Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations
Detailed information on the spatiotemporal snow depth distribution is a crucial input for numerous applications in hydrology, climatology, ecology and avalanche research. Today, snow depth distribution is usually estimated by combining point measurements from weather stations or observers in the fie...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5f749ab6dff94b1c84d7f0997e56538c 2023-05-15T18:32:30+02:00 Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations Y. Bühler M. S. Adams R. Bösch A. Stoffel 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 https://doaj.org/article/5f749ab6dff94b1c84d7f0997e56538c EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/1075/2016/tc-10-1075-2016.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 https://doaj.org/article/5f749ab6dff94b1c84d7f0997e56538c The Cryosphere, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 1075-1088 (2016) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 2023-01-08T01:27:09Z Detailed information on the spatiotemporal snow depth distribution is a crucial input for numerous applications in hydrology, climatology, ecology and avalanche research. Today, snow depth distribution is usually estimated by combining point measurements from weather stations or observers in the field with spatial interpolation algorithms. However, even a dense measurement network like the one in Switzerland, with more than one measurement station per 10 km 2 on average, is not able to capture the large spatial variability of snow depth present in alpine terrain. Remote sensing methods, such as laser scanning or digital photogrammetry, have recently been successfully applied to map snow depth variability at local and regional scales. However, in most countries such data acquisition is costly if manned airplanes are involved. The effectiveness of ground-based measurements on the other hand is often hindered by occlusions, due to the complex terrain or acute viewing angles. In this paper, we investigate the application of unmanned aerial systems (UASs), in combination with structure-from-motion photogrammetry, to map snow depth distribution. Compared to manual measurements, such systems are relatively cost-effective and can be applied very flexibly to cover terrain not accessible from the ground. In this study, we map snow depth at two different locations: (a) a sheltered location at the bottom of the Flüela valley (1900 m a.s.l.) and (b) an exposed location on a peak (2500 m a.s.l.) in the ski resort Jakobshorn, both in the vicinity of Davos, Switzerland. At the first test site, we monitor the ablation on three different dates. We validate the photogrammetric snow depth maps using simultaneously acquired manual snow depth measurements. The resulting snow depth values have a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.07 to 0.15 m on meadows and rocks and a RMSE of less than 0.30 m on sections covered by bushes or tall grass, compared to manual probe measurements. This new measurement technology opens the door ... Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 10 3 1075 1088 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 Y. Bühler M. S. Adams R. Bösch A. Stoffel Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Detailed information on the spatiotemporal snow depth distribution is a crucial input for numerous applications in hydrology, climatology, ecology and avalanche research. Today, snow depth distribution is usually estimated by combining point measurements from weather stations or observers in the field with spatial interpolation algorithms. However, even a dense measurement network like the one in Switzerland, with more than one measurement station per 10 km 2 on average, is not able to capture the large spatial variability of snow depth present in alpine terrain. Remote sensing methods, such as laser scanning or digital photogrammetry, have recently been successfully applied to map snow depth variability at local and regional scales. However, in most countries such data acquisition is costly if manned airplanes are involved. The effectiveness of ground-based measurements on the other hand is often hindered by occlusions, due to the complex terrain or acute viewing angles. In this paper, we investigate the application of unmanned aerial systems (UASs), in combination with structure-from-motion photogrammetry, to map snow depth distribution. Compared to manual measurements, such systems are relatively cost-effective and can be applied very flexibly to cover terrain not accessible from the ground. In this study, we map snow depth at two different locations: (a) a sheltered location at the bottom of the Flüela valley (1900 m a.s.l.) and (b) an exposed location on a peak (2500 m a.s.l.) in the ski resort Jakobshorn, both in the vicinity of Davos, Switzerland. At the first test site, we monitor the ablation on three different dates. We validate the photogrammetric snow depth maps using simultaneously acquired manual snow depth measurements. The resulting snow depth values have a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.07 to 0.15 m on meadows and rocks and a RMSE of less than 0.30 m on sections covered by bushes or tall grass, compared to manual probe measurements. This new measurement technology opens the door ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Y. Bühler M. S. Adams R. Bösch A. Stoffel |
author_facet |
Y. Bühler M. S. Adams R. Bösch A. Stoffel |
author_sort |
Y. Bühler |
title |
Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
title_short |
Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
title_full |
Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
title_fullStr |
Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (UASs): potential and limitations |
title_sort |
mapping snow depth in alpine terrain with unmanned aerial systems (uass): potential and limitations |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 https://doaj.org/article/5f749ab6dff94b1c84d7f0997e56538c |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 10, Iss 3, Pp 1075-1088 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/1075/2016/tc-10-1075-2016.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 https://doaj.org/article/5f749ab6dff94b1c84d7f0997e56538c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1075-2016 |
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The Cryosphere |
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10 |
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1075 |
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1088 |
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