Design of Terrace Drainage Networks Using UAV-Based High-Resolution Topographic Data

Pijl, Anton, Tosoni, Michele, Roder, Giulia, Sofia, Giulia and Tarolli, Paolo, (2019). Design of Terrace Drainage Networks Using UAV-Based High-Resolution Topographic Data. Water, 11 1-11

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Pijl, Anton
    Tosoni, Michele
    Roder, Giulia
    Sofia, Giulia
    Tarolli, Paolo
    Title Design of Terrace Drainage Networks Using UAV-Based High-Resolution Topographic Data
    Appearing in Water
    Volume 11
    Publication Date 2019-04-18
    Place of Publication Basel
    Publisher MDPI
    Start page 1
    End page 11
    Language eng
    Abstract Hillslope viticulture has a long history in Mediterranean Europe, and still holds important cultural and economic value. Steep hillsides have widely been levelled by terraces, in order to control surface water flow and facilitate cultivation. However, under unsustainable management and growing rainfall aggressiveness, terraced vineyards have become one of the most erosion-prone agricultural landscapes. The Valcamonica valley in Lombardy (Italy) presents a typical example of an ancient wine production region where rural land abandonment has previously caused widespread degradation of the traditional terracing systems. Recently, a local revival of wine production led to restoration plans of the terraces and their drainage functioning, to safeguard productivity and hydrogeologic safety. In this study, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) survey was carried out to reconstruct an accurate and precise 3D terrain model of a Valcamonica vineyard through photogrammetry. The resulting high-resolution topographic data allowed insights of surface flow-induced soil erosion patterns based on the Relative Path Impact Index (RPII). Three diverse drainage networks were designed and digitally implemented, allowing scenario analysis of the costs and benefits in terms of potential erosion mitigation. The presented methodology could likely improve the time-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of similar restoration plans in degraded landscapes.
    Keyword Terraces
    Drainage design
    unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
    high-resolution topography
    remote sensing survey
    water erosion
    vineyards
    Italy
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2019
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISSN 20734441
    DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040814
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    Created: Fri, 06 Nov 2020, 14:01:56 JST by Rachel Nunn on behalf of UNU IAS