Applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys and Structure from Motion photogrammetry in glacial and periglacial geomorphology

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, UAS, drones) combined with Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry have emerged over the last decade as the basis for a very efficient workflow in glacial and periglacial geomorphology by filling the spatial gap between traditional ground-based surveys and aerial or satellite remote sensing data. UAV-generated data offer flexible spatial and temporal resolution, thus enabling a shift from a pure description of geomorphological forms to a better understanding of process-form relationships, e.g., by quantification of short-term landscape changes in response to various drivers. In this contribution, we present an overview of current applications of UAV-SfM in studies of modern and past glacial environments that include mostly geomorphological mapping and change-detection analysis. We also indicate potential future applications, e.g., by combining UAV-data with historical archives, terrestrial SfM, and crowd-based image gathering to allow for a better understanding of landscape changes in response to present climate warming. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.