Photogrammetric suite to manage the survey workflow in challenging environments and conditions

The present work is intended in providing new and innovative instruments to support the photogrammetric survey workflow during all its phases. A suite of tools has been conceived in order to manage the planning, the acquisition, the post-processing and the restitution steps, with particular attention to the rigorousness of the approach and to the final precision. The main focus of the research has been the implementation of the tool MAGO, standing for Adaptive Mesh for Orthophoto Generation. Its novelty consists in the possibility to automatically reconstruct \u201cunrolled\u201d orthophotos of adjacent fa\ue7ades of a building using the point cloud, instead of the mesh, as input source for the orthophoto reconstruction. The second tool has been conceived as a photogrammetric procedure based on Bundle Block Adjustment. The same issue is analysed from two mirrored perspectives: on the one hand, the use of moving cameras in a static scenario in order to manage real-time indoor navigation; on the other hand, the use of static cameras in a moving scenario in order to achieve the simultaneously reconstruction of the 3D model of the changing object. A third tool named U.Ph.O., standing for Unmanned Photogrammetric Office, has been integrated with a new module. The general aim is on the one hand to plan the photogrammetric survey considering the expected precision, computed on the basis of a network simulation, and on the other hand to check if the achieved survey has been collected compatibly with the planned conditions. The provided integration concerns the treatment of surfaces with a generic orientation further than the ones with a planimetric development. After a brief introduction, a general description about the photogrammetric principles is given in the first chapter of the dissertation; a chapter follows about the parallelism between Photogrammetry and Computer Vision and the contribution of this last in the development of the described tools. The third chapter specifically regards, indeed, the implemented software and tools, while the fourth contains the training test and the validation. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives are reported

Innovations in geomatics teaching during the COVID-19 emergency

The approach in the teaching process is changing, thanks to the increased awareness that a higher students\u2019 involvement leads to a better quality of their learning. The aim is to make the students more participative, avoiding a unidirectional lesson and encouraging their wish to keep updated on the course advancements. However, innovative teaching methodologies are not yet widespread, mainly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. At the University of Genoa, the experimentation of innovative teaching techniques has been significant and worthy especially because it was planned before the COVID-19 emergency and applied in the scenario of forced remote teaching. Thanks to the introduc- tion of novel technological instruments, several techniques have been exploited to realize interactive lessons and promoting students\u2019 involvement. The present work discloses the employed techniques and frames them within the state of the art of innovative teaching, highlighting their contribution in the teaching activities related to the Geomatics field of knowledge. The acquired experiences in Geomatics dissemination and a critical analysis, including teachers\u2019 and students\u2019 perception about the tested innovative teaching/learning tools, are also reported. In general, the innovations introduced in teaching and learning processes during the COVID-19 sanitary emergency were warmly received by the entire community, including teachers, students, and teaching assistants

ORTOFOTO AD ALTA RISOLUZIONE PER INDIVIDUAZIONE DI LESIONI STRUTTURALI CON \u201cMAGO\u201d

ITA Il presente lavoro ha l\u2019obiettivo di illustrare un metodo innovativo per la generazione di ortofoto, identificato dall\u2019acronimo MAGO (Mesh Adattiva per la Generazione di Ortofoto) ed implementato in ambiente C++. Gli elementi di novit\ue0 apportati da questo nuovo approccio consentono di superare alcune problematiche tipicamente riscontrabili nell\u2019applicazione di tecniche esistenti. In particolare, i vantaggi di MAGO riguardano: (1) la possibilit\ue0 di ottenere un\u2019ortofoto alla risoluzione del GSD (Ground Sample Distance), corrispondente alla dimensione del pixel immagine originale; (2) la creazione di una mesh adattiva triangolare, generata a partire dalla nuvola di punti, in grado di rappresentare nel dettaglio la superficie dell\u2019oggetto di interesse, da proiettare sul piano dell\u2019ortofoto. La procedura \ue8 stata applicata al caso studio di un ponte stradale in muratura situato in provincia di Genova, per verificare le sue potenzialit\ue0 nello studio dello stato fessurativo dell\u2019arcata di valle. Una porzione della lesione maggiormente estesa \ue8 stata infatti restituita mediante due ortofoto ad alta risoluzione, generate a partire da nuvole di punti derivanti da rilievo fotogrammetrico e laser scanner. Infine, gli output sono stati analizzati e confrontati sulla base della qualit\ue0 metrica finale e della fruibilit\ue0. ENG The present work aims to show an innovative method for the orthophoto generation, identified with the acronym MAGO (Adaptive Mesh for Orthophoto Generation) and implemented in C++ environment. The innovations produced by this new approach allow to overcome some problems typically observable in the application of the existing techniques. In particular, MAGO strength points are: (1) the possibility to obtain an orthophoto with the GSD (Ground Sample Distance) resolution, corresponding to the dimension of the pixel of the original image; (2) the creation of a triangular adaptive mesh, generated from the point cloud, able to represent the object of interest surface, which is projected on the orthophoto plan, in a detailed way. The procedure has been applied to the case study of a masonry road bridge in the district of Genoa, to verify its potential in the study concerning the cracking state of the downstream arch. A portion of the wider crack is reproduced by means of high resolution orthophotos, generated starting from photogrammetric and laser scanner cloud points. Finally, the outputs are analyzed and compared, on the basis of the final metrical quality and the user-friendliness

Il contributo della geomatica per lo studio e il censimento delle fortificazioni, l'analisi spaziale e l'inquadramento cartografico

Le competenze geomatiche, espresse mediante tecniche fotogrammetriche integrate, rappresentano uno strumento essenziale per un approccio interdiscipinare allo studio del patrimonio culturale, volto alla sua conoscenza geometricamente e tematicamente corretta.Geomatic skills, expressed through integrated photogrammetric techniques, represent an essential tool for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of cultural heritage, aimed at its geometrically and thematically correct knowledge

Analysis of historical evolution and present state of conservation of Regio VII, Insula 14 in Pompeii

The present work is intended to provide preliminary results about the ongoing collaboration in the study of a site located in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, the Regio VII, Insula 14. The research group include expert in archaeology, geomatics and structural engineering disciplines belonging to the University of Genoa. The aim of this cooperative work is twofold: on the one hand, to deepen the designated use that rooms had in the past and their spatial layout, examining the surviving hints about what is no longer visible; on the other hand, to analyse the state-of-the-art in terms of structural behaviour, checking the eventual necessity of urgent retrofitting interventions. In this scenario, there is the necessity of a high quality surveying, geometrically and thematically reliable, in order to allow further studies basing on the 3D representation of the entire "insula" and 2D projection of each wall. A description of the site of interest is reported, then information about the survey campaign performed in September 2020 employing Photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), Total Station (TS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques follows. A brief excursus about the survey operations and the ongoing post-processing is shown, with a mention to the expectations about the final results

Multi-Platforms and Multi-Sensors Integrated Survey for the Submerged and Emerged Areas

none7noIn this paper, the state-of-the-art concerning new methodologies for surveying in coastal areas in order to obtain an efficient quantification of submerged and emerged environments is described and evaluated. This work integrates an interdisciplinary approach involving both geomatics and robotics and focuses on definition, implementation, and development of a methodology to execute integrated aerial and underwater survey campaigns in shallow water areas. A preliminary test was performed at Gorzente Lakes near Genoa (Italy), to develop and integrate different survey techniques, enabling working in a smarter way, reducing costs and increasing safety for the operators. In this context, Remote Sensing techniques were integrated with a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) carrying an aerial optical sensor for photogrammetry and with an ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) expressly addressed to work in extremely shallow water with underwater acoustic sensors (single echo sounder). The obtained continuous seamless DSM (Digital Surface Model) for the entire environment was reconstructed by the combination of different sensing systems by limiting reliance on the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) support. The obtained DSM was displayed in a 3D model leading to the evaluation of the water flow volume and rendering of 3D visualization.openAli Alakbar Karaki, Marco Bibuli, Massimo Caccia, Ilaria Ferrando, Sara Gagliolo, Angelo Odetti, Domenico SguersoKaraki, ALI ALAKBAR; Bibuli, Marco; Caccia, Massimo; Ferrando, Ilaria; Gagliolo, Sara; Odetti, Angelo; Sguerso, Domenic

Correction to: Educational Experiences for Geomatics Scientific Dissemination

The present work aims to illustrate the experience in geomatic dissemination, gained by actively participating and contributing to seminars, lectures and educational workshops, applying both traditional and innovative teaching methods. The main focus is on two educational workshops: one on altitude, its measurement techniques, issues and the evolution of the instrumentation employed; the second on photogrammetry applied to various environments and scenarios, such as securing buildings and ruins in emergencies or underwater analyses, mapping and surveying of coral reefs. In both workshops, the authors begin by capturing the attention with simple examples of every-day experiences related to the workshop’s main theme, then give explanations using posters, videos, simple games and practical experiences that can improve understanding. The authors scientific dissemination highlights the concrete application of Geomatics in every-day life and enhances the audience emotional involvement. The workshops’ main goal is to stimulate the audience curiosity to understand the basic concepts, starting from intuitive considerations and questions from the audience itself. This allows the introduction of the main concepts of Geomatics and highlights its full potential. Keywords: Scientific dissemination Didactic experiThe present work aims to illustrate the experience in geomatic dissemination, gained by actively participating and contributing to seminars, lectures and educational workshops, applying both traditional and innovative teaching methods. The main focus is on two educational workshops: one on altitude, its measurement techniques, issues and the evolution of the instrumentation employed; the second on photogrammetry applied to various environments and scenarios, such as securing buildings and ruins in emergencies or underwater analyses, mapping and surveying of coral reefs. In both workshops, the authors begin by capturing the attention with simple examples of every-day experiences related to the workshop’s main theme, then give explanations using posters, videos, simple games and practical experiences that can improve understanding. The authors scientific dissemination highlights the concrete application of Geomatics in every-day life and enhances the audience emotional involvement. The workshops’ main goal is to stimulate the audience curiosity to understand the basic concepts, starting from intuitive considerations and questions from the audience itself. This allows the introduction of the main concepts of Geomatics and highlights its full potential

Evaluation of the laser response of Leica Nova multistation MS60 for 3D modelling and structural monitoring

The use of Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) is quite common for architectural surveys, however it requires to arrange special targets on the scanned object and to acquire several overlapping scans, which have to be aligned and edited externally. Recently, Leica released on the market a new kind of instrument, known as MultiStation (MS). It includes both the main characteristics of a TLS and of a Total Station (TS), meaning that no targets are required for the scan alignment, since the whole survey can be directly georeferenced. In this paper, some analyses about the use of this instrument for 3D modelling applications are discussed. First of all, the laser signal response is evaluated considering different materials, acquired using several combinations of distances and incidence angles. Then, the survey of the Casalbagliano Castle is presented and analyzed. All the performed tests show the great potentiality of the MS, allowing to reach accuracies of the order of few millimeters