Assessment of Panorama Photogrammetry as a Tool for Long-Range Deformation Monitoring

Area of Science:

• Geodesy and Photogrammetry
• Geospatial Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional geodetic methods (EDMs, TSs) capture limited discrete points for deformation monitoring.
• Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) is suitable for mass 3D data but faces cost and technical limitations for long-range applications.
• Measuring restrictions, such as inaccessible objects and distances over 0.6 km, pose challenges for conventional monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate panorama photogrammetry (PPh) as a method for massive 3D information collection in long-range deformation monitoring.
• To assess PPh's effectiveness in areas with measuring restrictions, including inaccessible objects and distances > 0.6 km.
• To compare PPh's precision and cost-effectiveness against Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS).

Main Methods:

• Automated image capture using a GigaPan device from geodetic pillars.
• Processing of panoramic images to generate 3D point clouds.
• Rigorous comparison of PPh point clouds with TLS data within a high-accuracy geodetic reference frame.

Main Results:

• PPh and TLS achieved similar precision, within approximately 4 cm, for deformation monitoring at ranges of 0.6-1.0 km.
• The study was conducted in the controlled environment of La Muela, Cortes de Pallas.
• The integration of PPh and TLS into a geodetic reference frame facilitated accurate comparison.

Conclusions:

• Panorama photogrammetry presents a low-cost and user-friendly alternative to TLS for long-range deformation monitoring.
• PPh is effective for collecting massive 3D information in challenging environments with measuring restrictions.
• The findings support PPh as a practical solution for monitoring large-scale deformations over extended distances.