Accuracy Assessment of iPhone LiDAR for Mapping Streambeds and Small Water Structures in Forested Terrain

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62156489%3A43410%2F25%3A43927523" target="_blank" >RIV/62156489:43410/25:43927523 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/s25196141" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.3390/s25196141</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s25196141" target="_blank" >10.3390/s25196141</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Accuracy Assessment of iPhone LiDAR for Mapping Streambeds and Small Water Structures in Forested Terrain

Original language description

Accurate mapping of small water structures and streambeds is essential for hydrological modeling, erosion control, and landscape management. While traditional geodetic methods such as GNSS and total stations provide high precision, they are time-consuming and require specialized equipment. Recent advances in mobile technology, particularly smartphones equipped with LiDAR sensors, offer a potential alternative for rapid and cost-effective field data collection. This study assesses the accuracy of the iPhone 14 Pro&apos;s built-in LiDAR sensor for mapping streambeds and retention structures in challenging terrain. The test site was the Dílský stream in the Oslavany cadastral area, characterized by steep slopes, rocky surfaces, and dense vegetation. The stream channel and water structures were first surveyed using GNSS and a total station and subsequently re-measured with the iPhone. Several scanning workflows were tested to evaluate field applicability. Results show that the iPhone LiDAR sensor can capture landscape features with useful accuracy when supported by reference points spaced every 20 m, achieving a vertical RMSE of 0.16 m. Retention structures were mapped with an average positional error of 7%, with deviations of up to 0.20 m in complex or vegetated areas. The findings highlight the potential of smartphone LiDAR for rapid, small-scale mapping, while acknowledging its limitations in rugged environments.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Sensors

ISSN

1424-8220

e-ISSN

1424-8220

Volume of the periodical

25

Issue of the periodical within the volume

19

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

23

Pages from-to

6141

UT code for WoS article

001593931800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105018919652