Application of stereo photogrammetry to physical scale model tests with mobile beds

Abstract

The phenomenon of scour in the vicinity of coastal and harbour protection structures, wind farms, offshore platforms and marine outfalls is one of the causes associated with its collapse. During the design of such structures, the prediction of the maximum erosion depth located in the vicinity of the structure is of utmost importance, requiring, frequently, a validation by scale-model tests. The objective of this study is to validate the use of stereo photogrammetry in such tests. To accomplish this goal, two sets of tests were conducted: A stereo photogrammetric survey of a well-known shape molded in a sand box was carried out in order to infer on the accuracy of the technique when applied to a sand bed. The second set of tests consisted on the survey of the scour around a pile, using the stereo photogrammetric method as well as a bed profiler in order to compare the results obtained with both methods.