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UAV-based photogrammetry for erosion monitoring
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UAV DJI Mavic 3E for erosion monitoring
UAV DJI Mavic 3E for erosion monitoring
Image source: Valletta © 2025 All rights reserved

Aerial photogrammetric survey aimed at determining soil erosion on existing trails and identifying unofficial paths due to trampling.

Key characteristics

Work step
Data collection
Data analysis
Tool purpose
Photo/Video Data
Spatial Data
Properties
Professional
Keywords
UAS
HUMANITA
Erosion
Soil
Tourist
Photogrammetry
Trampling

Tool description

Drone-based photogrammetry for erosion monitoring uses Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) equipped with high-resolution cameras to generate orthophotos and 3D surface models (DSM/DTM) of trail networks and surrounding terrain. In protected areas, this technique allows the quantification of soil erosion processes, detection of trail widening, incision, and the identification of informal or newly created paths not included in official trail inventories. Repeated surveys enable change detection over time, supporting impact assessment of visitor pressure and the evaluation of mitigation measures.

Constraints

  • Legal and administrative restrictions on drone flights in protected areas.
  • Weather dependency (wind, rain, low light conditions).
  • Limited effectiveness under dense canopy cover.
  • Need for ground control points to achieve high positional accuracy.
  • Data processing can be time-consuming and computationally demanding.

Requirements

  • Licensed drone pilot and authorization from authorities
  • UAS platform with sufficient spatial resolution and flight stability
  • Ground control points or RTK positioning for accurate georeferencing
  • Photogrammetric processing software and trained personnel
  • Data storage and backup capacity for large datasets

Tool Impact

Drone-based photogrammetry can cause temporary disturbance to wildlife, particularly birds and other fauna sensitive to noise and aerial presence. Repeated flights or operations during sensitive periods (e.g. breeding or nesting seasons) may increase stress or avoidance behavior in affected species. Inappropriate flight planning may also increase disturbance over areas outside the intended monitoring targets.

Best Practices

  • Within the Interreg CE project HUMANITA, UAV-based photogrammetry was applied to document and monitor erosion processes in selected pilot areas. At the Kamenjak pilot site, the University of Parma implemented a monitoring program to detect the formation of informal (wild) trails and soil fragmentation in protected dry grasslands. Repeated UAV surveys will enable the identification and spatial documentation of emerging paths and progressive surface degradation. The generated orthophotos and 3D surface models provide a detailed basis for assessing the development and expansion of wild trails over time, supporting targeted management interventions and conservation planning.

Helpful hints to use the tool proficiently

  • It is strongly advised to create a flight plan for the area of interest, in order to use it for multiple surveys in the same area to ensure consistent data acquisition across monitoring campaigns.
  • Depending on the specific objective of the monitoring activity, the flight altitude can be adapted to survey wide areas (more indicated for heavy erosion processes and trampling detection) or focused on a linear trail.
  • If high accuracy is required, consider the integration of a GNSS receiver on the UAS, and the use of a RTK antenna to improve the survey reliability.
  • If the area of interest is densely vegetated (e.g., survey of a trail under trees canopy), verify the presence of proximity sensors on the UAS and set them accordingly to avoid crashes when flying through narrow paths.

Specification

Category Device / Key
Properties
Sensor
Small/light
Range
airborne
medium range (several km)
local

Linked tools

Category Tool title and description
Study object
Study focus
Work step
Tool purpose
 Classic Professional Free to use Experimental
Backpack 360° panoramic camera for erosion monitoring

Mobile ground-based spherical imaging performed with a 360° photogrammetric sensor carried by an operator along a selected trail to map the terrain.
Backpack LiDAR scanner for erosion monitoring

Mobile ground-based LiDAR system for high-resolution 3D mapping of terrain and small-scale surface changes.
UAV-based LiDAR scanning for erosion monitoring

UAV-based LiDAR scanning for erosion monitoring enables detailed, high-resolution mapping of terrain changes over time. It allows accurate detection and quantification of erosion processes across large areas without the need for extensive field surveys.
Unmanned aerial system (UAS)

UAS are flying devices that carry different camera or sensor types for aerial photographs and atmospheric measurements.

Gallery

Images

DJI RTK antenna
Image source: Valletta © 2025 All rights reserved

Legend

Study objects

Microbiota
Humans
Animals
Vegetation, Funghi & Lichen
Habitats

Study focus

Anthropogenic factors and impacts
Biodiversity (Species populations and Community Composition)
Ecosystem State, Structure and Functioning

Work steps

Presentation
Data collection
Plot establishment
Data analysis
Data archiving

Tool categories

TBD
Device
Software
Manual / Guideline / Framework

Tool purposes

Spatial Data
Numeric and Alphanumeric Data
Audio Data
Genetic Data
Photo/Video Data
Non Data generative
Chemical Compound Data