Photogrammetric reconstruction of the Blatten glacier collapse from oblique Rapid Mapping imagery

Abstract ID: 3.21265
| Accepted as Talk
| Abstract is registered
| 2025-09-18 08:55 - 09:00
Schmauß, S. (1)
(1) Munich University of Applied Sciences, Lothstr. 34, 80335, München, DE
How to cite: Schmauß, S.: Photogrammetric reconstruction of the Blatten glacier collapse from oblique Rapid Mapping imagery, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 - 18 2025, #IMC25-3.21265, 2025.
Categories: Monitoring, Remote Sensing
Keywords: photogrammetry, remote sensing, change detection, public outreach, imagery
Categories: Monitoring, Remote Sensing
Keywords: photogrammetry, remote sensing, change detection, public outreach, imagery
Abstract
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During the 2025 Blatten glacier collapse, approximately 10 million cubic meters of rock and ice flowed into the Lötschental, covering large parts of the village Blatten and damming the Lonza river. Using oblique imagery collected through the BAFU/swisstopo Rapid Mapping program, a digital elevation model (DEM) was derived in Agisoft Metashape. This enabled the creation of a 3D visualization that was published to Sketchfab to show the extent of the event to the general public. Additionally, by comparing the DEM to existing LiDAR elevation data from swisstopo, the thickness of the deposit and volume gains/losses could be estimated independently from numbers provided by local authorities.

I would like to thank the BAFU and swisstopo for freely providing the Rapid Mapping imagery and SwissALTI3D products.