A Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Based Method for Monitoring Wetland Inundation & Vegetation

A Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Based Method for Monitoring Wetland Inundation & Vegetation PDF Author: Dustin Dehm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aerial photography in hydrology
Languages : en
Pages : 104

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Book Description
Understanding wetland water inundation and vegetation changes over time is an important aspect of wetland research and management. Remote sensing offers a way to not only monitor changes in wetland water storage over time, but to classify emergent macrophyte and terrestrial vegetation habitats. In the past, satellite and aerial imagery have been used to classify wetland and upland areas with success; however, satellite imagery must often be refined and paired with other datasets due to lower spatial resolution, and aerial imagery is costly and often unavailable to wetland managers. The advancement of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) presents an opportunity to acquire frequent high-resolution imagery of wetland areas for a lower cost. SUAS can be deployed at the study area quickly, and with less intensive crew and equipment requirements than aerial imagery. Mapping wetland water storage and emergent vegetation at a barrier-protected estuarine wetland along the coast of Lake Erie in north-central Ohio was accomplished using a commercial sUAS platform paired with a multispectral MAPIR Survey 3W camera. The objectives of this study were to assess the effectiveness of this low-cost sensor for wetland monitoring applications, namely measuring vegetation extent and density changes and mapping short-term wetland water inundation over time to derive water storage parameters. To derive vegetation extent and density, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was utilized using a ratio of the Survey 3W's red (660 nanometers) and near-infrared (850 nanometers) bands. Water inundation was derived using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), which uses the ratio between the green (550 nanometers) and near-infrared bands. The method discussed in this study produced seven calibrated red/green/near-infrared (RGN) maps, from each of which an NDWI and NDVI map were created, and seven red/green/blue (RGB) maps. The RGN maps were calibrated to bottom-of-atmosphere reflectances before analysis. This study demonstrates the ability of low cost filtered cameras paired with sUAS technology for use in wetland monitoring applications. The cost of this system is significantly less than aerial systems and in general provides a much higher temporal resolution. This method also provides a much higher spatial resolution than satellite imagery. The method described can not only create finely detailed water inundation maps, but when paired with additional data can derive water storage parameters like shoreline elevation, water volume, and residence time. In addition, vegetation density, extent and dominant species classifications can be collected quickly, and at a more comprehensive scale than by ground monitoring alone.

A Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Based Method for Monitoring Wetland Inundation & Vegetation

A Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Based Method for Monitoring Wetland Inundation & Vegetation PDF Author: Dustin Dehm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aerial photography in hydrology
Languages : en
Pages : 104

Get Book Here

Book Description
Understanding wetland water inundation and vegetation changes over time is an important aspect of wetland research and management. Remote sensing offers a way to not only monitor changes in wetland water storage over time, but to classify emergent macrophyte and terrestrial vegetation habitats. In the past, satellite and aerial imagery have been used to classify wetland and upland areas with success; however, satellite imagery must often be refined and paired with other datasets due to lower spatial resolution, and aerial imagery is costly and often unavailable to wetland managers. The advancement of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) presents an opportunity to acquire frequent high-resolution imagery of wetland areas for a lower cost. SUAS can be deployed at the study area quickly, and with less intensive crew and equipment requirements than aerial imagery. Mapping wetland water storage and emergent vegetation at a barrier-protected estuarine wetland along the coast of Lake Erie in north-central Ohio was accomplished using a commercial sUAS platform paired with a multispectral MAPIR Survey 3W camera. The objectives of this study were to assess the effectiveness of this low-cost sensor for wetland monitoring applications, namely measuring vegetation extent and density changes and mapping short-term wetland water inundation over time to derive water storage parameters. To derive vegetation extent and density, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was utilized using a ratio of the Survey 3W's red (660 nanometers) and near-infrared (850 nanometers) bands. Water inundation was derived using the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), which uses the ratio between the green (550 nanometers) and near-infrared bands. The method discussed in this study produced seven calibrated red/green/near-infrared (RGN) maps, from each of which an NDWI and NDVI map were created, and seven red/green/blue (RGB) maps. The RGN maps were calibrated to bottom-of-atmosphere reflectances before analysis. This study demonstrates the ability of low cost filtered cameras paired with sUAS technology for use in wetland monitoring applications. The cost of this system is significantly less than aerial systems and in general provides a much higher temporal resolution. This method also provides a much higher spatial resolution than satellite imagery. The method described can not only create finely detailed water inundation maps, but when paired with additional data can derive water storage parameters like shoreline elevation, water volume, and residence time. In addition, vegetation density, extent and dominant species classifications can be collected quickly, and at a more comprehensive scale than by ground monitoring alone.

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Monitoring Soil, Vegetation, and Riverine Environments

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Monitoring Soil, Vegetation, and Riverine Environments PDF Author: Salvatore Manfreda
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 032385284X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
Unmanned Aerial Systems for Monitoring Soil, Vegetation, and Riverine Environments provides an overview of how unmanned aerial systems have revolutionized our capability to monitor river systems, soil characteristics, and related processes at unparalleled spatio-temporal resolutions. This capability has enabled enhancements in our capacity to describe water cycle and hydrological processes. The book includes guidelines, technical advice, and practical experience to support practitioners and scientists in increasing the efficiency of monitoring with the help of UAS. The book contains field survey datasets to use as practical exercises, allowing proposed techniques and methods to be applied to real world case studies. Includes a summary of technical UAS issues allowing readers to focus on how the exact technology fits their scientific question Provides specific applications enabling readers to understand the benefits and threats within the field Includes a comprehensive literature review in each chapter, allowing readers to know the key players and research in the field

Applications of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Applications of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems PDF Author: J.B. Sharma
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429534329
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
Advances in high spatial resolution mapping capabilities and the new rules established by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States for the operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) have provided new opportunities to acquire aerial data at a lower cost and more safely versus other methods. A similar opening of the skies for sUAS applications is being allowed in countries across the world. Also, sUAS can access hazardous or inaccessible areas during disaster events and provide rapid response when needed. Applications of Small Unmanned Aircraft systems: Best Practices and Case Studies is the first book that brings together the best practices of sUAS applied to a broad range of issues in high spatial resolution mapping projects. Very few sUAS pilots have the knowledge of how the collected imagery is processed into value added mapping products that have commercial and/or academic import. Since the field of sUAS applications is just a few years old, this book covers the need for a compendium of case studies to guide the planning, data collection, and most importantly data processing and map error issues, with the range of sensors available to the user community. Written by experienced academics and professionals, this book serves as a guide on how to formulate sUAS based projects, from choice of a sUAS, flight planning for a particular application, sensors and data acquisition, data processing software, mapping software and use of the high spatial resolution maps produced for particular types of geospatial modeling. Features: Focus on sUAS based data acquisition and processing into map products Broad range of case studies by highly experienced academics Practical guidance on sUAS hardware, sensors, and software utilized Compilation of workflow insights from expert professors and professionals Relevant to academia, government, and industry Positional and thematic map accuracy, UAS curriculum development and workflow replicability issues This book would be an excellent text for upper-level undergraduate to graduate level sUAS mapping application courses. It is also invaluable as a reference for educators designing sUAS based curriculum as well as for potential sUAS users to assess the scope of mapping projects that can be done with this technology.

Unmanned Aerial Remote Sensing

Unmanned Aerial Remote Sensing PDF Author: David R. Green
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482246082
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are a rapidly evolving technology with an expanding array of diverse applications. In response to the continuing evolution of this technology, this book discusses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and similar systems, platforms and sensors, as well as exploring some of their environmental applications. It explains how they can be used for mapping, monitoring, and modeling a wide variety of different environmental aspects, and at the same time addresses some of the current constraints placed on realizing the potential use of the technology such as s flight duration and distance, safety, and the invasion of privacy etc. Features of the book: Provides necessary theoretical foundations for pertinent subject matter areas Introduces the role and value of UAVs for geographical data acquisition, and the ways to acquire and process the data Provides a synthesis of ongoing research and a focus on the use of technology for small-scale image and spatial data acquisition in an environmental context Written by experts of the technology who bring together UAS tools and resources for the environmental specialist Unmanned Aerial Remote Sensing: UAS for Environmental Applications is an excellent resource for any practitioner utilizing remote sensing and other geospatial technologies for environmental applications, such as conservation, research, and planning. Students and academics in information science, environment and natural resources, geosciences, and geography, will likewise find this comprehensive book a useful and informative resource.

UAS-Remote Sensing Methods for Mapping, Monitoring and Modeling Crops

UAS-Remote Sensing Methods for Mapping, Monitoring and Modeling Crops PDF Author: Francisco Javier Mesas Carrascosa
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3036505261
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 174

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Book Description
The advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms and onboard sensors in the past few years have greatly increased our ability to monitor and map crops. The ability to register images at ultrahigh spatial resolution at any moment has made remote sensing techniques increasingly useful in crop management. These technologies have revolutionized the way in which remote sensing is applied in precision agriculture, allowing for decision-making in a matter of days instead of weeks. However, it is still necessary to continue research to improve and maximize the potential of UAV remote sensing in agriculture. This Special Issue of Remote Sensing includes different applications of UAV remote sensing for crop management, covering RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor applications aboard UAVs. The papers reveal innovative techniques involving image analysis and cloud points. However, it should be emphasized that this Special Issue is a small sample of UAV applications in agriculture and that there is much more to investigate.

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as Remote Sensors

Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as Remote Sensors PDF Author: Tim O'Brien
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
This research compares an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-facilitated wetland data collection technique to conventional methods using measures of convenience, cost-effectiveness, and precision. The increasing risk surrounding Ontario's wetlands is due in part to the inefficiencies of current data collection techniques. A small UAV was deployed to survey and collect imagery data from a wetland complex in Wellington County, Ontario. Orthomosaic imagery, and digital model samples were generated using spatial analysis software. Collected imagery displayed finer data resolution than conventional aerial imagery, and can be considered more comprehensive and precise in collecting delineation data, including ground water, vegetation patterns, and habitat. The single user approach demonstrated time and accessibility convenience over labour-intensive field studies, and at a competitive cost. For landscape architects and related professionals, this remote sensing approach advances landscape comprehension and provides a precise, accessible, and affordable wetland data collection method.

A Temporal and Ecological Analysis of the Huntington Beach Wetlands Through an Unmanned Aerial System Remote Sensing Perspective

A Temporal and Ecological Analysis of the Huntington Beach Wetlands Through an Unmanned Aerial System Remote Sensing Perspective PDF Author: Talha Rafiq
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781339012735
Category : Drone aircraft
Languages : en
Pages : 147

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Book Description
Abstract: Wetland monitoring and preservation efforts have the potential to be enhanced with advanced remote sensing acquisition and digital image analysis approaches. Progress in the development and utilization of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as remote sensing platforms has offered significant spatial and temporal advantages over traditional aerial and orbital remote sensing platforms. Photogrammetric approaches to generate high spatial resolution orthophotos of UAV acquired imagery along with the UAV's low-cost and temporally flexible characteristics are explored. A comparative analysis of different spectral based land cover maps derived from imagery captured using UAV, satellite, and airplane platforms provide an assessment of the Huntington Beach Wetlands. This research presents a UAS remote sensing methodology encompassing data collection, image processing, and analysis in constructing spectral based land cover maps to augment the efforts of the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy by assessing ecological and temporal changes at the Huntington Beach Wetlands.

UAV Sensors for Environmental Monitoring

UAV Sensors for Environmental Monitoring PDF Author: Felipe Gonzalez Toro
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038427535
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 671

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Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "UAV Sensors for Environmental Monitoring" that was published in Sensors

Small unmanned aerial system mapping versus conventional methods

Small unmanned aerial system mapping versus conventional methods PDF Author: Volkmann, W.
Publisher: CTA
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 38

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Book Description
The use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in aerial mapping applications is increasingly being used as an appropriate surveying method in many sectors, particularly for agriculture. Since the use of sUAS is new to many agricultural sector players, it is useful to reflect on the costs and benefits, and related technical and operational challenges, as well as the advantages that present themselves in the practical implementation of this technology.

UAVs for Vegetation Monitoring

UAVs for Vegetation Monitoring PDF Author: Ana de Castro MegĂ­as
Publisher: Mdpi AG
ISBN: 9783036521923
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 466

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Book Description
This book compiles a set of original and innovative papers included in the Special Issue on UAVs for vegetation monitoring, which proves the wide scope of UAVs in very diverse vegetation applications, both in agricultural and forestry scenarios, ranging from the characterization of relevant vegetation features to the detection of plant or crop stressors. New methods and techniques are developed and applied to diverse vegetation scenarios to meet the main challenge of sustainability.