A Novel Platform and Workflow for Underwater Photogrammetry Surveys

Abstract

Underwater photogrammetry has gained popularity for creating three-dimensional (3D) maps and ortho-images of marine environments as compared to traditional echosounder surveys, they can be more cost-effective at creating high-resolution 3D models, and orthoimages are usually more informative than acoustic backscatter maps. This paper builds on previous work by the authors that developed an underwater image-capturing platform with several additional sensors, including GNSS, IMU, pressure depth sensor and single beam echosounder. This study aims to analyse the impact of calibration and sensor data integration into the photogrammetric processing workflow. The tests were performed using two underwater sites. The low-cost device's pressure sensor and tide station data outperform GNSS PPK-derived heights. Furthermore, it was observed that incorporating IMU motion sensor data did not improve the processing results. Additionally, utilising the echosounder point cloud proves valuable for enhancing the overall quality of the survey. Despite its lower density, it serves a dual purpose by validating the photogrammetry dataset and, more importantly, can be employed for correcting DSM height. This study further underlined the importance of reliable camera calibration for accurate 3D reconstruction.