Relief Modeling in the Restoration of Extractive Activities Using Drone Imagery

Abstract

In the field of mine engineering, a cross-section topographic survey is usually carried out to perform volumetric calculations of earth movement in order to restore areas affected by extractive activities. Nowadays, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies make it possible to perform the same work by using indirect methods such as images obtained by photogrammetric flights. In this context, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are considered a very convenient option to develop mapping projects in short periods of time and to provide quality geospatial information such as Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and orthophotos of centimetric spatial resolution. In the present study, this approach has been applied in a gravel extraction area to obtain data for estimating the filling volume of material required for the restoration of the relief (DEM(r)). The estimation of the DEM(r) is later used to calculate a difference of height values (DEM(r)-DEM) that will serve as a variable in the basic operation of volume calculation. The novelty of the presented method is the simulation of a relief adapted to the surrounding morphology, including the derived channel network and the visibility impact, improving what would be a simple clogging. Likewise, the generation of 3D models allows visualizing a new morphological structure of the relief. The proposed approach, based on GIS tools, allows analyzing water flow connectivity integration of the DEM(r) with the environment and estimating potential landscape impacts from the main focuses of a visual basin, both of which are key aspects of restoration modeling that are not always properly addressed.

Potential Rockfall Source Identification and Hazard Assessment in High Mountains (Maoyaba Basin) of the Tibetan Plateau

“…Therefore, selecting the appropriate resolution of DEM is crucial to ensuring accurate predictions and reliable analyses of geographical phenomena. In general, increasing the resolution of a DEM leads to more precise values for relief and slope angles of historical rockfalls, as well as the potential rockfall source areas [37,39,40]. However, acquiring a high-quality DEM at a regional scale poses a significant financial expense currently.…”

“…However, only a small number of source areas could be identified using the 30 m resolution DEM (Figure 12f) [39]. Additionally, the size of the NA used to search for the current slope surface relief is also a crucial factor that affects the accuracy of the prediction results [23,40]. If other parameters remain constant, the LSR is a known value.…”

“…If other parameters remain constant, the LSR is a known value. As the NA increases, so does the SSR, which can cause more grids to be incorrectly classified as having lower stability than their Additionally, the size of the NA used to search for the current slope surface relief is also a crucial factor that affects the accuracy of the prediction results [23,40]. If other parameters remain constant, the LSR is a known value.…”

“…If other parameters remain constant, the LSR is a known value. As the NA increases, so does the SSR, which can cause more grids to be incorrectly classified as having lower stability than their actual state (meeting the condition of SSR > LSR) [40]. Therefore, careful selection of the NA value is crucial to achieving effective identification.…”

“…Remote Sens. 2023, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 16 of 18 actual state (meeting the condition of SSR > LSR) [40]. Therefore, careful selection of the NA value is crucial to achieving effective identification.…”