M1 – Soil erosion monitoring and evaluation

It includes equipments that can form a network of sensors with the role of collecting data on the components of the environment (air environment, soil, aquatic environment). The sensor network is part of a flow that aims to assess and model areal erosion, socio-economic vulnerability and associated risk in relation to nearby aquatic environments. This flow primarily involves quantitative assessments in the field of some climatic parameters (precipitation – rain gauges, temperature – air/water temperature sensors, wind – stations for continuous wind monitoring). Also in the field, it is necessary to collect datasets regarding the degree of compactness of the soil (penetrometer) and the pattern for water infiltrates (moisture sensors). The obtained data are supplemented with information from remote sensing (spectrometers, UAV systems, satellite images). The spectrometer (kit with two devices for wavelengths of 350-800 nm and 650-1100 nm) allows the collection of the spectral response of environmental elements in the visible and near-infrared bands. The data is used to calibrate satellite images and monitor vegetation behavior.

Setting up some experimental plots in specific conditions involves simulating precipitation features (amount, intensity or duration), water infiltration (infiltrometer) and monitoring the soil water balance. The rain simulator also measures the material that can be removed from the soil surface.  The automatic particle size determiner is designed to identify the soil texture by measuring the percentages of silt and clay, after the sand fraction has been previously separated, for soils or lake sediments. The purpose of the turbidimeter is to measure the amount of sediment lower than 0.2 mm that is removed by erosion at the level of the experimental plots, but also to calibrate the spectral response of lake waters in order to automatically quantify and spatialize sediments using remote sensing systems UAV.


M2 – Remote sensing monitoring of fluvial aquatic ecosystems

The UAV systems are used to collect RBG or multispectral aerial images that allow to calculate some indices for the characterization of environmental elements – soil, vegetation, water, relief.

The UAV RTK-PPK system can carry RGB and multispectral sensors. The sensor can record RGB images of high spatial resolution (3 cm at 120 m altitude), vertical and oblique, due to the possibilities of changing orientation during flight. The collected data are necessary for the construction of the digital terrain model (DTM) and the surface model (DSM) or the creation of orthophotos. The Sequoia+ sensor can record in a single multispectral images in 4 spectral channels (red, green, red-edge and near-infrared at 12 cm spatial resolution at 120 m altitude) alongside a 16 MP RGB image (3 cm spatial resolution at 120 m altitude). 120 m altitude).

The UAV RTK-PPK system provides high precision RTK/PPK functionality assurance, which provides accurate maps through real-time (RTK – Real Time Kinematic) and post-processing (PPK – Post Processing Kinematic) corrections. Absolute horizontal/vertical accuracy is up to 3cm/5cm, eliminating collect control points on the ground.

The UAV system is a quadcopter equipped with two types of sensors. The first is a multispectral sensor capable of collecting images in 4 spectral channels (red, green, red-edge and near-infrared), useful in identifying the degree of health and vitality of plants, alongside the RGB image needed to create the digital surface model (DSM). The second is a 14MP RGB sensor that captures color images as well as Full HD 1080p video footage. The UAV system features a light sensor located on top of the quadcopter, designed to record lighting conditions, provide GPS location and accurate IMU geo-tagging information.

The reception of 120 channels and 60 channels simultaneously, the geodetic class GPS system allows connection with all existing GNSS systems. It offers the guarantee of data integration of the European Galilleo navigation system. The increased accuracy of the navigated coordinates allows the establishment of reference stations for the realization of differential kinematic measurements with the assurance of corrections in real time. The reference data is integrated with the rover system which also includes the other sensors: bathymetric and photogrammetric ones.

GIS-class GPS equipment allows data collection in vector-type GIS format: line, point or polygon. It features centimeter precision and allows data collection in different working modes: continuous or isolated by setting the time interval or collection distance.

M3 – Bathymetric data collection

The statistical analysis and digital modeling of the spatio-temporal characteristics of the erosion processes is carried out in accordance with the acquisition of high-accuracy bathymetric data.

The singlebeam hydrographic system is used to highlight water depth and submerged relief. Indirectly, by performing calculations and reports to other datasets, the thickness of accumulated sediments in a certain time interval is obtained. In direct relation to soil erosion, the rate of sedimentation and the spatialization of sedimentation processes in the environment of the reservoir, Portile de Fier I provides relevant data for navigation on the Danube and access to river ports (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.7856). The singlebeam system uses two or more operating frequencies capable of traversing aquatic environments with different temperature and turbidity characteristics. In order to carry out the measurements in good conditions and obtain conclusive results, the sonar sensor is assembled together with other devices and meets requirements adapted to the fluvial-lacustrine environment in which it operates.


Topographic changes between 1939 and 2017 in Cerna Gulf area
Topographic changes between 1939 and 2017 in Cerna Gulf area

M4 – Geochemical scanning with X-ray fluorescence

The equipment is used for soil and sediment core analysis in environmental studies. It can also be used for the analysis of discrete samples of rock. It allows simultaneous high-resolution measurement of chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility by X-ray and visible light radiography and multiparameter characterization of the sediment from the natural evolutions or anthropogenic influences point of view.

M5 – Primary data processing, modeling and spatial analysis

The workstation is the basic system that integrates and processes all the data provided by sensors, satellite data and those produced by aerial photogrammetry (UAV), allows their qualitative visualization and examination, together with metadata, processing and obtaining raster and vector models. It is also used for spatial modeling and analysis or for the acquisition, recording and primary processing of remote sensing images.

The photogrammetric scanner allows the transformation of data from analog to digital format to be integrated into the processing flow. In this way, data from existing reference maps and plans can be integrated from a new perspective. Due to the dimensions and working method, these materials will be fully taken over without the need for the sequential execution of the operation, an aspect that minimizes errors.