dimension rockfall kinematic model was calibrated with an accuracy of 93% and 95% for the two study areas and subsequently the rockfall trajectories and their characteristics were derived. The assessment of the suggested mitigation processes proves that the proposed methods can reduce or eliminate rockfall hazard in these areas. According to the results, the proposed method can be generalized and applied in other geographical places to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive rockfall hazard assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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Review

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20 pages, 23654 KiB  
Review
The Application of Terrestrial LiDAR for Geohazard Mapping, Monitoring and Modelling in the British Geological Survey
by Lee Jones and Peter Hobbs
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13030395 - 23 Jan 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4770
Abstract
Geomatics is the discipline of electronically gathering, storing, processing, and delivering spatially related digital information; it continues to be one of the fastest expanding global markets, driven by technology. The British Geological Survey (BGS) geomatics capabilities have been utilized in a variety of [...] Read more.
Geomatics is the discipline of electronically gathering, storing, processing, and delivering spatially related digital information; it continues to be one of the fastest expanding global markets, driven by technology. The British Geological Survey (BGS) geomatics capabilities have been utilized in a variety of scientific studies such as the monitoring of actively growing volcanic lava domes and rapidly retreating glaciers; coastal erosion and platform evolution; inland and coastal landslide modelling; mapping of geological structures and fault boundaries; rock stability and subsidence feature analysis, and geo-conservation. In 2000, the BGS became the first organization outside the mining industry to use Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning (TLS) as a tool for measuring change; paired with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), BGS were able to measure, monitor, and model geomorphological features of landslides in the United Kingdom (UK) digitally. Many technologies are used by the BGS to monitor the earth, employed on satellites, airplanes, drones, and ground-based equipment, in both research and commercial settings to carry out mapping, monitoring, and modelling of earth surfaces and processes. Outside BGS, these technologies are used for close-range, high-accuracy applications such as bridge and dam monitoring, crime and accident scene analysis, forest canopy and biomass measurements and military applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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Other

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12 pages, 5182 KiB  
Technical Note
Quality Control of Outsourced LiDAR Data Acquired with a UAV: A Case Study
by Luísa Gomes Pereira, Paulo Fernandez, Sandra Mourato, Jorge Matos, Cedric Mayer and Fábio Marques
Remote Sens. 2021, 13(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13030419 - 26 Jan 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2892
Abstract
Over the last few decades, we witnessed a revolution in acquiring very high resolution and accurate geo-information. One of the reasons was the advances in photonics and LiDAR, which had a remarkable impact in applications requiring information with high accuracy and/or elevated completeness, [...] Read more.
Over the last few decades, we witnessed a revolution in acquiring very high resolution and accurate geo-information. One of the reasons was the advances in photonics and LiDAR, which had a remarkable impact in applications requiring information with high accuracy and/or elevated completeness, such as flood modelling, forestry, construction, and mining. Also, miniaturization within electronics played an important role as it allowed smaller and lighter aerial cameras and LiDAR systems to be carried by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). While the use of aerial imagery acquired with UAV is becoming a standard procedure in geo-information extraction for several applications, the use of LiDAR for this purpose is still in its infancy. In several countries, companies have started to commercialize products derived from LiDAR data acquired using a UAV but not always with the necessary expertise and experience. The LIDAR-derived products’ price has become very attractive, but their quality must meet the contracted specifications. Few studies have reported on the quality of outsourced LiDAR data acquired with UAV and the problems that need to be handled during production. There can be significant differences between the planning and execution of a commercial project and a research field campaign, particularly concerning the size of the surveyed area, the volume of the acquired data, and the strip processing. This work addresses the quality control of LiDAR UAV data through outsourcing to develop a modelling-based flood forecast and alert system. The contracted company used the Phoenix Scout-16 from Phoenix LiDAR Systems, carrying a Velodyne VLP-16 and mounted on a DJI Matrice 600 PRO Hexacopter for an area of 560 ha along a flood-prone area of the Águeda River in Central Portugal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Lidar and Photogrammetry in Monitoring Natural Hazards)
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