Author(s): Abel Tadesse, Seid Shimeles and Ermias Alemu

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: UAV; surveying; GPS; total station

Abstract:

This paper aims at presenting a case study of the topographic and bathymetric surveying for a flood relief project conducted within the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia, by the Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation (ECDSWC)1. ECDSWC is one of the pioneer firms in Ethiopia that has extensive experience in study, design and supervision works on the core areas of water, energy, transport, building and urban development. The subject River Basin, Awash, is characterized by being extensively developed, and at the same time, being prone to recurring flooding. More significantly, the middle and lower segments of the basin usually get washed up by high magnitude floods due to an ever increasing human-induced pressure on the river course and climate change. The conducted topographic and bathymetric surveying in the study all implemented the commonly practised conventional (traditional) surveying techniques through total stations, static GPS equipment and so on. The underlying objective of the paper, hence, is to showcase how a modern high-tech approach (such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; UAVs) could be a major direction forward to benefit and expedite the surveying procedure. This is especially true on topographically inaccessible and flood prone regions where it is practically challenging to traverse on foot or by vehicle carrying surveying equipment.  

DOI:

Year: 2019