Drones and 3D imaging highlight Iceland’s glacier loss

Developed by Dr Kieran Baxter at the University of Dundee, the method involved processing aerial mapping photographs taken by the National Land Survey of Iceland into 3D images using photogrammetry software. Drones were used to capture images of the same areas of glaciers today, and then composite images were created showing the same glaciers 30 years apart, highlighting the massive ice loss that has occurred.  While the photogrammetry technique has previously been used to measure historical ice surfaces, this is the first time it has been used to visually compare glaciers across time.

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“We have been working to produce images that are both engaging and easy to understand,” said Dr Baxter, a researcher from the 3DVisLab at Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. “It is important to show how climate change is physically and visibly affecting the region. To do this, we developed a novel process based on principles that are used by glaciologists to measure ice-volume loss.