Ground stability and movement can represent a significant risk to developments, infrastructure, utilities and existing assets. These are often complex features which can occupy extensive areas and may be difficult to access on foot. UAV surveys provide a cost-effective and safe method for rapidly surveying areas of instability. Applications include:
- Landslide investigations
- Slope stability assessments
- Coastal erosion studies
- Embankment monitoring
- Earthwork inspections
- Cliff and escarpment assessments
- Monitoring of active ground movement
Using the RGB camera payload, a UAV survey can create highly detailed 2D and 3D orthomosaic models, providing an invaluable perspective of the area. UAS surveys with the LiDAR sensor can even capture data through dense vegetation to produce highly detailed Digital Terrain Models (DTM).
These models enable geologists and geotechnical engineers to identify the location of key geomorphological features, such as tension cracks, back scar, changes in slope gradient, bulging ground, slope creep etc. which may be difficult to observe and accurately record from ground level, as well as subtle indicators of instability that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Repeated surveys can be undertaken to monitor changes over time, providing valuable data for risk management and remediation planning.