A field demonstration of the entropy-weighted fuzzy DRASTIC method for groundwater vulnerability assessment

Abstract

Groundwater vulnerability assessment based on the DRASTIC index has been widely used since the 1980s to map potential risks of groundwater contamination. However, its applicability and usefulness are affected by two uncertain and subjective factors. One is the discretization of continuous input variables and the other is the assignment of different weights to the index variables. In this study, an entropy-weighted fuzzy-optimization approach was developed to augment and improve the classic DRASTIC method by reducing the uncertainties associated with variable discretization and weight assignment. The modified DRASTIC method was applied to a study site in Shandong, north China. The entropy-weighted fuzzy-optimization approach is shown to provide a more rigorous delineation of the relative vulnerability distribution. Meanwhile, the new approach does not require the use of more parameters. The results suggest that this approach significantly improves and enhances the ability of the classic DRASTIC method in a more systematic and rigorous way.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Yu, C., Zhang, B.X., Yao, Y.Y., Meng, F.H., and Zheng, C.M., 2012. A field demonstration of the entropy-weighted fuzzy DRASTIC method for groundwater vulnerability assessment. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (7), 1420–1432.     

Sensitivity analysis in groundwater vulnerability assessment based on GIS in the Mahdia-Ksour Essaf aquifer,Tunisia: a validation study

Abstract

The assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution has proved to be an effective tool for water resource management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Mahdia and Ksour Essaf. The main objective of this study is to assess the aquifer vulnerability by applying the DRASTIC method as well as using sensitivity analysis to evaluate the effect of each DRASTIC parameter on the final vulnerability map. An additional objective is to demonstrate the role of the GIS techniques in the vulnerability assessment. The DRASTIC method assigns a high vulnerability to the coast of the Mahdia-Ksour Essaf. The lowest values are observed in the southern part of the study area. A sensitivity analysis applied in this study suggests that net recharge, aquifer media and depth of groundwater are the key factors determining vulnerability. The model is validated with groundwater quality data and the results have shown strong relationships between modified DRASTIC Vulnerability Index and nitrate and chloride concentrations.

Citation Saidi, S., Bouri, S. & Ben Dhia, H. (2011) Sensitivity analysis in groundwater vulnerability assessment based on GIS in the Mahdia-Ksour Essaf aquifer, Tunisia: a validation study. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(2), 288–304.     

Catchment-scale vulnerability assessment of groundwater pollution from diffuse sources using the DRASTIC method: a case study

Abstract

The catchment-scale groundwater vulnerability assessment that delineates zones representing different levels of groundwater susceptibility to contaminants from diffuse agricultural sources has become an important element in groundwater pollution prevention for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). This paper evaluates the DRASTIC method using an ArcGIS platform for assessing groundwater vulnerability in the Upper Bann catchment, Northern Ireland. Groundwater vulnerability maps of both general pollutants and pesticides in the study area were generated by using data on the factors depth to water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity, as defined in DRASTIC. The mountain areas in the study area have “high” (in 4.5% of the study area) or “moderate” (in 25.5%) vulnerability for general pollutants due to high rainfall, net recharge and soil permeability. However, by considering the diffuse agricultural sources, the mountain areas are actually at low groundwater pollution risk. The results of overlaying the maps of land use and the groundwater vulnerability are closer to the reality. This study shows that the DRASTIC method is helpful for guiding the prevention practices of groundwater pollution at the catchment scale in the UK.

Citation Yang, Y. S. & Wang, L. (2010 Yang, Y. S. and Wang, L. 2010. A review of modelling tools for implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in handling diffuse water pollution. Water Resour. Manage., 24: 1819–1843.  [Google Scholar]) Catchment scale vulnerability assessment of groundwater pollution from diffuse sources using the DRASTIC method: a case study. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(7), 1206–1216.     

Modelling flood-prone area and vulnerability using integration of multi-criteria analysis and HAND model in the Ogun River Basin,Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In this study, a GIS-based integration of multi-criteria analysis and the Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) terrain model was adopted to delineate potential flood hazard zones and vulnerability of the Ogun River Basin, Nigeria. Flood causative factors were used as input for multi-criteria analysis using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted overlay in ArcGIS 10.5 to generate potential flood hazard zones. The flood hazard map was overlaid with demographic population data to identify areas where vulnerable people and assets are located. The results show the varying degree of people’s susceptibility to flood hazards. Flood hazard zones were classified into Very High, High, Moderate, Low and Very Low, with area coverage of 1269.40, 14139.50, 7188.40, 17.41 and 0.85 km², respectively (occupied by 466 290, 355 542, 69 554, 231 and 54 people, respectively). This study serves as a preliminary guide for early warning and policy decision-making for flood disaster risk reduction.     

Characterizing the changing behaviours of precipitation concentration in the Yangtze River Basin,China

The statistical characteristics of precipitation on the daily resolution play an important role not only in the risk assessment of floods and droughts but also in the land use management. In this study, spatial and temporal patterns of the precipitation concentration in the Yangtze River Basin are investigated by using three indices, i.e. precipitation concentration index (CI), precipitation concentration degree (PCD) and precipitation concentration period (PCP). Based on meteorological data of 147 stations for the period of 1960–2008, non‐parametric trend analysis and wavelet transformation analysis are employed to detect the temporal variation of these indices. Spatial variability of precipitation concentration indices and their trends are analysed and demonstrated with the help of GIS tools. The results indicate the following: (i) The high precipitation CI values mainly distribute in the middle region of the Yangtze River Basin, whereas the lower and lowest CI values are found in the lower and upper regions, respectively. A roughly east–west gradient for PCD value and PCP value varies from 0.26 to 0.77 and from 123 to 197, respectively. (ii) The analysis results of precipitation CI trends for different periods (i.e. recent 40, 30 and 20 years) show that the middle region of the Yangtze River Basin experienced a transition from decreasing precipitation CI to increasing precipitation CI during the last two decades, although the decreasing long‐term trends in the precipitation CI are not significant in most areas during the period of 1960–2008. (iii) The upper basin, middle basin and lower basin are, respectively, dominated by the significant decreasing, increasing and no significant trends in PCD. A dominance of insignificant PCP trends is observed in the entire basin during 1960–2008 despite that a few areas in the upper region are characterized by significant decreasing trends. (iv) Interdecadal oscillations can be found for three precipitation indices, but with no constant periodicity. Furthermore, good positive correlations have been detected between precipitation CI and PCD, whereas insignificant correlation coefficients of PCP with precipitation are common in the basin. The results can provide beneficial reference to water resource and eco‐environment and mitigation to flood or drought hazards in the Yangtze River Basin for policymakers and stakeholders. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

华北平原地下水开采对区域地震活动性的影响

华北作为中国大陆强震区,同时也是我国人口最多的平原,20世纪60年代以来经历了大规模的地下水开采.本文基于华北平原1959—2016年地下水水位变化,结合区域地质背景建立了有限元孔隙弹性模型,定量分析地下水开采对区域地震活动性的影响.结果显示,地下水开采引起的卸载作用导致区域地壳隆升,最大约35 mm,同时在垂直方向上产生拉伸,地下10 km深度处拉应力最大达92 kPa.根据华北地区历史地震震源参数计算库仑应力变化,结果表明地下水弹性卸载增大了断层面上的正应力,但开采引起的孔隙压力减小使开采区内库仑应力变化为负,而开采区外结果为正.通过分析认为库仑应力变化结果受断层产状、位置等的影响,华北平原地下水开采减小了该地区强震发生的可能性,但随着开采速率放缓及未来可能的水位抬升,会对区域地震活动性产生进一步影响.

     

Using principal component analysis in the investigation of groundwater hydrochemistry of Upper Jezireh Basin,Syria

Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to hydrochemical and isotopic data of 34 groundwater samples. This allowed the reduction of 20 variables to four significant PCs that explain 81.9% of the total variance; F1 (47.1%) explains the groundwater mineralization, whereas F2 (17%) shows isotopic enrichment and nitrate pollution. Based on an iso-factor scores map of F1, three water zones were delineated: Zone A (F1 < ?1), with fresh groundwater from the unconfined aquifer; Zone B (1 > F1 > ?1), with moderate mineralization from the confined–unconfined aquifer boundary; and Zone C (F1 > 1), with the most mineralized hot water from the confined aquifer. The iso-factor scores map of F2 delineates positive values representing samples from the unconfined aquifer, with freshwater and nitrate contamination associated with stable isotope enrichment, whereas negative values represent samples from the confined aquifer. The results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of PCA in groundwater hydrochemistry investigations.     

Fission-track-age records of the Mesozoic tectonic-events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Based on the analysis of apatite and zircon fission track (FT), the FT age distribution and the peck-ages of the Mesozoic tectonic events in the southwest margin of the Ordos Basin (OB) were discussed. (1) The early event mainly occurred at 213-194 Ma with a peck-age of 205 Ma, and corresponded to the tectonic uplift and the mega-clastic deposit in the southwest OB during the Late Triassic. (2) The middle event included at least two episodes. One was at 165-141 Ma with a peck-age of 150 Ma, and the other was at 115-113 Ma with a peck-age of 114 Ma, corresponding to the over-thrusting and the mega- clastic deposits in the southwest OB during the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. (3) The late event mainly demonstrated the regional uplifting and included at least two episodes. One was at 100-81 Ma with a peck-age of 90 Ma, and the other was at 66-59 Ma with a peck-age of 63 Ma. Additionally, the relationship analysis of the tectonic event and the mineralizing chronology revealed that the extreme environment of the peck-age event and the subsequent moderate activity could be the key factors of the multiple resources coupling and coexistence in the OB.     

一种基于地表能量平衡的遥感干旱监测新方法及其在甘肃河东地区干旱监测中的应用初探

目前遥感干旱监测方法的精度普遍不高,探求新的遥感干旱监测方法有助于干旱监测预警技术的提升与发展.波文比是感热通量与潜热通量之比,能综合反映地表水热特征,可尝试将其引入到遥感干旱监测领域加以利用.应用甘肃河东地区的EOS-MODIS卫星资料和同步地面气象资料,基于地表能量平衡原理构建了波文比干旱监测模型,对比分析了波文比（β）指数、温度植被指数（TVX）与土壤水分的相关性,并以典型晴空影像（2014年10月5日）为例初步建立了β的干旱分级标准,对研究区进行了旱情评估.结果表明：β与土壤相对湿度呈现出高度负相关,相比于当下广泛应用的TVX,β与0～20 cm平均土壤相对湿度具有更好的相关性,监测精度得到了显著提高.用β干旱分级标准评估的研究区干湿状况与前期降水空间分布吻合得相当好,评估表明2014年10月5日研究区基本为适宜（无旱）,与2014年9月的降水距平百分率特征一致.基于地表能量平衡的波文比（β）指数在干旱监测中效果突出,具有很好的应用前景.     

Effects of subsurface soil characteristics on wetland–groundwater interaction in the coastal plain of the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Ecosystem services provided by depressional wetlands on the coastal plain of the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW) have been widely recognized and studied. However, wetland–groundwater interactions remain largely unknown in the CBW. The objective of this study was to examine the vertical interactions of depressional wetlands and groundwater with respect to different subsurface soil characteristics. This study examined two depressional wetlands with a low‐permeability and high‐permeability soil layer on the coastal plain of the CBW. The surface water level (SWL) and groundwater level (GWL) were monitored over 1 year from a well and piezometer at each site, respectively, and those data were used to examine the impacts of subsurface soil characteristics on wetland–groundwater interactions. A large difference between the SWL and GWL was observed at the wetland with a low‐permeability soil layer, although there was strong similarity between the SWL and GWL at the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer. Our observations also identified a strong vertical hydraulic gradient between the SWL and GWL at the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer relative to one with a low‐permeability soil layer. The hydroperiod (i.e., the total time of surface water inundation or saturation) of the wetland with a low‐permeability soil layer appeared to rely on groundwater less than the wetland with a high‐permeability soil layer. The findings showed that vertical wetland–groundwater interactions varied with subsurface soil characteristics on the coastal plain of the CBW. Therefore, subsurface soil characteristics should be carefully considered to anticipate the hydrologic behavior of wetlands in this region.     

最小能量准则用于1995年河北沙城ML 4.1地震序列破裂性质的探讨

运用变分原理,我们得到了最小地震波辐射能量约束准则并用于研究震源的物理过程.通过研究1995年ML4.1河北沙城地震序列主震和余震的动力学过程,可知主震和余震震源的动态破裂过程明显不同;ML4.1主震的破裂速度与瑞利波速相近,约为剪切波速度的0.89倍;而28个余震的破裂速度远远小于剪切波速度,大约是剪切波速度的0.05到0.55倍.根据裂纹扩展模型,计算得到其余震的地震波辐射效率多在10%以下,这也说明了余震的地震效率较低.我们认为余震震源的动态破裂过程应与断层内部新生裂纹的扩展有关,而非简单的岩体间的相对滑动.余震震源的动态破裂传播与破裂能占主导地位的小地震有关.这些小震所带来的破裂能也导致了断层的进一步扩展.在对该地震序列的研究中,我们发现主震与余震的震源破裂过程在能量分配上有着本质的区别.因此当地震断层尺度相当小时,破裂能的贡献不能忽略,它的大小将显著地影响地震波辐射能的大小.     

Study on consumption efficiency of soil water resources in the Yellow River Basin based on regional ET structure

Based on the regional water resources character, the concept of soil water resources is first redefined, and then associated with their transfer relationship in the hydrological cycle, Evapotranspiration (ET)-based consumption structure and consumption efficiency of soil water resources are analyzed. According to ET 's function in productivity, the consumption efficiency of soil water resources is di- vided into three classes: high efficient consumption from vegetation transpiration, low efficient con- sumption from soil evaporation among plants with high vegetation coverage and inefficient consump- tion from soil evaporation among plants with low vegetation coverage and bare soil evaporation. The high efficient and low efficient consumption were further classified as productive consumption. The ineffi- cient consumption is considered non-productive consumption because it is significant in the whole hydrological cycle process. Finally, according to these categories, and employing a WEP-L dis- tributed hydrological model, this paper analyzes the consumption efficiency of soil water resources in the Yel- low River Basin. The results show that there are 2078.89×108 m3 soil water resources in the whole basin. From the viewpoint of consumption structure, the soil water resources are comprised of 381.89×108 m3 transpiration consumption from vegetation and 1697.09×108 m3 evaporation consumption from soil among plants and bare soil. From the viewpoint of consumption efficiency, soil water re- sources are composed of 920.11×108 m3 efficient consumption and 1158.86×108 m3 of inefficient con- sumption. High efficient consumption accounts for 41.5 percent of the total efficient consumption of the whole basin, low efficient for 58.5 percent. Furthermore, consumption efficiency varies by region. Compared with ET from different land use conditions, the whole basin appears to follow the trend of having the greatest proportion of consumption as inefficient consumption, followed by low efficient consumption, and then the least proportion as high efficient consumption. The amount of inefficient consumption in some regions with vegetation is less than in other regions without vegetation. The amount of inefficient consumption in grasslands is much greater than in forestlands. However, the proportion of low efficient consumption is the greatest in crop fields. The amount of high efficient con- sumption in grasslands and forelands is similar to the corresponding low efficient consumption. However, the low efficient consumption in grasslands is larger than in the forelands. Therefore, when adjusting the utilization efficiency of soil water resources, vegetation coverage and plant structure should be modulated in terms of the principle of decreasing inefficient consumption, improving low efficiency ET and increasing high efficiency ET according to area character.     

利用热-孔隙流体耦合有限元数值模拟研究干热岩开发温度下降过程——以青海共和盆地恰卜恰地区干热岩开发为例

水力压裂是干热岩(HDR)开发最常用到的压裂方式, 水力压裂形成的裂缝网络为增强地热系统的运行(EGS)提供了高渗透率的人工储层.本文在系统总结前人关于共和盆地水力压裂实验、数值模拟资料和现场水力压裂监测结果的基础上, 引入了离散裂缝网络(DFN), 利用多物理场模拟软件COMSOL Multiphysics建立了共和盆地恰卜恰地区干热岩开采过程中的二维裂缝-基质热-孔隙流体耦合模型, 并讨论了裂缝开度和基质渗透率对干热岩开采温度下降过程的影响.结果表明, 裂缝网络是流体运移的主要通道.温度下降和早期压力变化范围沿着裂缝延伸, 并向周围被裂缝分割的基质扩展.裂缝开度和基质渗透率是影响干热岩地热开采过程中温度下降的重要因素.当裂缝开度越大时, 流体运移范围就越大, 储层温度和产出水温下降就越快, 储层下降范围就越广, 热突破时间和运行寿命就越短.当基质渗透率越大时, 越有利于流体进入基质进行热量交换, 越容易从干热岩中提取热量, 产出水温下降越快, 运行寿命越短.

     

基于CMIP5模式鄱阳湖流域未来参考作物蒸散量预估

预测未来气候情境下鄱阳湖流域参考作物蒸散量(Reference crop Evapotranspiration,ET0)的时空分布可为流域水资源的优化管理,为科学应对气候变化对农业生产的影响提供基础数据支撑.利用鄱阳湖流域14个气象站点1961-2014年逐日气象数据,采用Penman-Monteith公式计算出历史ET0;基于同期美国环境中心(NCEP)再分析数据及2006-2100年CMIP5中CNRM-CM5模式在RCP4. 5和RCP8. 5情景下的预测数据,经统计降尺度模型(statistical downscaling model,SDSM)模拟和偏差校正,预测流域未来ET0;通过Mann-Kendall检验、普通克里金插值和空间自相关法分析了流域1961-2100年ET0的时空演变特征.结果表明:NCEP再分析资料与流域ET0建立的逐步回归降尺度模型模拟效果较好,CNRMCM5模式降尺度模拟结果经偏差校正后,精度明显提高,适宜流域未来ET0的预估.鄱阳湖流域在基准期1961-2010年ET0整体上呈减小趋势,空间分布上呈南北高、中间低的特点,表现出明显的空间差异性.RCP4.5、RCP8.5情景下未来3个时期鄱阳湖流域ET0较基准期均呈不同程度的增加趋势,其空间分布整体表现为东高西低、局地略有突出;无论是在基准期或是未来情景下的3个时期,ET0均具有较强的空间自相关性.在RCP8.5情景下,鄱阳湖1961-2100年干旱指数呈现出较为明显的上升趋势,流域的干旱状况随时间加剧,2011-2100年间流域绝大部分地区由湿润区转为半湿润区,干旱指数自南向北递减,赣江流域将是鄱阳湖流域未来干旱风险的重点防范区.     

High molecular weight (C_(35)~+) n-alkanes of high-waxy condensate and its source kitchen orientation in the Qianmiqiao burial-hill zone, Bohai Gulf Basin

Copyright by Science in China Press 2004 High-waxy condensate is a kind of special hy-drocarbon resources, i.e., the high molecular weight (HMW) alkanes, which usually appear in a solid wax fraction under normal temperature and pressure, but are dissolved by hydrocarbon gas as a high-waxy condensate of single gaseous phase under subsurface high temperature and pressure. Nevertheless, once produced in an oil-gas well, the subsurface condensate flows into the well-bottom, and then immediately …     

基于耦合标势与矢势的有限体积法模拟非均匀各向异性地层中多分量感应测井三维响应

为快速有效地研究、考察各向异性地层条件下多分量感应测井的响应特征,本文利用电场标势与矢势的有限体积法研制出三维频率域电磁场响应的数值模拟算法,克服由低频发射或高阻地层产生的低感应数问题,有效提高了三维电磁数值模拟算法的应用范围和计算效率.首先利用电场的标势与矢势将Maxwell方程转化为满足库仑规范条件的耦合势Helmholtz方程,以Yee氏交错非均匀网格中不同位置上的节点为中心建立四种控制体积单元,通过对控制体积单元中电磁场与电导率的积分平均实现耦合势方程和磁偶极子旋度的离散,并得到一个对角占优的大型稀疏复线性代数方程组,然后,通过不完全LU分解预处理和稳定双共轭梯度法快速求解离散方程.数值结果证明了该算法的有效性,并进一步考查了仪器偏心、倾斜井、垂直裂缝等复杂条件下多分量感应的响应特征.     

基于Pade逼近的Cole-Cole频散介质GPR有限元正演

针对Cole-Cole频散介质中的复介电常数是jω的分数次幂函数,传统的时域有限元法难以离散及计算时间域分数阶导数,本文采用Pade逼近算法将含有时间分数阶导数的Cole-Cole频散介质电磁波方程推导为一组整数阶辅助微分方程,提出了一种适用于Cole-Cole频散介质的GPR有限元正演模拟算法.在复数伸展坐标系下,通过在频率域Cole-Cole频散介质电磁波方程中引入2个中间变量,并将其变换到时间域,从而以变分形式将PML边界条件加载到Cole-Cole频散介质GPR有限元方程组中,并给出了详细的求解公式.在此基础上,编制了基于Pade逼近的Cole-Cole频散介质GPR有限元正演程序,利用该程序对均匀模型进行计算,并与解析解进行对比,验证了本文构建的GPR有限元正演算法的正确性和有效性.设计了一个复杂Cole-Cole频散介质GPR模型,利用本文构建的GPR有限元正演算法进行模拟并与非频散介质模型的模拟结果进行对比,分析了电磁波在Cole-Cole频散介质中传播衰减增强、子波延伸,分辨率降低等传播规律,有助于实测雷达资料更可靠、更准确的解释.模拟结果表明,基于Pade逼近的GPR有限元正演算法可用于复杂Cole-Cole频散介质结构模拟,且具有较高的计算精度.

     

基于REOF的两种卫星降水产品(IMERG和MSWEP)在金沙江流域降水分区尺度精度评估

高时空分辨率降水产品的精度评估是卫星降水用于水文气象干旱等研究的前提。本研究提出在降水分区尺度下评估IMERG和MSWEP两种卫星降水产品的精度,并与不分区尺度(即流域尺度)进行比较。首先采用旋转经验正交函数(REOF)对金沙江流域(JSB)进行降水分区,通过贡献率得出8个分区较为适合。然后识别降水的空间分布特征,发现2种降水产品都可以很好地捕捉降水呈现出的从上游到下游逐渐增加的趋势。最后在日尺度、降水发生概率和极端降水探测能力3个方面对降水产品在分区尺度和不分区尺度的性能进行评估。结果表明,在日尺度上,MSWEP的精度在多数降水分区优于IMERG,被推荐5次(1、3、6、7和8区),集中在流域的中游。同时流域尺度也推荐MSWEP。在降水事件发生概率方面,MSWEP能再现不同等级降水强度的概率密度分布,但过高估计0.1~1 mm/d降水事件的发生概率;而IMERG过高估计小于0.1 mm/d降水事件的概率。在极端降水探测能力方面,流域尺度的KGE值都是正值,且IMERG优于MSWEP,但分区尺度上,KGE值在部分降水分区中存在负值,表明IMERG和MSWEP均不能很好地探测出该区的极端降水事件。本研究成果表明降水分区尺度是必需的,能够更加精细地评估降水产品。研究结果可为具有类似气候条件的卫星降水评估提供参考。     

Use of terrestrial photogrammetry based on structure‐from‐motion for mass balance estimation of a small glacier in the Italian alps

Different high‐resolution techniques can be employed to obtain information about the three‐dimensional (3D) surface of glaciers. This is typically carried out using efficient, but also expensive and logistically demanding, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technologies, such as airborne scanners and terrestrial laser scanners. Recent technological improvements in the field of image analysis and computer vision have prompted the development of a low‐cost photogrammetric approach, which is referred to as ‘structure‐from‐motion’ (SfM). Combined with dense image‐matching algorithms, this method has become competitive for the production of high‐quality 3D models. However, several issues typical of this approach should be considered for application in glacial environments. In particular, the surface morphology, the different substrata, the occurrence of sharp contrast from solar shadows and the variable distance from the camera positions can negatively affect the image texture, and reduce the possibility of obtaining a reliable point cloud from the images. The objective of this study is to test the structure‐from‐motion multi view stereo (SfM‐MVS) approach in a small debris‐covered glacier located in the eastern Italian Alps, using a consumer‐grade reflex camera and the computer vision‐based software PhotoScan. The quality of the 3D models produced by the SfM‐MVS process was assessed via the comparison with digital terrain models obtained from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) surveys that were performed at the same epochs. The effect of different terrain gradients and different substrata (debris, snow and firn) was also evaluated in terms of the accuracy of the reconstruction by SfM‐MVS versus TLS. Our results show that the quality of this new photogrammetric approach is similar to the quality of TLS and that point cloud densities are comparable or even higher compared with TLS. However, special care should be taken while planning the SfM survey geometry, to optimize the 3D model quality and spatial coverage. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.