Presentation Abstract
The increasing availability of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned systems is placing powerful data acquisition tools within reach of scientists and engineers engaged in coastal management, restoration, and remediation. Two diverse use cases are presented here which showcase the effectiveness of combined mapping by Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) to generate orthomosaic imagery and 3D digital surface models of subaqueous/subaerial terrain in low-lying and intertidal settings. These examples include combined UAS structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry and USV single-beam sonar bathymetry: (1) to inform remedial design alternatives at an intertidal mudflat cleanup site in Class B airspace; and (2) to generate stage-storage relationships for low-lying lakes subject to increased flooding with sea-level rise and coastal storms. The common thread among these and other similar scale projects is that all data were collected and processed in-house by staff scientists or engineers engaged in the projects. Furthermore, if not for the reduced cost, ease of mobilization, and reduced response time of the unmanned systems, the datasets would not have been collected, and the sites would not have benefited from critical information. Several themes will be highlighted through discussion of the case examples: The versatility of unmanned platforms creates new options for monitoring complex sites with challenging or unsafe access. Combining traditionally separate data types through a common workflow (e.g. multi-parameter aerial and aquatic surveys) leads to a synoptic understanding of processes occurring at a site by introducing multiple lines of evidence to support observations. Commercially available turn-key systems help to simplify mission planning and data acquisition, allowing researchers to focus on the problem rather than the details of operating the equipment. Unmanned tools are easily integrated into existing data-management systems by utilizing standard software to process and manipulate sensor-specific or geospatial data.
Session Title
Structure from Motion and Drone Aerial Imagery for Coastal Restoration and Management
Keywords
UAS, Photogrammetry, Drones, Remediation, Restoration, Imagery
Conference Track
SSE15: Data and Information Management
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE15-640
Start Date
4-4-2018 4:00 PM
End Date
4-4-2018 4:15 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Photographic surveying; Coastal mapping--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Empowering coastal engineers and scientists with unmanned systems
The increasing availability of commercial off-the-shelf unmanned systems is placing powerful data acquisition tools within reach of scientists and engineers engaged in coastal management, restoration, and remediation. Two diverse use cases are presented here which showcase the effectiveness of combined mapping by Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) to generate orthomosaic imagery and 3D digital surface models of subaqueous/subaerial terrain in low-lying and intertidal settings. These examples include combined UAS structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry and USV single-beam sonar bathymetry: (1) to inform remedial design alternatives at an intertidal mudflat cleanup site in Class B airspace; and (2) to generate stage-storage relationships for low-lying lakes subject to increased flooding with sea-level rise and coastal storms. The common thread among these and other similar scale projects is that all data were collected and processed in-house by staff scientists or engineers engaged in the projects. Furthermore, if not for the reduced cost, ease of mobilization, and reduced response time of the unmanned systems, the datasets would not have been collected, and the sites would not have benefited from critical information. Several themes will be highlighted through discussion of the case examples: The versatility of unmanned platforms creates new options for monitoring complex sites with challenging or unsafe access. Combining traditionally separate data types through a common workflow (e.g. multi-parameter aerial and aquatic surveys) leads to a synoptic understanding of processes occurring at a site by introducing multiple lines of evidence to support observations. Commercially available turn-key systems help to simplify mission planning and data acquisition, allowing researchers to focus on the problem rather than the details of operating the equipment. Unmanned tools are easily integrated into existing data-management systems by utilizing standard software to process and manipulate sensor-specific or geospatial data.
