Automated Digital Photogrammetry: A Valuable Tool for Small‐scale Geomorphological Research for the Non‐photogrammetrist?

Abstract

Digital photogrammetry provides a tool with which to automatically generate digital elevation models (DEMs). The necessary equipment is now both readily available and affordable: thus there is considerable potential for this technique to be widely adopted in geomorphological studies. But is it possible for geomorphologists without a background in photogrammety to use it successfully? As part of a larger study into rill initiation by overland flow, a non-metric digital camera and ERDAS IMAGINE OrthoMAX software were used to generate small-scale DEMs of soil surface microtopography. This paper reports on the procedure used, highlights potential pitfalls, and comments on the quality of the resultant DEMs. Whilst acquisition of high-quality images using a digital camera is relatively straightforward, problems were subsequently encountered due to the small size of the internal imager and the need for camera calibration. Potential stumbling blocks in the use of the software lay in the setting-up of ground control points and the use of tie-points and check-points, as well as several software glitches not identified in the current manual. Nonetheless, once these problems were overcome the technique proved to be a simple, effective and fast tool for generating high quality microtopographical DEMs. This methodology shows great promise for future geomorphological studies that require these kinds of surface data.

The potential of 3D gully monitoring with GIS using high-resolution aerial photography and a digital photogrammetry system

“…Recent automated digital photogrammetry has been offering the techniques of surface analysis hitherto scarcely accessible to users not well acquainted with photogrammetric principles and applications (Chandler, 1999;Lane, 2000;Lascelles et al, 2002). However, neither the use of the photogrammetric software nor the interpretation of the results should be considered trivial.…”

“…At the close-range end of image scales, terrestrial photogrammetry, mostly for laboratory experiments, has been benefiting from the high potential of smallformat digital photography for micro-scale erosion research (e.g. Hancock and Willgoose, 2001;Lascelles et al, 2002;Brasington and Smart, 2003;Rieke-Zapp and Nearing, 2005).…”

Potential of low cost close‐range photogrammetry system in soil microtopography quantification

“…Digital photogrammetry is a modified version of analogue and analytical photogrammetry, which provides and enables a non-photogammetrist to use this rapid and inexpensive method compared with laser-scanner and other methods (Chandler, 1999;Lascelles et al, 2002;Rieke-Zapp and Nearing, 2005). Other recent procedures include infrared, ultrasonic and radar.…”

On the derivation of soil surface roughness from multi parametric PolSAR data and its potential for hydrological modeling

“…The self-developed aluminum tripod (Fig. 3) accommodates 12 ground control points (GCP) whose three dimensional (xyz) coordinates were manually determined, as described by Lascelles et al (2002), using a caliper rule with an accuracy of 1/10 mm. The horizontal coverage of the sampling area is limited to 70×70 cm 2 (approx.…”