Monitoring coastal morphology: the potential of low-cost fixed array action cameras for 3D reconstruction

Godfrey, Samantha, Cooper, James ORCID: 0000-0003-4957-2774, Bezombes, Frederic and Plater, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0001-7043-227X (2020) Monitoring coastal morphology: the potential of low-cost fixed array action cameras for 3D reconstruction EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, 45 (11). pp. 2478-2494. ISSN 0197-9337, 1096-9837

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Abstract

The combination of structure-from-motion with multi-view stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry has become an increasingly popular method for the monitoring and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of coastal environments. Climate change is driving the potential for increased coastal landward retreat meaning geomorphological monitoring using methods such as SfM-MVS has become essential for detecting and tracking impacts. SfM-MVS has been well-researched with a variety of platforms and spatial and temporal resolutions using mainly rectilinear digital cameras in coastal settings. However, there has been no assessment of the potential of fixed multi-camera arrays to monitor landward retreat or on the significance of camera placement in relation to the scene. This study presents an innovative method of image acquisition using a purpose-built camera grid and GoPro© action camera to evaluate the combined effects of camera height, obliqueness and overlap at a site of known landward retreat. This approach examines the effect of camera placement on scene reconstruction to aid the design of a multi-camera array. SfM-MVS dense point clouds display millimetre accuracy when compared to equivalent terrestrial laser scans and strong image network geometry with internal precision estimates of < 3 mm. Comparable point cloud reconstruction can be achieved with a small number of images stationed in appropriate positions. Initial results show as few as five images positioned at a cliff to camera ratio of 3:4.18 and camera obliqueness of 40° can provide reconstruction in the range of millimetres (mean error of 4.79 mm). These findings illustrate the importance of camera placement when using multiple cameras and aid the design of a low-cost, fixed multi-camera array for use at sites of small-scale landward retreat. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	action camera, coastal erosion, coastal monitoring, image optimization, structure-from-motion photogrammetry, 3D reconstruction
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 May 2020 10:36
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 07:29
DOI:	10.1002/esp.4892
Open Access URL:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/es...
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3086438
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