The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey
The detailed description of processing workflows in Structure from Motion (SfM) surveys using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not common in geomorphological research. One of the aspects frequently overlooked in photogrammetric reconstruction is image characteristics. In this context, the present...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3528 |
| _version_ | 1827618328770772992 |
|---|---|
| author | Adrián Martínez-Fernández Enrique Serrano Alfonso Pisabarro Manuel Sánchez-Fernández José Juan de Sanjosé Manuel Gómez-Lende Gizéh Rangel-de Lázaro Alfonso Benito-Calvo |
| author_facet | Adrián Martínez-Fernández Enrique Serrano Alfonso Pisabarro Manuel Sánchez-Fernández José Juan de Sanjosé Manuel Gómez-Lende Gizéh Rangel-de Lázaro Alfonso Benito-Calvo |
| author_sort | Adrián Martínez-Fernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The detailed description of processing workflows in Structure from Motion (SfM) surveys using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not common in geomorphological research. One of the aspects frequently overlooked in photogrammetric reconstruction is image characteristics. In this context, the present study aims to determine whether the format or properties (e.g., exposure, sharpening, lens corrections) of the images used in the SfM process can affect high-detail surveys of complex geometric landforms such as rock glaciers. For this purpose, images generated (DNG and JPEG) and derived (TIFF) from low-cost UAV systems widely used by the scientific community are applied. The case study is carried out through a comprehensive flight plan with ground control and differences among surveys are assessed visually and geometrically. Thus, geometric evaluation is based on 2.5D and 3D perspectives and a ground-based LiDAR benchmark. The results show that the lens profiles applied by some low-cost UAV cameras to the images can significantly alter the geometry among photo-reconstructions, to the extent that they can influence monitoring activities with variations of around ±5 cm in areas with close control and over ±20 cm (10 times the ground sample distance) on surfaces outside the ground control surroundings. The terrestrial position of the laser scanner measurements and the scene changing topography results in uneven surface sampling, which makes it challenging to determine which set of images best fit the LiDAR benchmark. Other effects of the image properties are found in minor variations scattered throughout the survey or modifications to the RGB values of the point clouds or orthomosaics, with no critical impact on geomorphological studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:05:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-032273edacab425b8e0ca66560b614b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:05:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-032273edacab425b8e0ca66560b614b42023-12-01T23:07:47ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-07-011415352810.3390/rs14153528The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier SurveyAdrián Martínez-Fernández0Enrique Serrano1Alfonso Pisabarro2Manuel Sánchez-Fernández3José Juan de Sanjosé4Manuel Gómez-Lende5Gizéh Rangel-de Lázaro6Alfonso Benito-Calvo7Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), 09002 Burgos, SpainResearch Group Natural Heritage and Applied Geography (PANGEA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainResearch Group Natural Heritage and Applied Geography (PANGEA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainResearch Group Engineering, Territory and Heritage (NEXUS), Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainResearch Group Natural Heritage and Applied Geography (PANGEA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainResearch Group Natural Heritage and Applied Geography (PANGEA), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainDepartment of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UKCentro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), 09002 Burgos, SpainThe detailed description of processing workflows in Structure from Motion (SfM) surveys using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not common in geomorphological research. One of the aspects frequently overlooked in photogrammetric reconstruction is image characteristics. In this context, the present study aims to determine whether the format or properties (e.g., exposure, sharpening, lens corrections) of the images used in the SfM process can affect high-detail surveys of complex geometric landforms such as rock glaciers. For this purpose, images generated (DNG and JPEG) and derived (TIFF) from low-cost UAV systems widely used by the scientific community are applied. The case study is carried out through a comprehensive flight plan with ground control and differences among surveys are assessed visually and geometrically. Thus, geometric evaluation is based on 2.5D and 3D perspectives and a ground-based LiDAR benchmark. The results show that the lens profiles applied by some low-cost UAV cameras to the images can significantly alter the geometry among photo-reconstructions, to the extent that they can influence monitoring activities with variations of around ±5 cm in areas with close control and over ±20 cm (10 times the ground sample distance) on surfaces outside the ground control surroundings. The terrestrial position of the laser scanner measurements and the scene changing topography results in uneven surface sampling, which makes it challenging to determine which set of images best fit the LiDAR benchmark. Other effects of the image properties are found in minor variations scattered throughout the survey or modifications to the RGB values of the point clouds or orthomosaics, with no critical impact on geomorphological studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3528unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)photogrammetry (SfM)image formatimage propertiesmappingchange detection |
| spellingShingle | Adrián Martínez-Fernández Enrique Serrano Alfonso Pisabarro Manuel Sánchez-Fernández José Juan de Sanjosé Manuel Gómez-Lende Gizéh Rangel-de Lázaro Alfonso Benito-Calvo The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey Remote Sensing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry (SfM) image format image properties mapping change detection |
| title | The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey |
| title_full | The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey |
| title_short | The Influence of Image Properties on High-Detail SfM Photogrammetric Surveys of Complex Geometric Landforms: The Application of a Consumer-Grade UAV Camera in a Rock Glacier Survey |
| title_sort | influence of image properties on high detail sfm photogrammetric surveys of complex geometric landforms the application of a consumer grade uav camera in a rock glacier survey |
| topic | unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry (SfM) image format image properties mapping change detection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/15/3528 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adrianmartinezfernandez theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT enriqueserrano theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT alfonsopisabarro theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT manuelsanchezfernandez theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT josejuandesanjose theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT manuelgomezlende theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT gizehrangeldelazaro theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT alfonsobenitocalvo theinfluenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT adrianmartinezfernandez influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT enriqueserrano influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT alfonsopisabarro influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT manuelsanchezfernandez influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT josejuandesanjose influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT manuelgomezlende influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT gizehrangeldelazaro influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey AT alfonsobenitocalvo influenceofimagepropertiesonhighdetailsfmphotogrammetricsurveysofcomplexgeometriclandformstheapplicationofaconsumergradeuavcamerainarockglaciersurvey |