Photogrammetry provides an excellent means for surface mapping, volumetric estimations and ongoing monitoring of volcanoes.

Stereo photographs can be acquired using a standard digital camera and modelled using Topcon’s Imagemaster Software. If this is carried out on a regular basis, repeat models can be analyzed to gauge any changes in the surface morphology as a result of landslips and heaves or depressions due to changes in the magma chamber.

In order to compare successive photography, it is essential to have common ground
control points. These can be buildings, road intersections, large rocks or purpose-made
targets. An RTK-GPS can be used to accurately acquire ground coordinates of the control points, or alternatively they can be extracted from a map.

Click here to see a live webcam image of Vesuvius.