Estimation of plastic marine debris volumes on beaches using unmanned aerial vehicles and image processing based on deep learning

Abstract Plastic marine debris (PMD) is of global concern. To help address this problem, a novel approach for estimating PMD volumes using a combination of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys and image processing based on deep learning is proposed. A three-dimensional model and orthoscopic image of a beach, constructed via Structure from Motion software using UAV-derived data, enabled PMD volumes to be computed by edge detection through image processing. The accuracy of the method was verified by estimating the volumes of test debris placed on a beach in known sizes and shapes. The proposed approach shows potential for estimating PMD volumes with an error of