Measuring coral reef terrain roughness using ‘Structure-from-Motion’ close-range photogrammetry

Javier X Leon; Chris M Roelfsema; Megan I Saunders; Stuart R Phinn

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.01.030

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Measuring coral reef terrain roughness using ‘Structure-from-Motion’ close-range photogrammetry

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Measuring coral reef terrain roughness using ‘Structure-from-Motion’ close-range photogrammetry

Javier X Leon, Chris M Roelfsema, Megan I Saunders and Stuart R Phinn

Geomorphology, Vol.242, pp.21-28

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.01.030

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Abstract

Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

Geology

structure-from-motion (SfM)

Agisoft photoscan

rugosity

fractal dimension

coral reef

Heron Reef

Our understanding of Earth surface processes is rapidly advancing as new remote sensing technologies such as LiDAR and close-range digital photogrammetry become more accessible and affordable. A very-high spatial resolution digital terrain model (DTM) and orthophoto mosaic (mm scale) were produced using close-range digital photogrammetry based on 'Structure-from-Motion' (SfM) algorithms for a 250 m transect along a shallow coral reef flat on Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef. The precise terrain data were used to characterise surface roughness, a critical factor affecting ecological and physical processes on the reef. Three roughness parameters, namely the root mean square height, tortuosity (or rugosity) and fractal dimension, were derived and compared in order to asses which one better characterises reef flat roughness. The typical relief across the shallow reef flat was 0.1 m with a maximum value of 0.42 m. Coral reef terrain roughness, as characterised by the three chosen parameters, generally increased towards the middle of the transect where live coral covers most of the reef flat and decreases towards the edges of the transect. The fractal dimension (values ranging from 2.2 to 2.59) best characterised reef roughness, as evidenced by a closer agreement with the distribution of known coral benthic substrates. This is the first study quantifying scale-independent roughness of a coral reef at benthic and biotope/patch levels (cm-m). The readily available and cost-effective methods presented are highly appropriate for data collection, processing and analysis to generate very-high spatial resolution DTMs and orthophoto mosaics of shallow and energetic coral reefs.

Details

Title: Measuring coral reef terrain roughness using ‘Structure-from-Motion’ close-range photogrammetry
Authors: Javier X Leon (Author) - University of Queensland
Chris M Roelfsema (Author) - University of Queensland
Megan I Saunders (Author) - University of Queensland
Stuart R Phinn (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Geomorphology, Vol.242, pp.21-28
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.01.030
ISSN: 0169-555X
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449235302621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

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