TITLE:
UAV Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing of an Italian Mud Volcano
AUTHORS:
Stefania Amici, Matteo Turci, Salvatore Giammanco, Letizia Spampinato, Fabrizio Giulietti
KEYWORDS:
RPAS; Mud Volcano; Thermal Map
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Remote Sensing,
Vol.2 No.4,
December
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: Extreme environments like active volcanoes exhibit many
difficulties in being studied by in situ techniques. For example, during eruptions, summit areas are very hard to be
accessed because of logistics problems and/or volcanic hazards. The use of
remote sensing techniques in the last 20 years by satellite or airborne platforms
has proven their capabilities in mapping and monitoring the evolution of
volcanic activity. This approach has become increasingly important, as much
interest is actually focused on understanding precursory signals to volcanic
eruptions. In this work we verify the use of cutting-edge technology like
unmanned flying system thermally equipped for volcanic applications. We present
the results of a flight test performed by INGV in collaboration with the
University of Bologna (Aerospace Division) by using a multi-rotor aircraft in a
hexacopter configuration. The experiment was realized in radio controlled mode
to overcome many regulation problems which, especially in Italy, limit the use
of this system in autonomous mode. The overall goal was not only qualitative
but also quantitative oriented. The system flew above an Italian mud volcano,
named Le Salinelle, located on the lower South West flank of Mt. Etna volcano,
which was chosen as representative site, providing not only a discrimination
between hot and cold areas, but also the corresponding temperature values. The
in-flight measurements have been cross-validated with contemporaneous in-situ acquisition of thermal data and
from independent measurements of mud/water temperature.