Predicting Volcanic Eruption Using Drone

Predicting Volcanic Eruption Using Drone

Drones are proposed for several applications due to their ease of manufacturing and piloting. Recently one of the research applications of drones took the internet by storm. Studying Volcano is a challenging task as it is dangerous to go near the vicinity of an erupting volcano. The equipment used for recording and transmitting data usually destroys during the volcanic eruption which increases the research cost. Huge smoke, flowing lava, and frequent explosion are characteristics of an active volcano. The erupting volcano creates a serious threat for anyone who tries to access it. Hence Unmanned Aerial System(Drone) is a cheaper expendable option for the study.

The volcano is a vent on the surface of Earth through which hot material such as lava, ash, and gas releases out into the environment by eruption or explosion. The volcano is found near the tectonic plate boundary where they meet each other. Earth has 17 major tectonic plates floating on a soft mantle in the Earth’s crust. The study of the volcano is mainly to predict the eruption cycle and duration which will save thousands of lives. A volcanologist will try to gather information to predict the future occurrence of volcanic eruption using data gathered from an active one. Seismic data measured from earthquakes, surface modification of volcanic dome (ground level, tilt) and contents of gas emitted from the crater provide greater insight on the phase of the eruption.  So far Satellites play a major role in observing and recording the live data during the occurrences.

Santa Maria Volcano of Guatemala is chosen by the scientist from the “German Research Centre for Geosciences” for their study. Santiaguito complex at Santa Maria is a frequently active spot in the last decade. Before 1902 for 500 years the volcano was dormant, after that the eruption happens at intervals affecting local residence, trade, and air transportation. Earthquakes accompanied by the eruption is recorded by the crew which provides seismic data for the investigation. DJI Phantom 4 Pro is a commercially available drone that can be used to retrieve the photogrammetry data of the flowing lava. DJI Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging system employed in taking snapshots and video of the required region. A telemetry system used to communicate and instruct the drone to follow certain specific paths through waypoints. The onboard camera records and transmits video and pictures to a ground control station which are later used for processing.

The drone is repeatedly flown over the target area to gather photogrammetry data during many instances of the eruption. Even though the lava flow is slow, to understand the lava flow it is necessary to gather data on effusion rate, lava viscosity, surface movement, dome morphology, and underlying gradient. The speed of lava flow and its pattern shows in-depth detail of the volcano and the cause of its eruption. Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Photogrammetric method is used in the software to assemble the 3D images built the volcano environment. The data acquired from the drone camera is compared with the satellite data to determine errors. The parameters retrieved in the process provide a better understanding of the reason behind volcanic eruption and forecast their activity in the future.

Reference:

1. Zorn, E.U., Walter, T.R., Johnson, J.B. et al. UAS-based tracking of the Santiaguito Lava Dome, Guatemala. Sci Rep 10, 8644 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65386-2