Jul 2026· ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences· Vol XI-M-1-2026, pp. 47-53· 0 citations· 1 references
Abstract
Abstract. This study presents a high-resolution geomorphological analysis of river terraces along the urban corridor of the La Silla River (Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico) using UAV-based LiDAR and photogrammetry, with a DJI Matrice 350 RTK equipped with a Zenmuse L2 sensor, generating dense point clouds, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and orthomosaics. These products allowed for the precise identification of three terrace levels (T1-T3), their geomorphometric attributes, and their lithological composition. The results reveal contrasting degrees of anthropogenic modification: while terrace 1 retains its natural morphology, terraces 2 and 3 show substantial alterations due to residential expansion, public infrastructure, and road construction, which alter the original geomorphological surfaces. Temporal satellite images also show the sensitivity of terrace geomorphology to extreme hydrometeorological phenomena, with cyclones such as Hanna (2020) and Alberto (2024) causing vegetation loss, surface restructuring, and local modification of terraces. Overall, UAV-LiDAR proved to be very effective for mapping terraces in restricted urban environments, providing essential details for monitoring, risk assessment, and sustainable management of urban rivers.
Abstract. Mining is a strategic driver of economic development, yet it generates substantial impacts on landscape structure, soil integrity, and water systems. During ecological restoration, slope erosion remains a critical challenge for ensuring long-term geomorphological stability and ecosystem recovery. This study evaluates erosion dynamics on restored mining slopes by integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for high-resolution terrain monitoring and quantification of soil loss. Research was conducted at the Lázaro quarry (Tarragona, Spain) using a fixed-wing UAS equipped with a multispectral camera to produce detailed orthophotos and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), which were compared with historical LiDAR data. Height Difference Models (HDMs) and volumetric calculations were applied to quantify erosion and deposition. Statistical assessment included descriptive indicators, error metrics (ME, MAE, RMSE), distribution parameters (median, IQR, skewness), and spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I). Three modelling approaches were developed and compared: a ridge-derived DEM (DEMp), a filtered DEM (DEMf), and a LiDAR-based DEM (DEMl). Their performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy, spatial resolution, and capacity to represent erosional microtopography. Results indicate that DEMp provides the most reliable volume estimates and best preserves pre-erosion morphology. In contrast, DEMf smooths surface detail, whereas DEMl provides an overview representation due to its lower spatial resolution. Overall, the integration of UAS photogrammetry and geospatial analysis proves effective for monitoring restored slopes, supporting precise erosion quantification and improved environmental management toward long-term landscape stability.
Mónica López Moncada, Joan-Cristian Padró, Vicenç Carabassa et al.· The International Archives o...· 0 citations
Coastal plains are low-relief environments where subtle topographic variations govern sedimentary processes, landscape structure, and hydrological dynamics. Along the southeastern Brazilian coast, barrier–lagoon systems record Quaternary coastal evolution and sea-level oscillations; however, detailed mapping of these environments is constrained by the spatial resolution of conventional cartographic bases. This study presents high-resolution morphological mapping of the Maricá coastal plain (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) based on digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from UAV photogrammetry, combined with geomorphological interpretation following the IBGE classification framework. The DEM resolved subtle altimetric variations associated with beach ridges and relict lagoonal depressions not represented in conventional topographic maps, providing a surface proxy for the underlying stratigraphic architecture. UAV-derived elevation models significantly improve the identification of morphological units in low-relief coastal environments, establishing a spatial framework for future stratigraphic investigations along the southeastern Brazilian coast.
F. Dias, C. A. dos Santos, K. Macario et al.· Stratigraphy and Sedimentolo...· 0 citations
This study reconstructs and compares two major mid-20th-century geological maps of the tectonically complex Zabadani
area (at a 1:50,000 scale) to assess their spatial and lithologic consistency. Modern GIS workflows allow for scanning,
georeferencing, digitizing, and harmonizing using a unique historical sheet legend by Louis Dubertret and Vladimir
Ponikarov. The results of the overlay analysis show that spatial differences accounting for about 20% of the study area
are located along the fuzzy boundaries between the Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic sequences. While Dubertret’s
regional chronostratigraphic continuity, Ponikarov’s structural approach captures much more lithomechanical detail
and fault density. To address these inconsistencies, we applied zonal statistics on NASA’s EMIT Level 2B mineral-fraction
products (60 m resolution). Both maps show the regional carbonate platform. EMIT images show a diverse mineral
landscape at the subpixel scale, including halloysite, Clinochlore, hectorite, muscovite, and dickite. This hyperspectral
fingerprinting confirms Ponikarov’s more detailed stratigraphic subdivisions in a direct way. This integrated workflow
ultimately demonstrates that combining legacy cartography with advanced imaging spectroscopy effectively isolates
real ground-level mineralogical variations from cartographic artifacts, providing an empirical roadmap for future field
verification.
Jean Albert Doumit· Journal of Oil and Gas Resea...· 0 citations
This study evaluated a cost-effective UAV-based multi-sensor approach for characterizing river corridor conditions during and after moderate floods in two mountain river corridors in Northern Utah, USA: the Logan River and Blacksmith Fork River. These study reaches included urban, rural, and agricultural areas, hydraulic structures and bridges, and fish passage structures. A DJI Matrice 300 UAV was used with two separate payloads: an AgEagle Altum-PT multispectral camera and an R3 Pro V2 two-return LiDAR system. The workflow included UAV flight planning and data collection, post-processing of the multi-spectral and LiDAR sensor data, spatial resolution and accuracy assessment, and interpretation of the resultant data. The multi-spectral post-processing produced pansharpened orthomosaics with a spatial resolution of 0.0432 m, while the UAV LiDAR produced DSM/DTM products at 0.05 m resolution. LiDAR accuracy assessment showed vertical RMSE values of approximately 0.0602 m for the Blacksmith Fork and 0.0782 m for the Logan River. The results showed that multispectral imagery and 2-band LiDAR provided a cost-effective means for detailed remote sensing with each sensor providing complementary information for flood and river corridor assessment. Multispectral imagery supported interpretation of flood extent, vegetation condition, relative turbidity, and thermal patterns, while LiDAR captured terrain and surface features such as banks, levees, floodplain surfaces, channel modifications, and structures. The integrated datasets supported maximum flood extent mapping and flood-level estimation. These datasets can support reach-scale hydraulic modeling, catchment hydrology, river corridor ecology, floodplain conditions, and real-time monitoring of floods, in addition to quantification of flood hazards or post-flood impacts for municipalities and insurers.
Ishwar Joshi, I. Gowing, B. Crookston· Water· 0 citations
Rock glaciers are critical indicators of periglacial environments and the spatial distribution of mountain permafrost. Given their complex deformation patterns and temporal variability, which may indicate progressive destabilization, a quantitative evaluation of their kinematic activity is critical from both climatological and geohazard perspectives. This study applies Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) to Sentinel-1 radar imagery on both ascending and descending orbits, in order to detect and map moving areas (MA) within the Pirin Mountains (Bulgaria). The primary objective of this study is to update the existing rock glacier inventory (RoGI) by integrating high-resolution Line-of-Sight (LOS) velocity data in accordance with the latest international standards established by the Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematics (RGIK) standing committee. A secondary objective is to investigate the spatial relationships between the identified moving areas (MAs) and other surrounding geomorphological features (e.g., talus slopes), hence providing a wider context for slope dynamics and landform evolution. The results identified MAs with PSInSAR-derived Line-of-Sight (LOS) velocities reaching up to 10 cm yr−1, which were subsequently classified according to RGIK kinematic categories. A substantial proportion of the detected moving areas occur outside mapped rock glacier boundaries and may reflect a range of geomorphological processes, including permafrost-related creep, talus creep, or other forms of slope deformation. The LOS velocity data were used to assess the activity status of 74 rock glacier units within the regional inventory, classifying 8 as transitional (velocity exceeding 1 cm yr−1) and 66 as relict. Furthermore, we analyse the spatial distribution of these moving areas in relation to primary topographic variables, such as elevation, aspect, and slope. The results highlight the influence of topographic control factors and rock glacier dynamics and provide new insights into the distribution of active periglacial landforms and terrain potentially affected by permafrost in the Balkan Peninsula under changing climatic conditions.
Flavius Sîrbu, V. Poncos, T. Strozzi et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
This study presents a multidisciplinary investigation of the fluvial evolution of the northern meander of the Calore River at Cellarulo locality, near Benevento (southern Italy). The research integrates archaeological evidence, geological and geomorphological data, historical cartography, remote sensing imagery and geophysical surveys in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Multi-temporal analysis of historical maps, aerial photographs and satellite images from 1824 to 2022 allowed the reconstruction of channel migration patterns and the identification of abandoned meanders and paleochannel traces. Stratigraphic data derived from boreholes revealed the presence of a channel of the Calore River dated at least in the Bronze Age (3900 years ago), abandoned in the nineteenth century. Geoelectrical investigations provided detailed information on subsurface resistivity anomalies, highlighting the presence of buried structures and possible ancient anthropogenic features located at shallow depths between 1 and 1.5 m. The combined interpretation of geomorphological, archaeological and geophysical data demonstrates significant data on the unveiling of an ancient river channel and its abandonment during the last 150 years, suggesting a strong interaction between natural fluvial dynamics and human occupation. The results confirm the effectiveness of an integrated multidisciplinary approach for reconstructing fluvial landscape evolution and for identifying buried archaeological and geomorphological features in complex floodplain environments.
V. Amato, M. Cozzolino, V. Gentile et al.· Remote Sensing· 0 citations
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