Advancements in sUAV Mapping

 
Session

Integrated mapping solutions

Full Paper Review

No

Authors

Michael John Breetzke, GISSA, South Africa, michael.breetzke@deltabec.com

Abstract

The concept of small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAV) with mapping capabilities is taking the aerial survey industry by storm. The ability of being able to capture small areas with the use of RGB and NIR modified point and shoot cameras is fast becoming a reality.

Delta Built Environment Consultants (Delta BEC) has developed such an ability to aid in ongoing projects, provide value-add products to existing clients and to tackle the small area survey industry. This paper will identify key areas of the potential industry that Delta BEC will be able to offer clients, such industries range from agriculture health monitoring through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis to air quality control monitoring and high quality imagery, this analysis coupled with the decision support system that Geographic Information System (GIS) offers, has the potential to provide accurate data at a fraction of the cost and time associated with normal aerial imagery.

The products produced via sUAV are orthomosaic imagery, contours, digital surface models and 3D reconstruction. The paper will illustrate to the interested parties how we have managed to construct our sUAV, the capabilities of such a sUAV, challenges expected to the upcoming industry in the future and forecasting such technology trends in the near future. The sUAV mapping industry is in the infant stage, there are challenges ahead but positive steps are being taken to ensure that sUAV mapping has its place in the survey and GIS world.

no full paper was submitted