Analysis Of Aerial Photographs Research Articles

Short Term Trend of Vegetation Removal Estimation by Aerial Photograph Analysis and Flood Flow Simulation

Short Term Trend of Vegetation Removal Estimation by Aerial Photograph Analysis and Flood Flow Simulation

Detection of former landfills in gravel plain using geomorphometric analysis and High-Resolution LiDAR DTM

The article represents the application of geomorphologic approach to discover the potential areas of buried waste in agricultural landscape of Ljubljana gravel plain. Some former waste disposal sites or landfills are underground sites characterized by heterogeneous old waste buried in formerly concave landforms: old inactive gravel pits or paleo-riverbeds. They form different types of anthropogenic landforms. They were primary recognized and located with the terrain visualization (analytical shading, hypsometry) of LiDAR data and in continuation with geomorphometric analysis and classification of fluvial terrain. Due to subsidence of heterogeneous waste, terrain of former landfill sites is bumpy and uncharacteristic of fluvial surface morfology or terrain. The geomorphometric analysis was applied to differentiate the anthropogenic landforms (gravel pits, filled gravel pits …) from natural alluvial landforms with combination of two geomorphometrics: multiresolution index of valley bottom flatness (MrVBF) and convergence index and high density LiDAR data. Result is the automatically derived classification of terrain in to three classes: (1) bumpy terrain, typical for areas with high terrain potential for landfill, (2) flat terrain, typical for dry paleo riverbeds and (3) »agricultural« terrain, typical for intensive fields and meadows. By comparing the results of geomorphometric analysis with the results of visual analysis the 26 of 46 visually detected anthropogenic landforms are overlapping the areas of high terrain potential for landfill and among these 8 objects were proved with geohistorical analysis of archive aerial photographs.

Case study: Assessment of the entrance stability of the Lake Illawarra Estuary

Prior to completion of entrance improvements in 2007, Lake Illawarra behaved as an ICOLL (Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons) with entrance conditions dependent on prevailing conditions. Since construction of twin training breakwaters and dredging in 2007, the entrance has remained permanently open, with water level stations within the estuary recording an increasing tidal signal. This paper provides a case study describing methods to assess the stability of the entrance to Lake Illawarra through preliminary analysis of aerial photography, hydrosurvey, continuous water level records, consecutive tidal gauging and Escoffier analysis. Regarding the case study of entrance stability, consideration is given to data for analysis, limitations of the analysis and its reliance on local or site specific empirical data, needs for ongoing monitoring and tuning to represent further data, potential implications for Lake Illawarra and on similar estuaries and possible management responses. The likely effects of expected sea level rise on stability of the entrance are also estimated based on the understood key physical processes. Since completion of the entrance works, the lake is characterised by an 'unstable scouring' entrance as indicated by empirical analysis supported by lake water level and catchment rainfall data, tidal flow gauging, hydrosurveys and aerial photography. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will determine further action that may be required.

Case study: Assessment of the entrance stability of the Lake Illawarra Estuary

Prior to completion of entrance improvements in 2007, Lake Illawarra behaved as an ICOLL (intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons) with entrance conditions dependent on prevailing conditions. Since construction of twin training breakwaters and dredging in 2007, the entrance has remained permanently open, with water level stations within the estuary recording an increasing tidal signal. This paper provides a case study describing methods to assess the stability of the entrance to Lake Illawarra through preliminary analysis of aerial photography, hydro-survey, continuous water level records, consecutive tidal gauging and Escoffier analysis. Regarding the case study of entrance stability, consideration is given to data for analysis, limitations of the analysis and its reliance on local or site specific empirical data, needs for ongoing monitoring and tuning to represent further data, potential implications for Lake Illawarra and on similar estuaries and possible management responses. The likely effects of expected sea level rise on stability of the entrance are also estimated based on the understood key physical processes. Since completion of the entrance works, the lake is characterised by an ’unstable scouring’ entrance as indicated by empirical analysis supported by lake water level and catchment rainfall data, tidal flow gauging, hydro-surveys and aerial photography. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will determine further action that may be required.

Environmental and anthropogenic influences on the distribution, structure, and floristic composition of mangrove forests of the Gulf of Urabá (Colombian Caribbean)

The Gulf of Urabá is the largest sea inlet along the Colombian Caribbean coast, and is highly influenced by freshwater currents that carry substantial quantities of sediment, shaping the coastal geomorphology, and vegetation species composition and distribution. Despite regional low tides and pore-water salinity levels, we hypothesised high variability in mangrove vegetation along the coasts due to local environmental variation, coupled with a recognised physiographic classification. Mangrove forests were mapped and classified following analysis of aerial photographs. Based on 87 circular 500m2 plots, we assessed the structure, floristic composition, and environmental attributes of mangroves. Three mangrove forest types were identified, according to the physiographic classification based on location; riverine, basin, and fringe; and a mangrove type in a highly disturbed stage. Significant differences among mangroves were found; therefore our hypothesis was accepted. Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia germinans exhibited the highest importance values (IVI) in fringe and riverine mangroves; and in basin mangroves, A. germinans showed the highest IVI, with the importance order of these species inverted. Small highly disturbed mangrove fragments were dominated by R. mangle. Tree diameters and heights were asymmetric unimodally distributed, suggesting large forest disturbances related to timber overexploitation, and poor conservation status. Differences among mangrove types were related to soil salinity, granulometry, and nutrient concentrations. The sediment loads transported by rivers, soil nutrient concentrations, and vegetation structure revealed high fluvial and anthropogenic influences on forests, and these conditions are promoting colonisation by alluvial forest species.

The history of intertidal blue mussel beds in the North Frisian Wadden Sea in the 20th century: Can we define reference conditions for conservation targets by analysing aerial photographs?

Conservation decisions often rely on defining a reference status for habitats and species to enable targets to be set and progress measured. Long-lasting and continual anthropogenic impacts on habitats and species make the setting of undisturbed reference values such as diversity, distribution, population size or other ecological characteristics, difficult. In turn this hampers assessment of ecological status.Within the Wadden Sea, intertidal blue mussel beds are important biogenic structures which can be clearly defined from the surrounding flats. As mussel beds are highly productive habitats, they are considered as biological quality indicators for coastal waters. Nonetheless the reference status provokes controversy in discussions between policymakers, stakeholders and researchers. In order to build on existing knowledge of intertidal blue mussel beds in the North Frisian Wadden Sea, we analysed aerial photographs from the 1930s, 1958, 1989, 1998 and 2010. We supplemented this remote sensing data with annual monitoring data from 1999 to 2009 obtained from analysis of aerial photographs and field surveys.Results show a generally high persistency of blue mussel beds likely over eight decades, although sites were probably not permanent throughout the time period and their areal extent had changed. Mussel beds occur mainly on the east side of the islands which provide shelter against storms from the west. Studies of aerial photographs for the 1930s and 1958 demonstrate the importance of historical data to an assessment of the current status of the beds. In particular they help assess the distribution and extent of mussel beds over time.

Structural Damage Under Multiple Hazards in Coastal Environments

Coastal structures are susceptible to a variety of natural hazards, such as wind, storm surge, waves, earthquakes, and tsunamis. These hazards must be fully studied and well understood in order to effectively and safely design and construct hazard-resilient structures. Knowledge of the damage mechanisms associated with coastal hazards helps reveal the anatomy of damage to constructed facilities during an event, which exposes vulnerabilities in current design practices. This paper focuses on damage to residential structures caused by hurricane winds, storm surge, and waves. After the different loading mechanisms associated with hurricanes are discussed, two case studies are introduced that examine structural damage during Hurricane Katrina (2005). On-site postdisaster field surveillance is complemented by the analysis of aerial photographs, satellite images, and data from wind and storm surge models in order to determine the structural damage timeline. The case studies demonstrate the importance of considering multiple hazards when designing and constructing coastal structures. A design and analysis framework that combines multi-hazard engineering strategies with performance-based design procedures is then introduced. The new approach seeks to significantly improve structural reliability in the most efficient and effective manner.

Repoblamiento, actividades productivas y percepción del riesgo en Corral, 50 años después del tsunami de 1960

Post-tsunami analysis of the evolution of resettlement and land use changes in affected areas has become particularly important following the latest catastrophic events in Chile and Japan. Nevertheless, due to the recent nature of these events there is a lack of long-term perspectives. The present study explores the evolution of resettlement and productive activities within a town representative of the destruction generated by the catastrophe that occurred in Chile half a century ago: the earthquake and tsunami of 1960 in Corral. The study used three main methods: i) analysis of old aerial photographs, ii) interviews with survivors, and iii) analysis of Instruments of Territorial Planning (IPTs) between 1960 and 2009. The results show the 1960 inundated areas were resettled again and that the current risk awareness is low. Additionally, it was detected that there is a lack of regulation regarding this topic in the IPTs in existence at a local level.

The 2010–2012 eruption of Kizimen Volcano: The greatest output (from the data of remote-sensing observations) for eruptions in Kamchatka in the early 21st century part I. The November 11, 2010 to December 11, 2011 phase

This paper presents the results from the detailed analysis of aerial photographs and space images for the Kizimen area, which characterize the geologic and geomorphologic effects of the ongoing eruption over the 2010–2011 period. It is shown that the total volume (>0.5 km3) and total mass (>109 t) of the discharged (resurgent plus juvenile) material makes this eruption the most productive in Kamchatka for the first 12 years of the 21st century. The dominant component (>90%) is juvenile material with andesitic composition. The pyroclastics (tephra, deposits of the juvenile pyroclastic avalanches and incandescent debris avalanches) comprise >0.3 km3and >0.45× 109 t, the lava (a very thick block lava flow 3.052 km long and 2.163 km2 in area) occupies about 0.195 km3 and 0.45 × 109 t. With the exception of the tephra, which fell over an area of about 100000 km2, the rest of the material was accumulated on the Kizimen cone and at its base. The mean discharge rate of juvenile ejecta was about 15 m3/s (29 t/s) for 13 months (November 11, 2010 to December 11, 2011). Appreciable changes also occurred at the near-summit part of the volcano’s cone.

A GIS-based coastal monitoring and surveillance observatory on tropical islands exposed to climate change and extreme events: the example of Mayotte Island, Indian Ocean

The global change currently observed is deemed to generate accelerated coastal erosion and an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Populated tropical island coasts are particularly vulnerable. Awareness of this vulnerability has prompted recourse to the construction of operational observatories on the coastal dynamics of several French tropical islands, including Mayotte. The aims of this initiative are to characterise the coastal morphology of tropical islands and to monitor their rhythms and mechanisms of evolution, adaptation and resilience in the face of extreme climate and wave events (cyclones, storms, surges, strong swells…). Based on this, appropriate defence and/or adaptation strategies can be developed and implemented. Mayotte Island is a fine example of the implementation and utility of such an observatory. The island, in the southwest Indian Ocean, is characterised by a highly diversified coral reef-lagoon complex comprising pocket beaches and mangroves subject to increasing pressure from strong island demographic growth. The operational observatory set up on the island incorporates a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on a network sourced by various field measurements and observations conducted on the coastal forms on the basis of a predefined protocol and methodology. Field experiments include hydrodynamic measurements, topographic surveys, and observations, and these are coupled with the analysis of aerial photographs and regional meteorological data in order to gain a better understanding of the coastal morphology and of the evolution of the reef-lagoon complex. The results fed into the observatory and analysed through the GIS provide interactive maps of the coastal landforms and their evolution and dynamics over various timescales. Within a local framework of strong socio-economic and demographic pressures, and a more global context of environmental change, this observatory should lead to a better understanding and prediction of the morphodynamics of the coast of Mayotte, while providing data to the public at large, to researchers, and to stakeholders involved in decision-making in the face of the major and rapid environmental and socio-economic changes liable to affect the fragile reef-mangrove systems and pocket beaches.

Development of a relative coastal vulnerability index in a macro-tidal environment for climate change adaptation

Coastal vulnerability assessments to climate change impacts have been conducted in the past. However, few if any account for the highly variable risk associated with tidal stage in macro-tidal environments. The purpose of this research was to develop a geomatics tool which interactively determines the biophysical vulnerability of a macro-tidal estuary in the Bay of Fundy to varying levels of storm surge and tide state. A conceptual framework was designed to illustrate the relative interrelationships between exposure conditions (surge height, tidal stage), biophysical state (freeboard, exposure, width of foreshore, intertidal slope, observed erodibility, shore protection) and morphological resilience condition. This conceptual framework was then used to develop a dynamic, custom Python programming script within ArcGIS 9.3 to calculate coastal vulnerability for user determined combinations of surge height and tide state. The analysis was conducted for four coastlines, backshore, upper foreshore, middle foreshore and lower foreshore, to reflect varying biophysical states with varying tide levels. The results of the tool were compared with known areas of concern (high erosion, dyke overtopping), as determined by historical records, local expert knowledge and GIS analysis of aerial photography. The number of known locations of concern is lower than that of the results produced by the tool. This is most likely due to the results being analyzed at extreme water levels, greater than higher high water large tide. However, this estimation of vulnerability may limit negative impacts of climate change by highlighting vulnerable areas prior to an event, allowing coastal managers and planners to install measures to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the adaptive capacity of local communities.

Progressive fragmentation of a traditional Mediterranean landscape by hazelnut plantations: The impact of CAP over time in the Langhe region (NW Italy)

Land use change is strongly modifying the traditional landscape of hilly productive Mediterranean sites. An example of these circumstances is the Langhe region (Piemonte, NW Italy), where woody plantations such as vineyards and orchards have been cultivated on hillslopes for centuries. In this paper we assess landscape changes occurred in the Diano study area (2651ha) in the 1954–2000 period and we ascertain land use transition paths and rates of this rural ecosystem. Land use mapping obtained from object-oriented analysis of aerial photographs was used to quantify land use changes between 1954 and 2000. To examine the spatio-temporal patterns of land use change over time, a set of spatial statistics capturing different dimensions of landscape change was identified. An increase of landscape heterogeneity from 1954 to the present was observed due to the expansion of orchards and the fragmentation of field crops. A significant portion (55%) of current orchards surface is represented by former field crops, 24% by vineyards and 15% by forests. The strong expansion of hazelnut orchards concurred to the fragmentation of traditional rural landscape was dominated by vineyards, field crops and forests. Hazelnut orchards expansion was mainly located in places where grapes cultivation was less remunerative. A further expansion of hazelnut in the area should be planned, discussed and carefully monitored through change detection studies in order to avoid potential unsustainable use of the land.

Impact of maintenance of floodplains of the Vistula River on high water levels on the section from Włocławek to Toruń

This article describes the methodology of hydraulic calculations to estimate the water levels in open channels for steady gradually varied flow. The presented method has been used to analyse the water level on the Vistula River from Wloclawek cross-section to Torun cross-section. The HEC-RAS modelling system has been used for parameterization of the river channel and floodplains, as well as for flow simulation. The results obtained have been the basis for assessing the impact of maintenance of floodplains on water level during maximum discharges. DOI: 10.12736/issn.2300-3022.2013308 Introduction The analysed section of the Vistula (Wisla) River, with a length of 59.7 km, is located between Wloclawek cross-section below the dam, at 675.0 km, and the water gauge cross-section in Torun, located at 734.7 km (Fig. 1). The average river channel slope is approx. 0.15 ‰. Cross-sections of the river valley on the examined section are characterised by diverse geometry, where main channel and clearly outlined floodplains may be distinguished in most of the analysed cross-sections. The width of the main channel ranges from a few hundred metres to approx. 1 km, while the extent of floodplains (terrace) reaches up to 7 km. The vast part of the area is covered with forests, meadows, pastures and agricultural land. The flow capacity of the river channel and adjacent floodplains is affected by the cross-sectional geometry, the bottom slope and the type of cover of land that is directly related to flow resistance. The type of material which the main river channel is made of and the type of cover of floodplains, which affects the roughness of the river valley, may be characterised by Manning’s roughness coefficient [4]. According to [2], the average value of that parameter in the main channel is approx. 0.04 in the analysed area. The minimum value of roughness coefficient in the floodplain is 0.023 for the land covered with grass, while the maximum value of 0.12 is characteristic for the land covered with bushes and trees [4]. High values of roughness coefficient, adopted on the basis of the analysis of aerial photographs and site visits, prove the poor maintenance of floodplains, which leads to reduction of the flow capacity in the river channel, thus contributing to an increase in water level at the same flow rate, as compared to a well-maintained channel. In the analysed river section the levees of 2nd class are located on the left bank between 683.3 and 689.8 km and between 708.0 and 718.2 km of the river course, which corresponds to a total length of 22.9 km. The levees on the right bank are situated over Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the analysed section of the Vistula River D. Gąsiorowski, M. Szydlowski | Acta Energetica 3/16 (2013) | 112–116

Automated analysis of aerial photographs and potential for historic forest mapping

Historic information regarding forest status is essential to management and conservation. Manual interpretation of aerial photography has long been the standard for forest inventory; however, manual interpretation can be subjective, inconsistent, and labor-intensive. This research compares automated techniques with manual interpretation results. First, we used an automated process (called segmentation) to delineate homogeneous stands of forests (or objects), analogous to the goal of manually delineating of polygons. Second, we used classification and regression tree (CART) analysis to classify polygons into the forest and terrain schemes used in British Columbia. Most characteristics of objects created via segmentation were similar to manually delineated polygons, as >70% of attributes were statistically similar across local, polygon, and landscape-level comparisons. Using manual interpretations for comparative reference, automated classifications produced overall accuracies ranging from 62% to 86% with per-class accuracies ranging from 0% to 96%. Automated methods yielded classifications meeting provincial overlap accuracy targets and helped identify classifications most suited to automation. Automated procedures have potential for aiding swift utilization of extensive historical photography archives with several caveats for future consideration. While automated techniques may never replicate all aspects of forest inventory classification, automated techniques may be valuable in assisting different phases of the process.

Assessment of channel changes in a Mediterranean ephemeral stream since the early twentieth century. The Rambla de Cervera, eastern Spain

An analysis of morphological changes during the last six decades is presented for a 16.5-km reach of the Rambla de Cervera, a Mediterranean ephemeral stream located in eastern Spain. Channel changes were analysed through a range of techniques, specifically the analysis of aerial photographs with geographical information systems (GIS) and comparison of topographic surveys. The gravel channel underwent a general decline over the study period, losing width (68.5%) and surface area (45.7%) caused by the development of established islands frequently attached to the floodplain. These morphological changes exhibit an interesting temporal variability, with a maximum decrease of the gravel channel in the period 1946–1956 and another narrowing stage between 1977 and 1991. Two periods (1956–1977 and 1991–2006) also had mixed performance. In addition, incision processes occurred along the entire study reach at an average depth of 3.5m. Natural and human-induced factors producing contradictory effects are considered responsible for changes in the Rambla de Cervera.

Influence of deep-seated gravitational slope deformations on landslide distributions: A statistical approach

The influence of deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) on the distribution of translational landslides was analyzed in the Milia basin, Tuscany, Italy. Detailed geomorphological mapping, combined with the analysis of aerial photography, enabled us to build two landslide inventories. One inventory including landslides before 1975 was used to create statistical models, whereas the other inventory including landslides after 1975 was used to validate the models. Geology, slope angle, slope aspect, distance to hydrographic elements, and distance to tectonic lineaments were considered as landslide-predisposing factors. To quantify the importance of DSGSDs as another landslide-predisposing factor, the DSGSD presence/absence map was introduced in the stepwise statistical analysis. The landslide inventory maps and factor maps were processed using a conditional analysis on all possible factor combinations to produce landslide susceptibility maps with five susceptibility classes. The results indicate that the DSGSDs significantly affect landslide distribution.

The role of landscape setting in minimizing hydrogeomorphic impacts of flow regulation

The Tongariro Power Development Scheme (TPDS) is used to regulate flow in the headwaters of the largest catchment on the North Island of New Zealand (the Waikato). Two small dams, the Rangipo Dam and the Poutu Intake Dam, were constructed in 1973 and 1983. The flow regime of the river is managed to divert freshes into the power scheme, but allows flows larger than 100 m3 s−1 to be released, to rework and transport sediment through the catchment. Analysis of aerial photos and maps spanning 1928 to 2007, alongside field measurements, show that there have been few hydrogeomorphic adjustments since dam construction. This includes limited changes to channel geometry, channel planform and bed material organization immediately downstream of the dams. In addition, offsite effects are minimal, both 500 m downstream of each dam, and in the more sensitive, less confined reaches in the lower catchment (11 km downstream of the Poutu Intake dam). The limited changes can be attributed to the locations of the dams within reaches characterised by bedrock gorges and confined within terraces. These locations act to flush sediments and impose margins that allow minimal adjustment of the channel. Bed material within this reach is characterised by the presence of a boulder lag. This is sourced from long-term incision into lahar deposits, and acts to limit the rate of incision, creating a steep and stable base upon which active fractions are transported. Just as importantly, significant storage in the low-relief volcanic plateau located in the upper catchment acts to disconnect and store the high sediment yields generated by active volcanic cones in the western sub-catchment upstream of the dams. This limits the rate of sediment supply to regulated reaches. Findings from this study show that analysis of reach-scale controls is essential in framing dam site locations in relation to the distribution of reaches and landscape units across the catchment. In this instance, tributary inputs downstream of the dams do not replenish the sediment and flow removed at the dam locations, as has been observed in other regulated systems. Rather, the river itself is resilient to change and flow variability is well managed allowing geomorphically effective floods to occur. Landscape setting is a key consideration in determining the hydrogeomorphic impact of flow regulation.

An a priori process for selecting candidate reference lakes for a national survey

AbstractOne of the biggest challenges when conducting a national-scale assessment of lakes, such as the 2007 US National Lake Assessment (NLA), is finding enough reference lakes to set appropriate expectations for the assessed sites. In the NLA, a random design was used to select lakes for sampling to make unbiased estimates of regional condition. However, such an approach was unlikely to yield enough minimally impacted lakes to use as reference sites, especially in disturbed regions. We developed a 3-stage process to select candidate reference lakes to augment the NLA probability sample in the northeastern USA (Northeast). Screening included a water-chemistry database filter, landuse evaluation, and analysis of aerial photographs. In the Northeast, we assembled a database of 2109 lakes >4 ha in surface area, of which 369 passed the water-chemistry screen. Of these, 220 failed the watershed landuse screen and 60 failed the aerial photograph screen, leaving a set of 89 optimal candidate reference lakes. Tw...

The Chaitén rhyolite lava dome: Eruption sequence, lava dome volumes, rapid effusion rates and source of the rhyolite magma

We use geologic field mapping and sampling, photogrammetric analysis of oblique aerial photographs, and digital elevation models to document the 2008-2009 eruptive sequence at Chaiten Volcano and to estimate volumes and effusion rates for the lava dome. We also present geochemical and petrologic data that contribute to understanding the source of the rhyolite and its unusually rapid effusion rates. The eruption consisted of five major phases: 1. An explosive phase (1-11 May 2008); 2. A transitional phase (11-31 May 2008) in which low-altitude tephra columns and simultaneous lava extrusion took place; 3. An exogenous lava flow phase (June-September 2008); 4. A spine extrusion and endogenous growth phase (October 2008-February 2009); and 5. A mainly endogenous growth phase that began after the collapse of a prominent Peleean spine on 19 February 2009 and continued until the end of the eruption (late 2009 or possibly earliest 2010). The 2008-2009 rhyolite lava dome has a total volume of approximately 0.8 km3. The effusion rate averaged 66 m3s-1 during the first two weeks and averaged 45 m3s-1 for the first four months of the eruption, during which 0.5 km3 of rhyolite lava was erupted. These are among the highest rates measured world-wide for historical eruptions of silicic lava. Chaiten’s 2008-2009 lava is phenocryst-poor obsidian and microcrystalline rhyolite with 75.3±0.3% SiO2. The lava was erupted at relatively high temperature and is remarkably similar in composition and petrography to Chaiten’s pre-historic rhyolite. The rhyolite’s normative composition plots close to that of low pressure (100-200 MPa) minimum melts in the granite system, consistent with estimates of approximately 5 to 10 km source depths based on phase equilibria and geodetic studies. Calcic plagioclase, magnesian orthopyroxene and aluminous amphibole among the sparse phenocrysts suggest derivation of the rhyolite by melt extraction from a more mafic magmatic mush. High temperature and relatively low viscosity enabled rapid magma ascent and high effusion rates during the dome-forming phases of the 2008-2009 eruption.

Social laterality in wild beluga whale infants: comparisons between locations, escort conditions, and ages

One of the important aspects of the animal social behavior is the laterality in perception of conspecifics. Spatial laterality in adult–infant interactions is usually revealed in primates as a cradling/holding bias in adults or nipple preference in infants. The origin and function of such biases, however, remain unclear. Here, we investigated spatial laterality in adult–infant pairs in beluga whales from two geographically distinct locations using aerial photography analysis. In addition, behavioral observations on individually identified mother–infant pairs at a belugas’ breeding aggregation were conducted to assess the infants’ age influence on the lateralization in pairs. A general preference of the calves to position themselves to the right of the accompanied adult was found. We failed to reveal any influence of geographical location, presence or relative position of other individuals escorting the adult–infant pair, and position of the calf along the body of the escorting adult. A significant right-sided bias in infants’ position was present in all age classes, but 2–6 months-old belugas were found to be stronger lateralized, than the newborns and 7–18 months-old calves. That may reflect age-related changes in infants’ motor and social behavior. We argue that the revealed laterality is associated with the calves’ left eye–right hemisphere preference in perceiving social stimuli, and we then discuss its possible advantages. Pronounced adult–infant spatial laterality in condition (unlike that seen in primates) when forelimbs do not directly determine subjects’ relative positioning suggests sensory lateralization alone to be the determining factor.