Imaging of earthquake faults using small UAVs as a pathfinder for air and space observations

Andrea Donnellan; Joseph Green; Adnan Ansar; Joseph Aletky; Margaret Glasscoe; Yehuda Ben-Zion; J. Ramon Arrowsmith; Stephen B. DeLong

doi:10.1109/aero.2017.7943605

USGS · 70190212

Imaging of earthquake faults using small UAVs as a pathfinder for air and space observations

Andrea Donnellan·Joseph Green·Adnan Ansar·Joseph Aletky·Margaret Glasscoe·Yehuda Ben-Zion·J. Ramon Arrowsmith·Stephen B. DeLong

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Abstract

Large earthquakes cause billions of dollars in damage and extensive loss of life and property. Geodetic and topographic imaging provide measurements of transient and long-term crustal deformation needed to monitor fault zones and understand earthquakes. Earthquake-induced strain and rupture characteristics are expressed in topographic features imprinted on the landscapes of fault zones. Small UAVs provide an efficient and flexible means to collect multi-angle imagery to reconstruct fine scale fault zone topography and provide surrogate data to determine requirements for and to simulate future platforms for air- and space-based multi-angle imaging.

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Andrea Donnellan, Joseph Green, Adnan Ansar, Joseph Aletky, Margaret Glasscoe, Yehuda Ben-Zion, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Stephen B. DeLong. 2017. Imaging of earthquake faults using small UAVs as a pathfinder for air and space observations. https://doi.org/10.1109/aero.2017.7943605

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