UAV close-range photogrammetry for breakwater damage assessment in a Tyrrhenian coastal site

Assessing breakwater damage following intense storm events is crucial for preventing failures that can compromise safety and service quality. This study focuses on assessing the impact of a severe storm event that took place in November 2022, resulting in significant damage to the Amalfi breakwater in Campania, Italy. The breakwater damage and repair armor unit volumes have been evaluated with an integrated approach consisting of a combination of Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) surveys and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. The assessment of the added areas gained for the breakwater reconstruction has been performed using the UAV. The final goal was to estimate a damage parameter to give an assessment of the breakwater stability and to find a rapid and cost-effective method to evaluate the necessary rehabilitation works. The method, being relatively rapid, can also be applicable in the immediate aftermath of a storm surge or even as a systematic monitoring of the breakwater conditions. The findings of the study highlight the importance of monitoring coastal structures to prevent failure mechanisms from occurring in response to future, increasingly frequent and intense storm events.