Topographic structure from motion: a new development in photogrammetric measurement

ABSTRACT The production of topographic datasets is of increasing interest and application throughout the geomorphic sciences, and river science is no exception. Consequently, a wide range of topographic measurement methods have evolved. Despite the range of available methods, the production of high resolution, high quality digital elevation models (DEMs) requires a significant investment in personnel time, hardware and/or software. However, image‐based methods such as digital photogrammetry have been decreasing in costs. Developed for the purpose of rapid, inexpensive and easy three‐dimensional surveys of buildings or small objects, the ‘structure from motion’ photogrammetric approach (SfM) is an image‐based…