UAS 408
SPATIAL DATA APPLICATIONS FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)
Catalog Entry
UAS 408. Spatial Data Applications for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Three hours lecture; two hours laboratory (4).
Prerequisites: GEOL 100, or GEOL 120 and 121, or GEOS 250, and/or permission of the instructor.
Introduction to the use of UAS (also known as drones) for collecting, processing, and analyzing aerial imagery as well as data from other sensor types. Included will be an introduction to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, types of unmanned systems, mission planning, and flight operations. The course primarily trains students to use industry standard computer applications and best practices for creating and delivering georeferenced orthoimage mosaic maps, topographic maps, digital surface models (DSMs) and digital terrain models (DTMs), 3D Point Clouds, and 3D Mesh Models from overlapping high-resolution UAS images and more.
Note(s): Applied Learning designated course. Students cannot receive credit for both UAS 408 and GEOL 408.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have become an important tool for collecting still and video imagery for a variety of private, public, and commercial applications. UAS can also serve as aerial platforms for other types of sensors including thermal, multispectral, laser, and more. Students will learn how to process data from UAS and deliver results using industry standard software such as Pix4D Mapper, Pix4D Cloud, ArcGIS Pro, Cloud Compare and more. Students will also be introduced to Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) regulations regarding the commercial use of UAS and to basic mission planning to optimize results. Professional writing is emphasized in that all project assignments are to be submitted in the form of an industry quality memo report including figures and appendices.
Arrangement of topics is as follows:
Intro to UAS Flight Operations
1.FAA Regulations for Commercial UAS
2.Models and Types of UAS Aircraft
3.Basic Flight Preparation and Checklists
4.Manual Flight Simulators and Operations (Stick and Rudder)
5.Stick and Rudder Certification (Basic)
Mission Planning Software
1.Examples of Mission Planning and Execution
2.Pix4D Capture and Ground Station Pro (GSP) applications
3.eMotion3 application
4.Mission Planning Exercise
5.Industry-standard reports and deliverables
Introduction to Pix4D Aerial Mapping
1.Data Management and Housekeeping
2.Video Tutorials
3.Data Acquisition
4.First Aerial Mapping Exercise
Photogrammetry & Image Capture
1.What is Ground Sampling Distance?
2.The Factors that Determine GSD
3.GSD Calculator
Getting Started with Pix4Dmapper
1.The Data
2.The Project Creation Wizard
3.Navigating within the Data View
Ground Control Points
1.The Data
2.Coordinates
3.Marking Images
4.Re-optimize & root mean square analysis
5.Deliverables & Conclusion
The Dense Point Cloud
1.The Data
2.Opening the Project
3.Automated Classification of the Dense Point Cloud
4.Manual Classification of the Dense Point Cloud
5.Exporting the Dense Point Cloud
6.Deliverables & Conclusion
3D Modeling
1.The Data
2.Opening the Project
3.Image Annotations
4.The Processing Area
5.Generate 3D Textured Mesh Sub-Step
6.Deliverables & Conclusion
Final Project Expectations and Proposals
1.Introduction
2.Requirements
3.Format
Measuring & Vector Tools
1.The Data
2.Opening the Project
3.Creating Lines
4.Creating Areas
5.Adjusting Vertices
6.Exporting Vectors
7.Deliverables & Conclusion
Volume Calculations
1.The Data
2.Opening the Project
3.Creating a Base Surface
4.Editing the Base Vertices
5.Editing the Plane of the Base Surface
6.Exporting and Importing the Base Surface
7.Deliverables & Conclusion
Raster Deliverables
1.The Data
2.Opening the Project
3.Creating Regions
4.Visualizing the DSMs & DTMs
5.Locating the Deliverables
6.Deliverables & Conclusion
Fixed Wing Missions, Exporting to ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro
1.Introduction
2.Orthophoto mosaics
3.Topographic Maps
4.DTMs and DSMs
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course will include three hours of lecture time and two hours of laboratory time. Lecture time will emphasize the foundations of UAS spatial data analysis using a mix of in-person and online lectures. Laboratory time will involve a series of exercises designed to develop skills in working with software applications for processing aerial UAS imagery, or other UAS sensor data, to produce a variety of useful deliverables.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
This course is intended as an undergraduate level introduction to the techniques of UAS-generated spatial data analysis being used today in countless disciplines. It is anticipated that students completing this course will have the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers that include processing imagery and other sensor data obtained by UAS for multiple applications and disciplines. Students will also be able to contribute to and make more informed decisions about the use of spatial data from UAS in the work place. Another goal is to prepare students to write professional industry-style reports as a way of presenting UAS results to superiors and clients.
Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1.Explain the basics of working with UAS including:
a.FAA regulations
b.Types of UAS
c.Mission Planning
2.Process data obtained by UAS in various forms, including imagery
3.Present processed results in the form of industry-standard reports that include:
a.Mission Objectives
b.Mission Planning
c.Mission results that include as deliverables:
i.Orthoimage mosaics and topographic maps
ii.Digital surface models and digital terrain models
iii.3D point clouds and 3d mesh models
4.Be able to interpret results of UAS data analyses in terms related to students’ own majors & disciplines and present results in the form of professional reports.
Assessment Measures
The student will be assessed according to her/his competence demonstrated in completing: (1) twelve image processing exercises, (2) a final exam, (3) a final project with written report, (4) professional quality of written submissions and, (5) a presentation based on the final project suitable for a professional conference or forum.
Other Course Information
Students may take either UAS 408 or GEOS 315 as a requirement for the Environmental and Engineering Geoscience Concentration for a B.S. degree in Geology. It is also a choice for students towards fulfilling the requirements for the General Geology Concentration for a B.S. degree in Geology.
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
Date Action Reviewed by
August 16, 2005 Reviewed and Updated Stephen W. Lenhart, Chair
March 01, 2021