UAV assisted geological mapping: application to stratigraphy and structural survey

Following previous researches and experiences (Casella et al., 2017; Martinez et al, 2017; Nieminski et al. 2017), some experimental tests were carried out during Digital Geological Survey (Geological Sciences MSc.) and Geomatics (Applied Information technology BSc) courses at Urbino University. During the last year field activities students and researchers tested the use of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) both commercial (DJI Phantom 3) and in-house built machine. Because of the reliability, we choose to perform our survey tests using the commercial one.After having digital field mapped an Apennines area where the Miocene turbidite Marnoso Arenacea Formation crops out (Marche- Tuscany border), we choose to fly on top of two already tape measured stratigraphic sections. After some flight we were able to built orthophotos and DEM with points clouds (using Agisoft Photoscan) that could be imported in QGIS 3.0 where we measured the stratigraphic columns, highlighting bedding and key strata. As pros of tape measurement is the direct contact with bedding allowing more accurate observations. In the other side, as cons, the unsafe measurement on vertical cliffs (performed with climbing techniques) can be avoided with reliable remote measurements without noticeable deviations.Moreover we tried to build a 3D geological model of a quite complex triangle zone associated to a main thrust. The UAV flew manually controlled along a creek where the deformed and faulted beds crop out. The very detailed points cloud allowed to draw and build an interpretative model.