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Detecting change in coral reef 3D structure using underwater photogrammetry: critical issues and performance metrics

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Abstract

This paper presents a multi-temporal underwater photogrammetric survey of a reef patch located in Moorea, French Polynesia, designed to detect a coral growth of 10–15 mm/year. Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry and underwater imagery allows the three-dimensional quantification of reef structural complexity and ecologically relevant characteristics at the patch scale. A high degree of accuracy and fine resolution are required in order to guarantee the repeatability of surveys over time within the same reference system, meaning a proper geodetic network and acquisition scheme are mandatory. Measuring tools and reference points were properly designed in order to constrain the photogrammetric reconstruction. The network adjustment, performed with distance and height difference observations, provided an average accuracy of ± 1.2 mm and ± 2.9 mm in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively. The final accuracies of photogrammetric reconstructions are on the order of 1 cm and few millimeters for the 2017 and 2018 monitoring campaigns, respectively. This results in realized errors in the comparison of about ± 1 cm. Coordinate variations larger than this magnitude can be reasonably interpreted as coral growth or dissolution. The direct comparison of the two subsequent point clouds is effective in order to evaluate trends in growth and perform morphometric analyses. For highly accurate quantitative assessment of local changes, an expert operator can create and analyze specific 2D profiles that are easily produced from the point clouds.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank R. J. Schmitt and S. J. Holbrook, UC Santa Barbara, as well as A. Gruen and M. Troyer, ETH Zurich, for their contributions to this project. We also would like to thank E. Nocerino and F. Neyer, ETH Zurich, for thoughtful discussions and advice on data processing. Research was completed under permits issued by the French Polynesian Government (Délégation à la Recherche) and the Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie Francaise (DTRT) (Protocole d’Accueil 2005–2018).

Funding

This work was partially supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 16-37396 (and earlier awards) as well as a generous gift from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Pietro Vivarelli 10, 41125, Modena, Italy

    P. Rossi, C. Castagnetti, A. Capra & F. Mancini

  2. Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-6150, USA

    A. J. Brooks

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  1. P. Rossi
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  2. C. Castagnetti
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  3. A. Capra
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Correspondence to P. Rossi.

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Rossi, P., Castagnetti, C., Capra, A. et al. Detecting change in coral reef 3D structure using underwater photogrammetry: critical issues and performance metrics. Appl Geomat 12 (Suppl 1), 3–17 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-019-00263-w

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