Real time volcano activity mapping system using ground based single digital camera

Mapping of volcanic activities or events during eruptions such as lava flow, pyroclastic flow, mudflow and etc. at real time basis is very important to monitor and predict movement of these events, and prevent calamity. These events are usually dynamic and occur in short time duration. In this study, a real time volcanic activity mapping system, using single ground fixed digital camera, is developed. An automatic mapping system is designed for real time monitoring. This system produces orthophotos as final outputs from digital landscape images. Once a digital landscape image is obtained, the final output is generated concurrently. A digital landscape photo is rectified into 3D computer graphics to obtain texture image with fixed location and attitude. This 3D computer graphics is created from DEM and is used as a reference image. Rectification is done by skyline matching between the edge of a skyline in the digital landscape image and in the 3D computer graphics. The rectified digital landscape image is converted to an orthophoto map using DEM. Through this system, volcanic activity is automatically mapped as orthophoto on real time basis. This system helps chronological change analysis of volcanic activity, especially for short time period. Volcanic activities mapped by this system would be analyzed by volcanologists to help people escape hazards from volcanic eruption.