Recent Advances in UAV-Based Oblique Photogrammetry Applications for Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Reservoir Geology

Key words: 
• UAV /
• oblique photography technology /
• outcrop modeling /
• reservoir architecture /
• modern deposition /
• digital twin

Abstract: The rapid advancement of information, intelligence, and automation technologies has significantly expanded the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based oblique photogrammetry in geology. In recent years, its applications in field geology have advanced swiftly. This paper reviews the principles and developments of UAV-based photogrammetry, the associated primary products and modeling technologies, and its applications in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and reservoir geology. Key advancements include digital outcrop dataset collection paradigms, visual representation and digital twin technologies, sequence stratigraphy and modern sedimentary source-sink analyses, quantitative reservoir sedimentology, and 3D geological modeling. Based on a comprehensive literature review and current technological trends, future developments are expected to focus on intelligent identification and modeling of sedimentary geological features, enhancements to digital twin systems and visualization, deeper exploration of reservoir genesis and prototype modeling, multi-scale data calibration and integration, and the expansion of geological research directions.