Thermal infrared imaging of geothermal environments and by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): A case study of the Wairakei – Tauhara geothermal field, Taupo, New Zealand

Abstract

Recent advances in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for civilian use make it possible to regularly monitor geothermal environments at spatial and temporal scales that would be difficult to achieve using conventional methods. Previous aerial monitoring of geothermal environments has been expensive and time consuming. This paper demonstrates the use of a small (<2 kg), cost effective quadcopter UAV to safely and accurately map physical and biological characteristics of these unique habitats. Thermal infrared imaging and photogrammetry are used to capture detailed information of geothermal surface features and surrounding vegetation within the Wairakei – Tauhara geothermal field near Taupo, New Zealand. The study highlights advanced techniques in sampling, processing and analysing UAV images and identifies some research challenges and limitations in the use of UAV platforms and sensors. The application of UAVs to describe and monitor geothermal features and other environments is a rapidly developing field in science and natural resource management. This project demonstrates the utility of UAV applications in geothermal science and the potential for their use in many other areas of research.