Integration Data Model of the Bathymetric Monitoring System for Shallow Waterbodies Using UAV and USV Platforms

Abstract

Changes in the seafloor relief are particularly noticeable in shallow waterbodies (at depths up to several metres), where they are of significance for human safety and environmental protection, as well as for which the highest measurement accuracy is required. The aim of this publication is to present the integration data model of the bathymetric monitoring system for shallow waterbodies using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). As part of this model, three technology components will be created: a hydroacoustic and optoelectronic data integration component proposed by Dąbrowski et al., a radiometric depth determination component based on optoelectronic data using the Support Vector Regression (SVR) method, and a coastline extraction component proposed by Xu et al. Thanks to them, it will be possible to cover the entire area with measurements in the coastal zone, in particular between the shallow waterbody coastline and the min. isobath recorded by the echo sounder (the area is lacking actual measurement data). Multisensor data fusion obtained using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR), Real Time Kinematic (RTK), UAV, and USV will allow to meet the requirements provided for the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Special Order (horizontal position error ≤ 2 m (p = 0.95), vertical position error ≤ 0.25 m (p = 0.95)). To this end, bathymetric and photogrammetric measurements shall be carried out under appropriate conditions. The water transparency in the tested waterbody should be at least 2 m. Hydrographic surveys shall be performed in windless weather and the water level is 0 in the Douglas sea scale (no waves or sea currents). However, the mission with the use of an UAV should take place in appropriate meteorological conditions, i.e., no precipitation, windless weather (wind speed not exceeding 6–7 m/s), sunny day.

Coastal Bathymetric Sounding in Very Shallow Water Using USV: Study of Public Beach in Gdynia, Poland

“…For determination of the depth in surveys, the actual water level can be referred to the measured depths of the so-called chart datum, which for the PL-KRON86-NH height system, amounted to 508 cm. To do so, the following formula should be used [45][46][47][48]:…”

Changing Water Cycle under a Warming Climate: Tendencies in the Carpathian Basin

“…However, the tributaries Tisza, Drava, Mura, etc., also exhibit similar changes [73,106]. In the past years, bathymetry became the best practice widely to trace river bed changes (often with various equipments installed on drones or even on satellites [107,108]). Besides damming, major drivers of riverbed erosion are river regulation activities, industrial dredging [109,110], and a decrease in natural sediment recharge.…”

Methods for Satellite Derived Bathymetry From Sentinel-2 Images: A Comparison

“…In general, it mainly consists of a GNSS receiver (for the position of the aircraft), a laser emitter and an optical receiver. This technology has high accuracy and wide coverage, but the cost of measurement is still high, and the flight conditions of the sensing area may limit its application (Lewicka et al, 2022). Inside remote sensing, specifically in the sector of earth observation from the space, we can distinguish Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) techniques in three main groups: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) techniques, altimeter techniques and optical techniques.…”