3D Modelling and Measuring Dam System of a Pellucid Tufa Lake Using UAV Digital Photogrammetry

A novel approach using UAV digital photogrammetry successfully captured the complete 3D morphology of a tufa dam system, including both above-water and submerged components, overcoming previous limitations in measuring underwater structures. This study, conducted at Wolong Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley, China, combined refraction correction for underwater DEM retrieval with ground interpolation to eliminate vegetation obstructions. The resulting high-precision 3D models enabled accurate measurement of dam dimensions along the lake's centerlines and provided insights into the formation and development of tufa dams through hydrodynamic analysis. This method offers a scalable solution for studying similar fluvial tufa landscapes, advancing our understanding of their geological processes.

Zhang, X., Zhou, G., He, J., & Lin, J. (2024). 3D Modelling and Measuring Dam System of a Pellucid Tufa Lake Using UAV Digital Photogrammetry. Remote Sensing, 16(20), 3839. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203839