Using structure-from-motion workflows for 3D mapping and remote sensing

The user-friendly photogrammetric technique, called structure-from-motion (SfM), has produced a significant revolution in the field of photogrammetry and the study of earth surface processes; for even low-budget research and applications, any SfM user can reconstruct the topography of small areas with high resolution. The SfM technique can be applied to produce 3D point clouds, digital surface/elevation models, and orthomosaics at very high temporal, spectral, and spatial resolution (order of centimeters), which are crucial for many applications, especially for environmental monitoring studies. Therefore the use and methods for proper implementation of the SfM algorithms will be the focus of this chapter.