UAV for Photogrammetry

A estimativa da altura dominante média de árvores (Pinus pinaster) foi efectuada em 37 parcelas circulares de 500 m2 através de 3 métodos de medição:(1) medição directa no campo com um hipsómetro de Blume Leiss (hd);(2) medição com barra de paralaxe sobre ...

The paper presents an innovative approach that can assist survey methods by applying AI algorithms to improve the accuracy of point clouds generated from UAV images. Firstly, the work individually analyses several photogrammetric accuracy parameters, including reprojection error, angle of intersection between homologous points, number of cameras for single Tie Point calculation, verifying that a single parameter is not sufficient to filter noise from a photogrammetric point cloud. Therefore, some of the calculated parameters were analysed with the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and a K-means, to check the impact of the precision parameters for reducing the noise associated with the definition of the 3D model. In the case study, in both machine learning clustering algorithms used, it was observed that the parameter that most influences noise in photogrammetric point clouds is the angle of intersection.

The present contribution falls within the framework of the actions envisaged by the "SMART Bethlehem -Sustainable Management And Renewal of Technology in the City of Bethlehem" (2022 -ongoing) research project, scientifically coordinated by the University of Pavia and co-founded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS). Among the main objectives of the cooperation project is the sustainable urban and territorial development of the Bethlehem area by means of multi-scalar activities, mainly focusing on refurbishment and energy optimisation of a few relevant municipality buildings. A test case implementation of the HBIM methodology was then carried out on the Peace Center, an iconic building facing the "Manger Square" in close proximity to the "Nativity Church", aiming to validate the proposed systematisation of a scan-to-BIM approach focused on the development of an optimised data repository for the planned operation and maintenance activities. An ECO-Systemic workflow is presented, organised in five recursive steps. Starting from a SLAM-TLS integrated digital survey (3DS), the federated sub-models that comprise the overall project are geo-referenced (GEO) within a shared coordinate system (FSC) environment, thereby providing the basis for the subsequent architectural modelling of the built asset (ARC) and the associated enhancement of the level of information (LOI).

Image segmentation, unlike most conventional approaches, assesses image pixel information in relation to image contextual information to extract congruent image objects. A comprehensive review of literature during the research conceptualization phase revealed that while a lot of work has been done into the optimization of the segmentation computational time, there was a conspicuous research gap in the area of computational time modelling and pre-analytical projections. The focus of this research was, therefore, to model the computational time requirements of segmentation as a function of variability in image spatial resolutions and pixel counts. The employed methodology integrated structure from motion (SFM), segmentation, and regression modelling into a multiphase workflow to process UAV-acquired imagery into an orthomosaic, which underwent segmentation at multiple resolutions. The segmentation computational time was regressed against the image pixel count and spatial resolution. The results showed that the image pixel count was the main determinant of the computational time, expressing a statistically strong linear relationship. However, when the regressors were tested individually, the spatial resolution showed an exponential relationship with computational time which, however, exhibited saturation. It can be inferred that image spatial resolution is not the key determinant of segmentation computational time but the pixel count of the image. This research recommends the adoption of statistically viable models to thoroughly assess computational time requirements for image segmentation and a pre-analytics estimation of the time requirements such that image qualityimage processing time adjustments can be made before rather than after analyses have commenced.

UAV-based photogrammetry technologies allow the architectural and aesthetic details of monuments
to be captured with extreme precision, which helps to thoroughly document their current condition. These models can be used for further restoration, even if the monument would suffer degradation or destruction. The 3D models act as a digital archive of monuments, making it possible to preserve cultural elements in virtual format even if they physically disappear.

This paper presents the results of a study on the neolithic landscape of the Sopot culture in the area of Đakovština in Eastern Slavonija. A vast network of settlements was uncovered using aerial archaeology, which was further confirmed and chronologically determined by magnetometry, excavations, and field surveys. The study focuses on the site Tomašanci-Dubrava, where a drone was used to acquire vertical photographs to capture a detailed orthophoto of the feature in a maturing crop. The captured data revealed the subsurface archaeological features that affect the rate of plant growth, as observed on detailed digital surface models. The implications of this observation are discussed in the paper, including its potential use on a larger level with ALS data or aerial photographs taken by the state geodesic service to create DSM models of wider areas.

Accurate depth information retrieval of a scene is a field under investigation in the research areas of photogrammetry, computer vision and robotics. Various technologies, active, as well as passive, are used to serve this purpose such as laser scanning, photogrammetry and depth sensors, with the latter being a promising innovative approach for fast and accurate 3D object reconstruction using a broad variety of measuring principles including stereo vision, infrared light or laser beams. In this study we investigate the use of the newly designed Stereolab's ZED depth camera based on passive stereo depth calculation, mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with an ad-hoc setup, specially designed for outdoor scene applications. Towards this direction, the results of its depth calculations and scene reconstruction generated by Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms are compared and evaluated based on qualitative and quantitative criteria with respect to the ones derived by a typical Structure from Motion (SfM) and Multiple View Stereo (MVS) pipeline for a challenging cultural heritage application.

Terrestrial laser scanners UAV Photogrammetry Architectural documentation Non-invasive survey methods Architectural documentation not only plays a critical role in the conservation of historical structures, but also enables their detailed comprehension of the structure. This study aims to assess the most effective methods for drawing and modeling architectural structures and present their advantages and disadvantages. Measurements play a significant role in this context, and today's technology offers the potential to accelerate this process and enhance accuracy. However, the application of these technologies can impose additional burdens such as elevated expenses, the requisite for specialized personnel, and the management of substantial data volumes. Therefore, determining the appropriate measurement method in line with the quality of architectural documentation is essential. For this study, the Mosque of Kurşunlu Complex in Eskişehir was selected for its historical and topographical attributes which enabled all methods to be examined. The data produced via terrestrial laser scanning, aerial photogrammetry and terrestrial photogrammetry methods were examined in terms of the production of drawings and models for different analysis methods such as structure, daylight and building acoustics, as well as survey drawings required for the architectural documentation processes of the building. The study concluded that no single method could produce holistic data on its own, and the best results for comprehensive documentation were achieved by integrating terrestrial laser scanning and aerial photogrammetry. Furthermore, for products that do not require comprehensive data, photogrammetric methods were more efficient.

The accumulation of large boulders related to extreme waves are well documented in different areas of the Mediterranean coasts, such as in Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Greece (Lesbos and Crete islands), France, Spain, Malta, Italy (Sicily and Apulia regions). These deposits have been associated to storm or tsunami events or both, depending on the local history. If compared to the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea is considered a shallow basin, with very low wave energy. In particular the NE Adriatic, where Istria Peninsula (Croatia) is located, geological and geomorphological evidences of extreme wave events have never been described, as well as no tsunamis have been registered. We present the boulder deposits that have been recently found out in southern Istria, at Premantura and Marlera localities and we discuss the mechanisms that could have been responsible of the detachment and movement of these large rocky blocks from the emerged part of the coast and from the sea bottom inland. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted: geological and geomorphological surveyings, UAV and digital photogrammetric analysis, applying of the hydrodynamic equations as well as underwater profiles were carried out between 2012 and 2016. The southern Istrian coasts are composed of Cretaceous bedded limestones, sub-horizontal or gently inclined toward the sea and are exposed to southern winds, Scirocco and Libeccio, with wide fetch. The boulder deposits occur in correspondence of flat promontories or ancient quarry pavements, where the topography, together with the bedding planes and a dense fracture pattern constitute the predisposing factors of the boulder sizing and detachment. Boulder sizes, density, position and elevation have been measured in order to apply the hydrodynamic equations, which provide wave height values that can discriminate a storm from a tsunami origin. Biogenic marine encrustations, sometimes very recent, have been observed on large part of the boulders, attesting the infralittoral and sublittoral zones as source area (joint bounded, submerged scenario). Moreover, some boulders show typical coastal karst features that are very similar to those observed in the coastal area, attesting a subaerial scenario and a consequent detachment, lifting and re-arrangement by waves. The comparison between satellite images from 2008 to 2016, pictures collected from the WEB, pictures collected during the swim survey of the coast during summer 2012 and UAV images taken in December 2016 allowed to observe movements of some boulders and the arrival of a new one. The latter is 2.25 x 1.65 x 0.95 m, with an estimate weight of 7.65 tonnes. Our observations and results, compared with the available wave data, seem to refer to multiple storm events, even very recent.

TLS, Terrestrial Laser Scanning), and large scale mapping derived by UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) survey. This paper refers an example of 3D survey and reality based modelling applied on landscape and architectural assets. The choice of methods for documentation, in terms of survey techniques, depends primarily on issues and features of the area. The achieved experience, allow to consider that the easy handling of TLS has enabled the use in limited spaces among buildings and collapsed roofs, but the topographic measure of GCPs (Ground Control Points), neither by total station nor by GPS/RTK technique, was easily feasible. Even more than proving the ability of the integration of TLS and UAV photogrammetry to achieve a multisource and multi-scale whole model of a village, the experience has been a test to experiment the registration of terrestrial clouds with the support of control points derived by UAV survey and finally, a comparison among different strategies of clouds registration is reported. Analysing for each approach a number of parameters (number of clouds registration, number of needed points, processing time, overall accuracy) the further comparisons have been achieved. The test revealed that it is possible to decrease the large number of terrestrial control points when their determination by topographical measures is difficult, and it is possible to combine the techniques not only for the integration of the final 3Dmodel, but also to solve and make the initial stage of the drafting process more effective.

The focus of this paper is to inform the public forum about the easy-to-use RPAS and photogrammetry tools to help survey, record, digitise, and monitor potential at risk cultural sites around Australia's coastal waters. The primary aim of this paper is to present a case study on a modern shipwreck, Pisces Star (1997), found in the intertidal waters of Lighthouse Bay, Cape Banks, South Australia. The vessel is of modern make but is an accessible shipwreck that was monitored throughout the Admella Wreck Project (AWP), as part of a study on deterioration rates of vessels in the area. The monitoring of Pisces Star began in March 2021, using a Mavic 2 Pro (M2P) and an Autel Evo II Pro (AE2P) consumer-grade drone to record the structure for 3D photogrammetry. Furthermore, survey mapping of the landscape to understand environmental change around the deteriorating structure. Over a 16-month period, the vessel was monitored and found to be deteriorating at a much faster rate than the past 26 years. The photogrammetry provided reliable data to image match the rate of deterioration with high resolution projections, whilst the orthomosaics produced from the RPAS autonomous flight surveys allowed for visual analysis of the changing coastal landscape and the impact of that change on the wreck site. The rate of deterioration was calculated and showed a level of decay to the structure that would be unrecognisable in the next 5 years. The applied method was beneficial to the overall project and demonstrated how a low-cost product with cost-effective methods could generate a plethora of results in a short time. The application of this method should be applied to structures and wrecks that are protected by the Commonwealth and State Legislation, but where the budget is not sufficient to secure funding for conservation methods (i.e., HMS Cerberus).

This paper will demonstrate how new technologies in cartographic environment integrate acquisition, management and representation techniques for georefencing data processing. Moreover, there is an ever-growing demand for a more "representative" and "world widespread" digital cartography. More representative means the capabilities in describing physical phenomena but also social, economic and cultural data that are necessarily connected to geographical aspects. More widespread derives from the growing use of cartographic products by non-specialized users. Among the different formats of numerical cartography, threedimensional maps are certainly the more suitable. These represent a cartographic typology corresponding to different levels of accuracy and details to describe reality, such as DTM and city modelling. They provide geometrical and qualitative information coming from the use of historical documents and present-day aerial and terrestrial photo suitably processed: such as orthophotos mapped onto DTM for a more truthful description of territory. Data for 3D map production can be acquired by employing the most advanced and outstanding techniques, normally integrated such as digital photogrammetry and laser scanning, both aerial (aircraft or helicopter) and terrestrial survey. 3D digital cartography seems to be more suitable in different field of applications: to recover the historical maps content, to establish an architectural project in its surroundings, to well deals with town-planning matters, to perform simulations for environmental impact analyses, and so on.

Water management during natural disasters is a critical component of disaster response, ensuring access to clean water and mitigating the impact of damaged infrastructure. This paper explores key lessons learned from past disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the California wildfires, highlighting the vulnerabilities of water systems and the importance of resilient infrastructure. It also examines best practices, including the use of decentralized water systems, stakeholder collaboration, and innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, and blockchain technology. These strategies enhance disaster preparedness and response, helping to safeguard water resources and public health.

Traditional geological mapping methods and its associated outputs fall short in terms of delivering the desired level of precision and accessibility required for effectively visualizing visible structural and geological information in three dimensions (3D). Geologists are limited to using 2D geological maps and, in some cases, field photographs that may not accurately represent what was truly observed. Additionally, the absence of a 3D representation of the field makes it challenging to recreate the field observations. In response to these limitations, traditional mapping was carried to explore the distinctive geological attributes of quartzites and phyllites within the Togo Structural Unit with respect to a particular quarry site in Bortianor –Weija. To enhance this traditional mapping effort, a three-dimensional model of the mapped area was created using structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry using geotagged vertical and oblique images captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) from varying altitudes. Data from the traditional mapping was then incorporated into the 3D model, via clickable markers or annotations on the model to view structural measurements, 2D field photographs and any other geologic data. The results of this project offer valuable insights and practical recommendations in the fields of urban planning, land use, and geological management. Essentially, this project exemplifies the synergy between modern technology and geological science, with the overarching goal of producing a highly detailed and accurate map of the study area. This map proves to serve as a crucial resource for regional development and enriches our understanding of geological formations, mineral potential, and natural hazards within the study area and beyond.

Last-mile delivery is shipping goods by ground from distribution centers to customers. It is the supply chain's most expensive, complex, and polluting phase. Companies seeking cheaper, faster, and greener logistics are looking to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs/drones) for solutions. Several companies aspire to develop Urban Air Mobility (UAM) networks to provide on-demand mobility using an electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. However, like ground electric vehicles (EVs), UAVs have limited flight endurance due to onboard power constraints. The conventional approach of charging a UAV requires it to halt the flight mission and remain grounded while charging at a slow rate. As a result, UAVs often need detours toward a charging station and add a time penalty on top of the time spent recharging at a station. Such challenges make drone technology less economical and impede its widescale adaptation. This paper proposes a novel mid-air Droneto-Drone (D2D) energy-sharing paradigm, a scalable and costeffective solution to increase the overall flight endurance of a UAV swarm. This framework allows the UAVs to share charge and sustain each other based on the instructions received from a centralized controller. We introduce innovative components such as multi-level battery architecture, a mid-air energy exchange mechanism, and a cloud-based control unit. We have also developed a drone traffic simulator to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed framework in package delivery tasks. After performing a numerical analysis using the developed simulator, we observed up to 28.24% improvement in the mission success rate and up to 10% increase in the overall flight range of a UAV swarm.

In this research, we utilized a real-time and non-destructive digital measuring system to measure the entire areas of archaeological pottery fragments. This approach provides a novel classification method as an alternative to weighing pottery in situ. We provided a rapid method for determining the overall surface area of the fragments using a newly developed portable device. This device utilizes RGB and gray-scale 2D image processing technology, along with an electronic system. In contrast to typical analyses, we utilized image enhancement, edge extraction, segmentation, Sobel filter, and linking techniques through MATLAB software to thoroughly examine and quantify the external and internal surface of a fragment. The system can calculate the dimensions of the fragments accurately and quickly. Additionally, it automatically generates a file containing the measured data in a timely manner. Researchers or students have the ability to remotely access this record or access it as the primary user. The results of our study demonstrated that our system outperforms traditional measurement methods in terms of accuracy, while also requiring less time. Moreover, the suggested system can be employed to examine the morphology of bones and the rate of deterioration in metal or ceramic artifacts for museums or archives. The device's structure is characterized by its innovative, efficient, and functional design. Another potential alternative to consider is offering users a user interface or additional means of accessing and analyzing object details through the use of a digital scale. The efficiency and outputs of our system were determined to be markedly distinct from the conventional method, based on the analysis of the tables and figures.

En esta investigación se pone a prueba la fotogrametría digital con drones cuyos objetivos son conocer el modelado erosivo del paisaje a través de análisis geomorfométricos a gran detalle y cuantificar tasas de erosión en volumen (m3/área) y masa (t/área) en diferentes litologías. Para ello se estudiaron la longitud, el área de captación y la disección vertical de los escurrimientos de tres tipos contrastantes de rocas sobre una misma ladera en el valle de Yanhuitlán, Oaxaca: arcillas lacustres, cenizas volcánicas litificadas y lavas andesíticas. A partir de la hipótesis de que el tipo de erosión en rocas depende del tipo litológico, los resultados muestran una mayor incisión en las arcillas, mayores áreas de captación en las cenizas volcánicas y escurrimientos de menor tamaño en la andesita, la roca más resistente. Del mismo modo, se obtuvieron resultados de pérdida de volumen en el periodo de lluvias (mayo-octubre) de 2016, los cuales están asociados a los valores que muestran los...

DÖTTINGEN (uz)-Jarek Piechs und Daniel Schulz' Wohnadresse müsste sich eigentlich spektakulärer anhören. Tatsächlich aber lautet sie nur Döttingen, Hauptstrasse 72. Spektakulärer müsste sie sich anhören, weil die beiden Männer mehr als nur im Hier und Heute zu Hause sind, nicht nur in Döttingen also und in der Gegenwart, sondern auch in anderen Gegenden der Welt und vor allem in der Vergangenheit. Wer Piech und Schulz besucht, merkt es sofort. Archäologie, Kunstgeschichte und Denkmalpflege Das Relief des Herrschers von Darband-i Gau und der Zitadellenhügel von Bakrawa. Das Relief prangt an einer Felswand in zehn Meter Höhe. Nur mittels Drohnenfotografie lässt es sich problemlos betrachten. Die Luftbildaufnahme des Zitadellenhügels macht dessen Lage in der Landschaft deutlich.

Archaeological areas in the mountain region of central Italy can be seriously threatened by geological hazards, and efforts are required to preserve cultural heritage. The Lucus Angitiae is a pre-Roman site located along the western edge of the Fucino Basin, the largest continental depression of central Apennines. The carbonate slope overhanging the area is affected by active rockfall processes from two main rock escarpments. In this paper, rockfall assessment was pursued through a 3D kinematic modelling, performed by adopting a probabilistic approach. Specific attention was dedicated to the choice and calibration of the input data, based on field evidence and a literature review. Two different sizes of wedge-shaped rock blocks were identified on rock escarpments, and specific stability analyses were performed. Sensitivity analyses accounting for possible triggering factors, such as water pressure increase and seismic action, were also carried out, together with an investigation of ...

The accumulation of large boulders related to waves generated either by tsunamis or extreme storm events has been observed in different areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Along the NE and E low-lying rocky coasts of Malta tens of large boulder deposits have been surveyed, measured and mapped. These boulders have been detached NHESSD 3, 5977-6019, 2015 Boulder accumulations related to extreme wave events on the coast of Malta S. Biolchi et al.

antes introducido. Presentamos el primer Portavión Aéreo para Drones: PortaDrone, un nuevo UAV que es una parte vital del equipo militar para el PortaDrones. Nuestro objetivo es presentar todas las características y funcionalidades de este nuevo sistema de defensa militar, que puede desempeñar un papel importante en operaciones de defensa y ataque de manera más rápida y eficiente. El PortaDrones incluye un sistema de inteligencia artificial, sistemas de defensa autónomos, sistemas de energía y sistemas de control inteligente. Estos componentes forman un sistema de defensa complejo y dinámico que proporciona una protección de alto nivel inmediata a áreas estratégicas, incluso a distancia. Algunas especificaciones se retienen por razones de seguridad nacional. Además, este manual básico presenta el NeuronDrone-Box y el Mega-NeuronDrone-Box: el hardware, el algoritmo y un nuevo Drone o UAV militar especial. En una sección especial, nos gustaría mencionar que todos los algoritmos en este manual básico utilizan la teoría del caos y la Econografología. Posteriormente, presentamos el innovador prototipo conocido como el "Pesadilla Negra Drone Bombardero V.7". El Pesadilla Negra Drone Bombardero V.7 cuenta con una serie de características y aplicaciones distintivas, que se detallan en este informe técnico. De hecho, abogamos por la implementación de inteligencia artificial completamente autónoma en la toma de decisiones de ataque o defensa en el sistema de drones militares (La NeuronDrone-Box) para controlar el Sistema de Alerones Múltiples (MAS) y el Sistema de Misiles Múltiples (MM-System) conectados a la inteligencia artificial completamente autónoma en la toma de decisiones de ataque o defensa en el sistema de drones militares (La NeuronDrone-Box).

For several years, photogrammetric surveys are quite often applied for surveying cultural heritage. For a detailed and accurate result, it is indispensable that the calculated point cloud represents the original geometry of the building in high quality, with vertical and horizontal structures in the same manner. Whereas many published papers in the field of digital heritage documentation are dealing with creating such models or using photogrammetric data for damage detection, only a
few papers are investigating the crucial fact of accuracy and how it can be influenced by the used camera resolution. We want to present a case study, in which we compare the photogrammetric point cloud of a normal consumer drone with a high-end device. Beside the actual survey results showing the details of a Romanesque church, a statistical calculation of deviation is shown. It becomes evident that there is only a difference within some millimetres between the corresponding point clouds in
most parts of the monument. Hence, it can be stated that, for most applications in heritage protection, affordable consumer unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are sufficient. Only if faint details have to be resolved will a better resolution of the mounted camera be required.

The area of the "Foro Emiliano", the current "Piazza del Municipio" in the coastal town of Terracina in southern Latium, consists of an articulated group of building belonging to different historical moments. On the roman pavement of the forensic square stand out: a Roman theatre, the urban cathedral, medieval houses, a roman temple and recent buildings dating from the first half of the 20th century. Thanks to recent funding the "Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Frosinone, Latina e Rieti" has undertaken the demolition of some modern houses insisting on the theatre's porticus post scaenam and began an excavation of the entirely preserved cavea of the Roman theatre building. These interventions of urban archaeology were taken as an opportunity to plan an impressive 3D survey of the historic center, aiming: on one side at monitoring demolition and excavation work, offering a cartographic base for valorization projects, and on the other at the investigation of a vast monumental area. This paper analyses in detail the phases of integration, alignment, filtering and post processing of the acquired data, showing with evidence how the integration of active and passive sensors is the best approach in similar scenario.

Various types of technology are used for Terrestrial Mobile Mapping (TMM) such as IMU, cameras, odometers, laser scanner etc., which are integrated in order to determine the attitude and the position of the vehicle in use, especially in the absence of GNSS signal i.e. in an urban canyon. The aim of this study is to use only photogrammetric measurements obtained with a low cost camera (with a reduced focal length and small frames) located on the vehicle, in order to improve the quality of TMM solution in the absence of a GNSS signal. It is essential to have good quality frames in order to solve this problem. In fact it is generally quite easy to extract a large number of common points between the frames (the so-called 'tie points'), but this does not necessarily imply the goodness of the matching quality, which might be uncorrected due to the presence of obstacles that may occlude the camera sight. The Authors used two different methods for solving the problem of the presence of outliers: RANSAC and the Forward Search. In this article the Authors show the results obtainable with good quality frames (frames without occlusions) and under difficult conditions that simulate better reality.

Multisource remote sensing image data provides synthesized information to support many applications including land cover mapping, urban planning, water resource management, and GIS modelling. Effectively utilizing such images however requires proper image registration, which in turn highly relies on accurate ground control points (GCP) selection. This study evaluates the performance of the interest point descriptor SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features) for GCPs selection from UAV and LiDAR images. The main motivation for using SURF is due to it being invariant to scaling, blur and illumination, and partially invariant to rotation and view point changes. We also consider features generated by the Sobel and Canny edge detectors as complements to potentially increase the accuracy of feature matching between the UAV and LiDAR images. From our experiments, the red channel (Band-3) produces the most accurate and practical results in terms of registration, while adding the edge features seems to produce lacklustre results.

Between 2016 and 2018, excavations at the Roman villa of Vacone, carried out by the Upper Sabina Tiberina Project, transitioned to completely digital recording practices. The methodological shift was accompanied by a three-year campaign of backfill removal and cleaning, which allowed most of the villa’s extant architecture and décor uncovered since 2012 to be digitized. Moreover, a new documentation protocol was established that employs photogrammetry in lieu of scale drawing to model the three-dimensional spatial characteristics of every archaeological context. Notable artifacts were also modeled to facilitate off-site study. The excavation’s experiences with this conversion offer valuable lessons for other long-term archaeological projects contemplating a similar shift amid active fieldwork. The project’s digital recording team developed a methodology for layer-by-layer modeling that ensures precise alignment between stratigraphic contexts using fixed markers. From these, standard...

This article runs an in-depth examination of documentation, representation and conservation praxis of Architectural Heritage in the field of applied academic research. The focus is put on technological advances in digital documentation applied to Cultural Heritage. The architectural survey is one of the first actions taken in the knowledge process of an asset and, as such, it becomes essential for subsequent conservation, restoration and management operations. This paper describes an experience of integrated digital surveying techniques for the digitalization of an architecture by Andrea Palladio: Villa Forni Cerato. This experience has been carried out by the Heritage Survey Technology (HE.SU.TECH.) Group, from Politecnico di Milano - Polo di Mantova that has been carrying out research and consulting activities with institutions related to Italian Heritage since 2000. The case of Villa Forni Cerato is particularly interesting because, in this instance, digitization was integrated w...

The Italian legislation on Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems (SAPR: Sistema Areomobile a Pilotaggio Remoto), as in 2012, regulates the use of drones in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. In 2016, the regulation introduced simplified procedures for the use of ultralight drones. These instruments are particularly widespread in the field of Cultural Heritage survey. In fact, according to the Italian regulations currently in force it is possible to pilot a drone of less than 300 grams without the need of a flight license and without a specific training course and medical examination and it is not required a special permit to fly in populates areas (although without flying over groups of people). Another possible explanation is the limited cost of these aircrafts and their easy availability on the market, both on the shelves of all electronic shops and in online stores. Following the boom of drones under 300 g, and considering the new European regulations also pay particular attention to a similar segment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) (in the future for aircraft under 250 g), it is important to evaluate the results that can be obtained through these small instruments and above all to evaluate which are the fields of application compatible with the technical limitations imposed by the need to lighten the components onboard (think in particular of the sensors of digital cameras). The purpose of the study is linked to the documentation of Cultural Heritage, in particular, we want to investigate the quality and metric reliability of photogrammetric surveys carried out through ultra-light drone images. Some application of UAV photogrammetry by ultra-light drones are showed in this paper and they deal with archaeological and architectural survey.

The distance computation between objects is an essential component of robot motion planning and controlling the robot to avoid its surrounding obstacles. Distance is used as a measure of how far a robot is from colliding with an obstacle. In this paper a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) for solving the problem of the distance computation between convex objects is presented. Convergence analysis of the suggested method was done via difference equation.

Nepal has tremendous geographic diversity rising from as low as 59 metres elevation in the tropical Terai to the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, at 8,848 ft. The country ranks 4th, 11th and 30th as the most vulnerable country in terms of risk from climate change, earthquake and flood respectively.[1] As a part of response to any disaster, geographical knowledge of the vulnerable area is the foundation to effectively plan and implement the response. There exist various ways of topographical surveying and mapping which are being used to acquire such geoinformation. The undulating geography of Nepal makes topographical surveying and mapping time consuming and arduous through the traditional ground-based methodologies. Furthermore, the remote sensing techniques are not much useful for a country like Nepal that doesn't have its dedicated satellites and hence lacking ways to obtain timely updated information. The recent few years have seen escalation of some of the frontier technologies including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in surveying and mapping, aerial photo/videography, surveillance and a number of other applications. UAVs were widely introduced in Nepal in the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake. An unprecedented number of small and lightweight UAVs were flown over highly damaged areas and heritage sites by journalists and humanitarian responders to assist in immediate rescue, relief, and reconstruction efforts. However, risks to national security by the unregulated use of UAVs was realized by the Government of Nepal, and the Ministry of Home Affairs released a set of strict guidelines that controlled the use of UAVs in a stringent way. This limited use of UAVs in Nepal bottlenecked the increasing adoption of this technology, both for humanitarian responses and private sectors. However, increasing demand has recently led to the release of a comparatively flexible "UAV Flight Guidelines 2075" that provides the authority to grant UAV flight permissions for lightweight UAVs to the local governments, thus simplifying the procedure for most UAV users. It also reflects the positive change in perception of the government towards UAV technology. This study seeks to identify, analyze and document the evolution in application of UAV technology in Nepal across several application areas.

Monuments of wooden architecture are part of heritage which is particularly liable to destruction. That is why they need a detailed architectural survey. Architectural measurements of wooden churches in Poland have been conducted since the end of the 19th century. The digital methods of documenting monuments are becoming more and more popular and available, so they are replacing traditional measurements methods also in the monuments of wooden architecture.
Examining the documentation made with digital techniques in 2022 in comparison to historical drawings for five wooden churches on Silesia and Lesser Poland border helped to stress the advantages and disadvantages of using modern surveying techniques in wooden architecture.
It is obvious that using digital methods allows us to take the measurements faster. Also the geometry of the structure is registered more accurately. 3D documentation represents the geometry of the whole building, that is why it is fuller than the traditional architectural documentation, which only consists of predetermined plans and sections. The advantage of 3D documentation is also in the possibility to use it for visualisation purposes, e.g. special analyses or popularisation of heritage. However, while using digital surveying techniques in wooden architecture one must remember that these types of buildings require analytic documentation showing all elements of their complex construction. That is why creating competent documentation demands thorough study of the structure, especially in places inaccessible for scanners or cameras.

The applications of remote sensing technologies to precision agriculture were reviewed. The different uses of conventional satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for data collection were also examined. The ways in which the collected data have been used in terms of precision agriculture are laid out in further detail. Modern UAVs provide a range of advantages over conventional satellites in data collection and analysis. In addition, precision agriculture itself is a wide topic; and practitioners, researchers, and policy planners need to account for a complex value chain with diverse stakeholders. Thus, in order to further the discussion in a meaningful manner, the later sections of this article provide additional analysis on topics deemed crucial for the development of precision agriculture: a discussion on key technological limitations for scaling, a corresponding list of suggestions for the development of solutions, and a brief overview on the current social-economical landscape of the agriculture industry. INDEX TERMS Aerial mapping, precision agriculture, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles.

Based on a database of sea state parameters in the Adriatic Sea, wave statistics has been developed at three different geographic locations along the busy Adriatic shipping route. The underlying database consists of a systematic numerical hindcast calibrated by 24-year satellite measurements and represents the most comprehensive data source of wave parameters available for the region. Joint probability distributions of significant wave heights and peak spectral periods are derived, thus enabling extreme sea states to be determined. Furthermore, waves have been evaluated with respect to the well-known dominant wind patterns in the Adriatic and compared to the Tabain's spectrum, a single parametric spectral description developed for local conditions and widely used in engineering practice. Statistics for three geographical locations are compared with one another as well as with data from other available references. These long-term statistics and regression equations developed can be used not only for fatigue and extreme wave loads of ships, offshore installations and renewable energy devices intended for the Adriatic Sea, but also for planning and carrying out various marine operations in that specific environment. At the end of the study, some consideration is given to the effects of climate changes on the variability of sea states in the Adriatic.

If there are great illumination and contrast changes for multitemporal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, common image matching and registration methods may not work well on these images. To improve matching effects, this paper conduct the image registration using the structure consistency between the images to be matched, first, use phase congruency(PC) to describe images' structure characteristics and generate the PC images for both images to be matched; then, conduct the image matching by extracting the features from accelerated segment test (FAST) in the PC images; finally, use the method of randomized sample consensus (RANSAC) to eliminate the mismatches and obtain the affine transformation matrix between the two images. We use this method to pick out known control points on new UAV images on the basis of old image database of ground control points (GCP), the test proves that the method is independent of the radiation information and has a good effect on multitemporal UAV images registration.

Son yıllarda açık maden işletme sahalarında haritacılık işlemleri, gerek maliyet gerek zaman gerekse iş güvenliği açısından avantajlı olan İnsansız Hava Araçları (İHA) kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmektedir. İHA ile zorlu arazi şartlarında kolay, hızlı, yüksek hassasiyetli ve ekonomik ölçümler yapılabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, açık işletmelerde İHA tabanlı haritalama uygulamalarının avantajları açıklanmıştır. Bu kapsamda, İHA fotogrametrisiyle üretilen ortofoto haritalar, Sayısal Yükseklik Modelleri (SYM), dekapaj ve üretim miktarı hesapları, stok ve döküm hacmi tespiti ve deformasyon ölçüm çalışmaları sunulmuştur.

Dieser Beitrag wurde nach Begutachtung durch das Programmkomitee als "reviewed paper" angenommen. Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen des integrativen österreichischen Sicherheitsforschungsprogramms KIRAS 1 entstand ein flugzeuggetragenes Low-Cost-Aufnahmesystem, welches es ermöglicht, geokodierte Lagebilder in nahezu Echtzeit für unterschiedlichste Anwendungen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Im Rahmen der Entwicklungen wurde dabei der Bereich Katastrophenschutz forciert, für den eine flexible, echtzeitnahe, hochqualitative und dennoch kostengünstige luftgestützte Aufnahmeplattform zur Unterstützung von Entscheidungsprozessen von großer Bedeutung ist. Für die Sensorplattform wurden handelsübliche Digitalkameras, eine Thermalkamera, ein GPS-Empfänger und eine IMU (Inertial Measuring Unit) sowie ein PC für die Datenspeicherung, Kamerasteuerung und Datenvorverarbeitung in eine kompakte Lösung integriert. Über ein Kommunikationsmodul lassen sich die aufgenommenen Daten über große Distanz direkt zu einer Bodenstation übertragen. Im Bodensegment werden die erzeugten Einzelbilder echtzeitnahe über direkte Geokodierungsverfahren zu Bildmosaiken zusammengesetzt. Diese können somit einerseits für eine rasche und aktuelle Lageeinschätzung verwendet sowie für Analysen mit bereits existierenden Daten kombiniert werden. 1 Siehe www.kiras.at; Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie (BMVIT).

The western Japan rainstorm disaster on July 6, 2018, was one of the most serious natural catastrophes in Japan, excluding earthquake events. Its main characteristics were severe and widespread flooding and landslides which cut off many areas, interrupting both traffic and telecommunication, and loss of clean water supply. We explored the utility of unmanned aerial vehicles to collect precise information on traffic disruption and damage to hospitals for patient rescue and for efficient allocation of resources. This visualized information was beneficial for determining rescue strategies. Lessons from this disaster and novel technologies could contribute to minimizing damage in future disasters.

Heyelanlar can ve mal kaybına neden olan doğal afetlerdendir. Zemin ve kaya kütleleri üzerindeki kuvvetlerin değişmesi sonucu oluşan heyelanlar Türkiye'de yaygın olarak görülmektedir. Engebeli araziler heyelana meyilli bölgelerdir. Heyelan olayı sonucu yerküre yeniden şekillenmektedir. Son yıllarda uzaktan algılama teknikleri ile afet bölgesinin modellenmesi ve izlenmesi yaygın bir hale gelmiştir. Mersin İli Çukurkeşlik Mahallesi'nde aşırı yağışların tetiklemesi sonucu bir heyelan meydana gelmiştir. Bu çalışmada heyelan bölgesinin modellenmesi insansız hava aracı (İHA) kullanarak yapılmış, arazinin sayısal yüzey modeli (DSM) ve ortofotosu üretilmiştir. Bu çalışma ile arazinin 3B modelinin İHA kullanarak kısa sürede ve yüksek hassasiyette üretilebileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Pond volume UAV 3D model DSM Orthophoto Water management will become a very important topic in the near future. Water scarcity has been seen in most of the world due to drought because of global warming. Water storage is paramount under water scarce situations. Mersin, characterized by the Mediterranean climate, has been negatively affected by climate change. Water retaining structures are needed to build to carry on agricultural activities all year round in the city. Advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies have made it easier to model engineering projects. In this study, we modelled a site on which a pond will be built in the near future using a UAV. We created the Digital Surface Model (DSM) and orthophoto of the study area to measure the pond's volume and 3D surface area. The pond will become an economic component of the region.

Attempt has been made in this research to investigate geometric quality of an Unmanned Aerial Photograph from Trimble UX5 Aerial imaging solution for map generation and compilation despite the limited number of control points used and the mode of establishment of the control points. Two important criteria are pivotal to Geometric quality assessment of an Aerial photograph; Geometric accuracy and Object-definition property but this research bothers on the geometric accuracy. In remote sensing and photogrammetric operations, the geometric quality of the imagery basically depends on the relation between pixel size and the map scale, contrast information, atmosphere and the sun elevation, the printing technology, screen resolution and the visual acuity. The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) deliverables which are the orthophoto and the digital surface model (DSM) show that UAS (Trimble UX5) can be used for compilation of large scale maps in partly accessible or inaccessible areas according to the map accuracy analysis of the National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA, 1998). The horizontal accuracy of 3.207m (RMSE: 1.85m) and vertical accuracy of 0.884m (RMSE: 0.45m) were obtained which fall within the allowable misclosure, hence, suitable for Cadastral map compilation.

Boulder dynamics may provide essential data for coastal evolution and hazards assessment and can be focused as a proxy for the onshore effect of intense storm waves. In this work, detailed observations of currently available satellite imagery of the Earth surface allowed us to identify several coastal boulders displacements in the Southern Apulia coast (Italy) for a period between July 2018 and June 2020. Field surveys confirmed the displacements of several dozens of boulders up to several meters in size, and allowed us to identify the initial position for many of them. Two possible causative storms were identified analysing archive weather maps, and calculations based on analytical equations were found in agreement with the displacement by storm waves for most of the observed boulders. The results help to provide insights about the onshore effect of storm waves on the coastal hydrodynamics and the possible future flooding hazard in the studied coast.

The storm of 12–13 November 2019 provoked the displacements of boulders on a central Mediterranean rocky coast; with reference to a selected area, prone to boulder production and geomorphologically monitored for years, a field-oriented study approach was applied for the phenomenon, by collating data concerning the pre-storm locations and kinematics of these boulders. The number of displaced boulders is 11, that is in terms of the morphological imprint of a specific storm, one of the major study cases for the Mediterranean. In addition, based on widely used hydrodynamic equations, the minimum wave height required to displace the boulders is assessed. The values conform with the expected values for the wave climate dominating during the causative meteorological event and give a measure of the energy of the storm slamming the coast. Boulder dislodgement usually plays a key role in determining the rate of the coastal recession, likely also in the investigated area. In view of an adverse...