Underwater Photogrammetry Application for Coral Reef Mapping and Monitoring

Abstract

Underwater 3D reconstruction techniques such as underwater photogrammetry are the latest trend in low cost survey techniques. This article explains how the data acquisition process is up to the process of producing an underwater photo map.  Automatic data processing for coral reef objects from the initial data acquisition stage to building 3D models from seabed objects to rendering in virtual reality. In this paper, underwater photogrammetry was applied with SfM (Structure from Motion) algorithm in performing 3D reconstruction of coral reefs that will be produce orthophoto map. Geodetic measurements also performed to the model for control point. The analysis will be divided into t-test and F-test. From the processing, coral reef modeling has obtained the result of a linear error which t-test produce <50% data, both at 95% and at 99 % confidence level. The F-test gain a positive value where the point value used in the linear error test on marker L and K, the value at α = 0.05. The 3D coral reef model in the resulting orthophoto still has weaknesses, for example the color appearance that depends on the level of clarity of the water as well as the camera filter used. However, in 2D display is sufficient and can be an alternative to other methods, for example, the LIT method.