Using Geomatic Techniques to Estimate Volume–Area Relationships of Watering Ponds

Watering ponds represent an important part of the hydrological resources in some water-limited environments. Knowledge about their storage capacity and geometrical characteristics is crucial for a better understanding management water context climate change. In this study, suitability different geomatic approaches to model watering pond geometry estimate pond-specific generalized volume–area–height (V–A–h) relationships was tested. Terrestrial structure-from-motion multi-view-stereo photogrammetry (SfM-MVS), terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), laser-imaging detection ranging (LIDAR), aerial SfM-MVS were tested emerged terrain, while global navigation satellite system (GNSS) used survey submerged terrain test resulting digital elevation models (DEMs). The combined use GNSS produced accurate DEMs that resulted average error 1.19% maximum volume estimation, comparable obtained by TLS+GNSS approach (3.27%). From these DEMs, power quadratic functions express V–A–h checked accuracy. results revealed fit data particularly well (R2 ≥ 0.995 NRMSE < 2.25%) can therefore be reliably as simple geometric simulation studies. Finally, V–A relationship obtained. This may valuable tool other areas scarcity.