Item: UAV Borne Laser Scanning of Snow Surfaces
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Title: UAV Borne Laser Scanning of Snow Surfaces
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Alexander Prokop [ UNIS, The University Center in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway ] [ Snow Scan GmbH, Vienna, Austria ]
- Florian Singer [ Snow Scan GmbH, Vienna, Austria ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: In snow and avalanche research, different methods are used increasingly to efficiently and accurately map snow surfaces and depths over an area of several km2. In this study we assessed the capability of UAV borne laser scanning to accurately map snow surfaces in alpine terrain. To do so we used the Riegl VUX-1 laser scanner in combination with the RiCopter UAV in high mountain environments. We compared the collected data to measurements simultaneously done with the terrestrial laser scanner Riegl VZ-6000. While providing the well known advantages of laser scanning over alternative methods, such as night time or flat light data acquisition and vegetation filtering using multiple returns per pulse, the UAV carrier allows for favorable angle of incidence in flat terrain and the possibility to avoid measurement shadows behind obstacles compared to terrestrial approaches. We present the results of a measurement campaign in Lech am Arlberg, Austrian Alps, from winter 2015, where we achieved an accuracy of the UAV measurement in comparison to terrestrial laser scanning in the range of 3 cm (average) and max. deviations of 10 cm. We also discuss technical details of data acquisition such as flight altitude being 300 m above ground to still get useful results with the used laser and possible flight durations in high altitude and cold environments currently not more than 10 min. Overall we can conclude that UAV borne laser scanning presents a useful alternative to existing methods for spatial snow surface/depth mapping and can be applied under certain measurement conditions.
Object ID: ISSW16_O9.03.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: snow depth mapping, laser scanning, UAV, UAS
Page Number(s): 213-217
Subjects: snow depth laser scanning Lidar
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