UAV-Enabled Coupled Infrared and Optical Characterization of the May 19, 2020, Edenville Dam Failure in Michigan
Publication: Geo-Congress 2022
ABSTRACT
The May 19, 2020, Edenville Dam failure in Michigan led to the failure of the Sanford Dam and subsequent flooding of communities downstream. As part of immediate field reconnaissance activities, remote sensing using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, more commonly known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) equipped with optical and infrared sensors were deployed, and the results are presented herein with emphasis on the infrared data, which is not yet extensively used in geotechnical engineering. It is shown that the infrared imagery, which provides an estimate of material temperature, along with 3D models derived from optical data was successful in classifying different soils (such as gravel fills, sandy soils, and clayey soils) and other materials encountered at the dam. Gravelly fills systematically exhibited the highest temperatures, clayey soils the lowest temperatures, with sandy soils having intermediate temperatures. In addition, infrared data were used to identify wetter areas, or locations where through-seepage was observed within the dam study area, as well as to assess the gravimetric water content of soil materials.
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Geo-Congress 2022
Pages: 119 - 128
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Published online: Mar 17, 2022
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