Development of methods for measuring displacement of embankments using unmanned aerial systems

Geotechnical measurements of deformations in infrastructural embankments, crucial for traffic safety, face challenges due to high costs and time requirements. In Croatia, embankments on soft soil experience significant settlements, necessitating regular remediation. Along with the application of standard geotechnical measurement techniques, there is an underexplored potential in the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to improve measurement methods, with a focus on photogrammetric techniques. Advances in GNSS technology, INS, digital cameras, and mobile measurement sensors allow for the adaptation of UAS, opening new possibilities for precise and efficient data collection.