Monitoring of playa Caldera and coastal structures with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

Abstract

The monitoring of costal structures is required to verify that they are operating properly, to assess potential for functional and structural damage, and to correlate processes that are not contemplated in the original designs. Digital camera technology advances in combination with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) can be used to obtain survey data using photogrammetric techniques in a precise and effective way. This approach yields high productivity in comparison with traditional methods, such as using total stations, and carries lower operational costs than LIDAR, conserving data quality. Correlation of physical processes and changes in interaction with natural and artificial costal structures is important due to information provided. These data can be use in future circumstances to anticipate damages and changes. The current study determined the effect on the principal breakwater at Caldera Port and beach, caused by a storm. Included herein are a brief description of the UAV photogrammetric methods, the study area, the data acquisition and the limitation of these techniques. Results of the study and concluding remarks have been included as well.