EAASI companies: Phase One
Categories: Disaster response
Project Overview
In December 2023, the Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH) initiated a major project on the Reykjanes peninsula to address critical volcanic hazards. Following the fissure eruption near Grindavík, the IINH’s photogrammetry lab took on a key role, monitoring active lava flows and environmental changes. With more than 4,000 displaced residents, the primary objective was to map and quantify volcanic impact, aiding civil protection and informing disaster preparedness for Iceland’s ever-evolving terrain.
Photo credit: Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH)
Survey Approach
The IINH team chose high-resolution crewed aerial surveys to capture Iceland’s active landscape swiftly and accurately, focusing on digital elevation models (DEMs), orthoimages, and 3D mesh models for precise visualization. The use of medium-format cameras on fixed-wing aircraft enabled extensive coverage in a relatively short time frame, ideal for tracking fast-moving lava flows and evolving landscapes. This choice was strategic: aircraft fly at altitudes above other airspace activity, avoiding congestion with drones and minimizing operational risks in volatile areas.
Technical Solution
The aerial data collection utilized the PAS system developed by Phase One, which integrates a high-resolution camera within a stabilizer to counteract the effects of turbulence and achieve consistent image clarity. The system features high-precision GNSS and inertial measurement units to ensure positional accuracy. During the missions, the stabilized PAS setup was critical for generating DEMs with exacting accuracy, supporting in-depth analyses of lava effusion rates and landscape changes. The solution’s efficiency in image capture and in-flight data processing meant that high-quality, actionable geospatial data was available to authorities in near real-time.
For post-processing, DEMs captured at different times were compared to detect subsurface movements, such as inflation or deflation beneath hardened lava crusts, revealing potential hazards. Furthermore, the automatic stabilization and structured overlap enabled a streamlined workflow that minimized the need for extensive manual post-processing.
Photo credit: Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH)
Impact and Future Applications
The timely data from this project provided civil protection agencies with essential, up-to-date insights to inform immediate hazard responses and help displaced communities plan for reoccupation. By offering precise visual data, the IINH’s photogrammetry team has highlighted the essential role of crewed aerial surveys in geohazard analysis, a capability that will now extend beyond volcanic monitoring to cover landslides, glacier surveillance, and flood risk management.
Photo credit: Icelandic Institute of Natural History (IINH)
Upcoming initiatives include monitoring glaciers affected by geothermal anomalies—pivotal for predicting subglacial volcanic activity and mitigating potential hazards like glacial floods.
A longer version of this case study can be found in the article Exploring the Impact of Crewed Aerial Surveying on Iceland's Volcanic Landscape on Geo Week News
Learn more about how other EAASI members utilize crewed aerial technology to address global challenges in our Use Cases series, a dedicated section showcasing real-world applications, and achievements by EAASI’s diverse members.
This collection of use cases highlights the unique advantages and capabilities of crewed aerial surveying in various fields, from environmental monitoring to infrastructure planning.
Each success story presents a featured project by an EAASI member, illustrating how their expertise and technology drive impactful solutions. From collecting high-resolution aerial imagery to leveraging AI for advanced data analysis, these stories emphasize the value of crewed aerial technology for accurate, large-scale geospatial data.
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