Accuracy of 3D geodetic model for trench-based paleoseismology: A case study from the Gelenbe fault zone
Turkish Journal of Remote Sensing, cilt.8, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.51489/tuzal.1835652
- Dergi Adı: Turkish Journal of Remote Sensing
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Gelenbe fault zone, LiDAR, palaeoseismology, three dimensional modelling
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
In recent years, the rapidly advancing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has become an important tool in geosciences, particularly in paleoseismology, due to its ability to provide highly accurate topographic data. In this study, trench-based paleoseismological investigations were conducted at two different locations along the Gelenbe Fault Zone within the İzmir–Balıkesir Transfer Zone (İBTZ), as part of the project titled “Determination of the Paleoseismological Characteristics of Active Faults in Türkiye” (Project No: 123G020). Gelenbe Fault Zone is a right-lateral strike-slip fault extending approximately in a NNE–SSW direction between Bigadiç (Balıkesir) and Akhisar (Manisa). Within the zone, the East and West Segments, measuring 35 km and 36 km in length respectively, are approximately parallel to each other. Within the scope of the study, the trench walls excavated across the fault were cleaned, gridded at one-meter intervals, and subsequently scanned using LiDAR technology to obtain high-resolution data. The acquired point clouds were integrated with photogrammetric data and modeled in three dimensions using Agisoft Metashape Professional and CloudCompare software. To evaluate the geometric accuracy of the model, the one-meter grids marked on the trench walls were used as reference points, and the root mean square error was calculated. The analyses revealed that the model’s accuracy value was ±17 mm, consistent with results obtained by similar methods in the literature. To determine the impact of this spatial error on seismotectonic interpretations, different displacement scenarios were tested, and the results demonstrated that the ±17 mm model error caused a negligible deviation of only ±0.02 magnitude in the calculated moment magnitudes. These findings demonstrate the applicability of LiDAR technology for producing high-accuracy Three-Dimensional models in paleoseismological studies and provide a valuable example for preserving refilled trenches as permanent digital archives.