Review of Remote Sensing Technologies for the Acquisition of Very High Vertical Accuracy Elevation Data (DEM) in the Framework of the Precise – Remediation of Industrial Disasters – Part 1

In the last 10 years, the technological developments have changed the paradigm in remote sensing science. Nowadays, very diverse technologies can be employed to capture and/or extract very accurate terrain elevation data and prepare digital elevation models. This article aims at reviewing the existing remote sensing technologies which could support disaster remediation (by excavation of the soil) with very accurate elevation data acquisition. Ground based technologies (like terrestrial laser scanning, InSAR and SfM) and airborne technologies (airborne laser scanning [ALS], UAV photogrammetric approach, UAV with LiDAR) are reviewed. Their capacities are examined according to the following technical criteria: spatial efficiency, point density, accuracy and applicability in disaster situation.