UAV Photogrammetry-based Mapping of the Pocket Beaches of Isola Bella Bay, Taormina (Eastern Sicily)

Pocket Beach (PB) planview geometry analysis is one of the most important steps needed for PB characterization and dynamic evaluation. With modern technology, quantitative morphology of a PB can be obtained with a high degree of confidence. In this paper we used Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry-based mapping technology combining drone and Global Positioning System (GPS) for 2D and 3D models’ reconstruction of Isola Bella bay PBs located along the coast of the town of Taormina (eastern Sicily). The aim of this paper is to show how very high spatial resolution data can be obtained and analyzed for the retrieval of geomorphological features and geometric parameters of PBs. A computer-assisted visual interpretation approach was adopted to manually digitize, delineate and extract the planform characteristics of the PB. The planview geometry analysis was conducted on orthophotos and digital surface models of 1.81 cm and 1.69 cm spatial resolutions, acquired during two flight surveys. The mapping approach adopted in this paper shows that information on planform geometry of PBs can be obtained faster using modern remote sensing technologies allowing time series analysis of planview parameters.