Author(s): F. Ferraiolo; R. Valentini; N. Zorzi; G. Ristorto; G. Sauli; R. Corso; R. Gallo; F. Mazzetto

Linked Author(s): Victor Gallo Ramos

Keywords: River ecological quality; Unmanned aerial vehicles; LiDAR; Riparian vegetation; Water Framework Directive

Abstract: Ecological quality, biodiversity and riparian functionality have become key-issues in river management activities. The WEQUAL project aims to support technicians with an easy and cost-effective ecological-quality evaluation tool. In the last years, interest in green infrastructures and river environments has been increasing and supported by EU policies (green infrastructure and biodiversity) and directives (Water Framework Directive, Flood Directive, etc.). In this context, monitoring environmental impacts of river restoration-works has become a more and more important task. Evaluating restoration-works impacts on the quality of ecosystem services allows to understand the effects of different design solution and to identify proper countermeasures, when necessary, able to preserve ecological quality, riparian functionality and increase biodiversity. The WEQUAL project (WEb service centre for a QUALity, multi-dimensional design and unmanned-vehicles monitoring of Green Infrastructures) aims to create an innovative method to assess river ecological quality starting from unmanned-vehicles field surveys. The method is intended to support concretely practitioners and scientists in quality evaluations taking advantage of technology. The method considers field surveys carried out with RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems). Then, LiDAR data and high-resolution aerial images are elaborated and assessment-indicators values are extracted. Furthermore, a tailored, forecasting technique allows to compare different alternatives of river-restoration works design considering their environmental impacts and development and completes the WEQUAL project aims. The method aims to satisfy the recommendations of the Water Framework Directive and is currently under development.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2731-1_251-cd

Year: 2018