Geodetic Applications to Geomorphology

Technological developments in the last few decades allow generation of increasingly high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), useful in many fields of Earth and environmental science, and especially for tectonic geomorphic studies. Combined with falling costs and the improved accuracy of geo-referencing using satellite geodetic tools based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Global Positioning System (GPS), these developments have moved DEMs from the realm of computer equivalents of a topographic map to sophisticated tools for process understanding. Four techniques for the production of high-resolution DEMs are notable: light detection and ranging (LIDAR), interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), terrestrial radar interferometry (TRI), and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. With the exception of TRI, restricted to ground-mounted platforms, the instrumentation can be hosted on satellites, piloted aircraft, or Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Calibration with GNSS enables merging, or comparison of data sets acquired by different techniques, as well as change detection at the centimeter level.