Evaluation of structure-from-motion for analysis of small-scale glacier dynamics

Measurement of the geometry marine-terminating glaciers is challenging due to lack stable ground areas in close proximity glacier. This precludes use fixed measuring devices and restricts placement control points. We propose a measurement procedure for using structure-from-motion including proper survey planning, point design model alignment. As case study, we surveyed Hans Glacier, Hornsund fjord, South Spitsbergen. demonstrate that our method indeed effective documentation small-scale glacier dynamics, show importance appropriate alignment strategies models with poorly distributed points compare two SfM tools (Agisoft Metashape Bentley ContextCapture) concluding ContextCapture offers around 17% lower error, 25% faster processing better reconstruction fine details shadowed concavities.