Unmanned Aerial Vehicles create 3D models of Geotechnical Projects

A paper published in open-access in the ISSMGE International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories highlights the role that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can have in geotechnical engineering.

UAVs are used with the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) methodology, to create 3D models of a variety of geo-infrastructure.

Specifically, the application of the methodology at twenty-six sites in USA, Greece, Nepal, and New Zealand and variable geologic environments are presented.

Infrastructure considered includes dams, levees, retaining walls, slopes and landslides, fault rupture sites and essentially all possible geo-infrastructure a geotechnical engineer may deal with.

It is shown that the methodology leads to an unprecedented level of mapping that covers large areas at high resolution. In addition to the high resolution models, SfM models are shown to be comparable in accuracy to other surveying techniques and mapping technologies such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR).

The paper was published by a team of researchers from the University of Michigan and other organizations, including staff from Geoengineer.org.

You can view this paper HERE.