Abstract
Abstract. The number of scientific studies that consider possible applications of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) for the management of natural hazards effects and the identification of occurred damages strongly increased in the last decade. Nowadays, in the scientific community, the use of these systems is not a novelty, but a deeper analysis of the literature shows a lack of codified complex methodologies that can be used not only for scientific experiments but also for normal codified emergency operations. RPASs can acquire on-demand ultra-high-resolution images that can be used for the identification of active processes such as landslides or volcanic activities but can also define the effects of earthquakes, wildfires and floods. In this paper, we present a review of published literature that describes experimental methodologies developed for the study and monitoring of natural hazards.
Highlights
In the last three decades, the number of natural disasters showed a positive trend with an increase in the number of affected populations
Tobita et al (2014a) successfully performed a fixed-wing remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) oneway flight for a distance of 130 km and a total flight time of 2 h and 51 min over the sea to capture aerial images of a newly formed volcanic island next to Nishinoshima Island (Ogasawara Islands, south-west Pacific). They performed SfM-MVS photogrammetry of the aerial images taken from the RPAS to generate a 2.5 m resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of the island
Some case studies have used archival aerial photographs in volcanoes for periods of more than 60 years, generating DEMs with resolutions of several metres for areas of 10 km2 (Gomez, 2014; Derrien et al, 2015; Gomez et al 2015). These DEMs are coarser than those derived from RPASs, they can be used as supportive data sets for modern morphological monitoring using RPASs at a higher resolution and measurement frequency
Summary
In the last three decades, the number of natural disasters showed a positive trend with an increase in the number of affected populations. Stöcker et al (2017) published a review of different state regulations that are characterized by several differences regarding requirements, distance from the take-off point and maximum altitude Another important feature of RPASs is their adaptability, which allows for use in various types of missions, and in particular for monitoring operations in remote and dangerous areas (Obanawa et al, 2014). For monitoring and mapping applications, mini or micro RPAS systems are very useful as cost-efficient platforms that capture real-time close-range imagery. These platforms can reach the area of investigation and take several photos and videos from several points of view (Gomez and Kato, 2014). It is possible to use this flight control data to georegister captured payload sensor data such as still images or video streams (Eugster and Nebiker, 2008)
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