Application of UAVs in geological research
In recent years, fast development of technology has enabled wide application of UAVs in different scientific and engineering fields. The potential of UAVs was recognized in geological research studies by Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology of the Croatian Geological Survey, which resulted in purchasing the first UAV in 2018. It was a fixed-wing UAV, senseFly eBee Plus. In the meantime, the Department also acquired multirotor UAVs, senseFly Albris and Parrot Anafi Thermal.
All the mentioned UAVs have been used in different projects in the Department, such as:
- landslide screening in case of intervention (example of a landslide in Hrvatska Kostajnica)
- landslide screening with the purpose of monitoring ground shifts over a longer time period
- elaboration of landslide cadastre in the areas of scarce vegetation (example – Kutina)
- determining crack systems in carbonate rocks (example – Kornati)
- defining denudation of badlands in Istria
- comparing different UAVs and sensors for monitoring denudation of badlands
- geological mapping based on provided by UAVs
- detection of submarine freshwater outflow using thermal footage
Data collected by UAVs are exceptionally useful, and in the field of geology they significantly complete and improve data collected by standard mapping methods. Additionally, there are a lot of challenges to overcome. Some of them are related to field screening process and others to processing, interpreting and using data.