Leveraging Remote Sensing and GIS in 3D Modeling of a River Section for Sandbar Assessment: The Case of the Mbam River in Cameroon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48258/Parole chiave:
remote sensing, GIS, bathymetry, 3D modelingAbstract
The aim of this article is to utilize remote sensing in the bathymetric
study of a river section, by integrating GIS into 3D modeling of the
seabed in order to measure, map, and assess sediment accumulation for
potential exploitation of sandbanks.
This work is part of a broader effort to modernize the exploitation
of this resource, which until now has been carried out without planning
and control tools. A methodological approach combining passive
and active methods was adopted. The passive approach relied on the
analysis of satellite imagery, particularly NDWI ( Normalized Data
Wave Index) data. Difference Water Index) and infrared (IR) imaging
were used to identify wetlands, depositional environments, and river
dynamics. In addition, an active approach employed a GT52 echo
sounder to collect precise bathymetric data on the riverbed depth. This
data was then processed in a GIS environment to generate a Digital
Terrain Model (DTM), a depth interpolation, and a 3D model of the
river cross-section. The results enabled the identification of the main
depositional areas of exploitable sandbanks and their volume, the assessment
of their accessibility, and the proposal of an optimized extraction
plan. This work thus provides a reliable technical basis for guiding
industrial sand extraction with a focus on ecological sustainability and
also serves as a decision-making tool for this economic sector.
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