Structure from Motion (SfM) method to characterize fluvial sedimentology in Way Semaka river in Lampung province, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Structure from motion (SfM) has been applied recently in fluvial sedimentology. This application is due to the availability of many low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, which can help overcome challenging terrain, provide efficient and reproducible and high-accuracy topographic images and data. The current study describes the application of SfM to build a geomorphological model and estimate the surface water velocity of the Way Semaka River in the Bandar Negeri Suoh (BNS) region in the West Lampung area. Way Semaka is a river type with an extensive meandering system and stable extension tectonic regime relatively. River morphology approximately 96.62 m width and 4 m depth in straight (relatively) area, whereas in channel area approximately 171.22 m width and 5 m depth. The velocity range between 0.39 – 1.56 m/s based on image analysis proven by current meter measurements onsite with an RMS error of 0.25. Manual geomorphic unit level 2 analysis revealed that 9% of the coverage consisted of basins for the channel’s zone, 35% of the coverage consisted of convexity, 9% consisted of planar features, and 37% of the coverage consisted of the transition zone.