Imaging 3D mammal burrow structure at 2 infested levee site with Ground-Based Tripod LiDAR Completed
In advance of the US Army Corps of Engineers new policy enforcement that prohibits trees within 15-feet (4.5 meter) of levees and floodwalls, DWR, SAFCA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, University of California Berkeley, the University of California Davis, and USGS are studying the biological process (trees and mammal burrows) that have the greatest impact on levee integrity.
Burrowing mammals have contributed to several levee failures nationwide; thereby represent a significant threat to levee integrity. Unfortunately, mammal burrows are voids, a negative space that easily collapse, therefore making it very to develop a comprehensive burrow networks structure model. To our understanding, this will be the first study that develops a true comprehensive (centimeter to sub-centimeter) 3D model of two grouted burrow infested levees to quantify the relationship between the burrow complex and the levee geomorphology. The new science in this proposal will: 1) produce the first 3D model of burrow complexes at two sites to quantify the biomorphic characteristics of the burrows within levees; 2) help assess the effectiveness of the grout injection program; 3) develop new techniques and methodology to specifically address the issue of imaging subsurface voids-negative space.
The objectives of the overall project are to: characterize the three dimensional (3D) structure of mammal burrows (ground squirrels) on levees; understand how the burrow complexes relate to levee integrity; and assess the effectiveness of ongoing levee grouting programs that inject grout into burrow holes (voids) to maintain structure integrity of the levee and mitigate burrowing mammal activity.
The plan will be to: 1) identify two mammal burrow infested levees in northern California; 2) inject colored grout into the levees at each site, establish T-LiDAR reference frame, collect baseline T-LiDAR imagery, and characterize the mammal activity at the site prior to excavation; 3) UCB team will lead the site excavation and will alternate between excavation and site characterization (including T-LiDAR) each day for each site; 4) T-LiDAR data processing, analysis, and 3D framework model development; and 5) craft a peer review publication.
In advance of the US Army Corps of Engineers new policy enforcement that prohibits trees within 15-feet (4.5 meter) of levees and floodwalls, DWR, SAFCA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, University of California Berkeley, the University of California Davis, and USGS are studying the biological process (trees and mammal burrows) that have the greatest impact on levee integrity.
Burrowing mammals have contributed to several levee failures nationwide; thereby represent a significant threat to levee integrity. Unfortunately, mammal burrows are voids, a negative space that easily collapse, therefore making it very to develop a comprehensive burrow networks structure model. To our understanding, this will be the first study that develops a true comprehensive (centimeter to sub-centimeter) 3D model of two grouted burrow infested levees to quantify the relationship between the burrow complex and the levee geomorphology. The new science in this proposal will: 1) produce the first 3D model of burrow complexes at two sites to quantify the biomorphic characteristics of the burrows within levees; 2) help assess the effectiveness of the grout injection program; 3) develop new techniques and methodology to specifically address the issue of imaging subsurface voids-negative space.
The objectives of the overall project are to: characterize the three dimensional (3D) structure of mammal burrows (ground squirrels) on levees; understand how the burrow complexes relate to levee integrity; and assess the effectiveness of ongoing levee grouting programs that inject grout into burrow holes (voids) to maintain structure integrity of the levee and mitigate burrowing mammal activity.
The plan will be to: 1) identify two mammal burrow infested levees in northern California; 2) inject colored grout into the levees at each site, establish T-LiDAR reference frame, collect baseline T-LiDAR imagery, and characterize the mammal activity at the site prior to excavation; 3) UCB team will lead the site excavation and will alternate between excavation and site characterization (including T-LiDAR) each day for each site; 4) T-LiDAR data processing, analysis, and 3D framework model development; and 5) craft a peer review publication.