Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments
This study employs a multimethod approach to investigate the sediment distribution in two pocket beaches, Ramla Beach and Mellieha S Beach, in Malta. Both study sites were digitally reconstructed using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. For each case, an ERT and a dense network of ambient...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/1/40 |
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| author | Luciano Galone Sebastiano D’Amico Emanuele Colica Peter Iregbeyen Pauline Galea Lluís Rivero Fabio Villani |
| author_facet | Luciano Galone Sebastiano D’Amico Emanuele Colica Peter Iregbeyen Pauline Galea Lluís Rivero Fabio Villani |
| author_sort | Luciano Galone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study employs a multimethod approach to investigate the sediment distribution in two pocket beaches, Ramla Beach and Mellieha S Beach, in Malta. Both study sites were digitally reconstructed using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. For each case, an ERT and a dense network of ambient seismic noise measurements processed through a horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique were acquired. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) analysis enables the estimation of sediment thickness in each beach. HVSR analysis revealed peaks related to beach sediments overlying limestone rocks in both sites and also indicated a deeper stratigraphic contact in Mellieha S Beach. Based on ERT measurements, sediment thickness is calculated for each HVSR measurement. Interpolation of results allows for bedrock surface modelling in each case study, and when combined with digital terrain models (DTMs) derived from photogrammetric models, sediment volumes are estimated for each site. The geometry of this surface is analyzed from a geological perspective, showing structural control of sediment distribution due to a normal fault in Mellieha S Beach and stratigraphic control facilitated by a highly erodible surface in Ramla Beach. The results emphasize the importance of adopting a three-dimensional perspective in coastal studies for precise sediment volume characterization and a deeper understanding of pocket beach dynamics. This practical multimethod approach presented here offers valuable tools for future coastal research and effective coastal management, facilitating informed decision making amidst the growing vulnerability of coastal zones to climate change impacts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:58:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5640a3322aa46a5a23bf4ea43091a52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:58:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5640a3322aa46a5a23bf4ea43091a522024-01-10T15:07:11ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922023-12-011614010.3390/rs16010040Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches EnvironmentsLuciano Galone0Sebastiano D’Amico1Emanuele Colica2Peter Iregbeyen3Pauline Galea4Lluís Rivero5Fabio Villani6Department of Geosciences, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, MaltaDepartment of Geosciences, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, MaltaDepartment of Geosciences, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, MaltaDepartment of Geosciences, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, MaltaDepartment of Geosciences, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, MaltaDepartment of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology, Earth Sciences Faculty, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, SpainIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143 Rome, ItalyThis study employs a multimethod approach to investigate the sediment distribution in two pocket beaches, Ramla Beach and Mellieha S Beach, in Malta. Both study sites were digitally reconstructed using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. For each case, an ERT and a dense network of ambient seismic noise measurements processed through a horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique were acquired. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) analysis enables the estimation of sediment thickness in each beach. HVSR analysis revealed peaks related to beach sediments overlying limestone rocks in both sites and also indicated a deeper stratigraphic contact in Mellieha S Beach. Based on ERT measurements, sediment thickness is calculated for each HVSR measurement. Interpolation of results allows for bedrock surface modelling in each case study, and when combined with digital terrain models (DTMs) derived from photogrammetric models, sediment volumes are estimated for each site. The geometry of this surface is analyzed from a geological perspective, showing structural control of sediment distribution due to a normal fault in Mellieha S Beach and stratigraphic control facilitated by a highly erodible surface in Ramla Beach. The results emphasize the importance of adopting a three-dimensional perspective in coastal studies for precise sediment volume characterization and a deeper understanding of pocket beach dynamics. This practical multimethod approach presented here offers valuable tools for future coastal research and effective coastal management, facilitating informed decision making amidst the growing vulnerability of coastal zones to climate change impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/1/40horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratioseismic ambient noisepocket beachMaltanear-surface geophysicselectrical resistivity tomography |
| spellingShingle | Luciano Galone Sebastiano D’Amico Emanuele Colica Peter Iregbeyen Pauline Galea Lluís Rivero Fabio Villani Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments Remote Sensing horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio seismic ambient noise pocket beach Malta near-surface geophysics electrical resistivity tomography |
| title | Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments |
| title_full | Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments |
| title_short | Assessing Shallow Soft Deposits through Near-Surface Geophysics and UAV-SfM: Application in Pocket Beaches Environments |
| title_sort | assessing shallow soft deposits through near surface geophysics and uav sfm application in pocket beaches environments |
| topic | horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio seismic ambient noise pocket beach Malta near-surface geophysics electrical resistivity tomography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/1/40 |
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