Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Hydrological Monitoring

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Manfreda ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Environmental Studies ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Hydrological Monitoring

<p>Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are offering an extraordinary opportunity to improve our ability to monitor river basins. The wide use of UAS leaded to a significant grow of the number of applications and methodologies developed for specific scopes of environmental monitoring. For this reason, there is a serious challenge to harmonise and provide standardised guidance applicable across a broad range of environments and conditions. In this context, a network of scientists is cooperating within the framework of a COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action named “Harmonious - Given the wide use of UAS within environmental studies”. The intention of “Harmonious” is to promote monitoring strategies, establish harmonised monitoring practices, and transfer most recent advances on UAS methodologies to others within a global network. The working groups of Harmonious are currently working on the definition of practical guidance for environmental studies identifying critical processes and the interconnection of each step for a successful workflow. Given the number of environmental constraints and variables, it is impractical to provide a protocol that can be applied universally under all possible conditions, but it is possible to systematise the fragmented knowledge on this topic identifying the best-practices to improve the overall quality of the final products. Preliminary results of the HARMONIOUS COST Action will be given.</p>

scholarly journals Good practices in collecting umbilical cord and placental blood

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Auer Lopes ◽  
Elizabeth Bernardino ◽  
Karla Crozeta ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Bittencourt Guimarães
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Umbilical Cord ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Placental Blood ◽  
Operational Factors ◽  
Blood Specimens ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Gathering Data

Abstract Objective: to identify the factors related to the quality of umbilical cord and placental blood specimens, and define best practices for their collection in a government bank of umbilical cord and placental blood. Method: this was a descriptive study, quantitative approach, performed at a government umbilical cord and placental blood bank, in two steps: 1) verification of the obstetric, neonatal and operational factors, using a specific tool for gathering data as non-participant observers; 2) definition of best practices by grouping non-conformities observed before, during and after blood collection. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the following statistical software: Statistica(r) and R(r). Results: while there was a correlation with obstetrical and neonatal factors, there was a larger correlation with operational factors, resulting in the need to adjust the professional practices of the nursing staff and obstetrical team involved in collecting this type of blood. Based on these non-conformities we defined best practices for nurses before, during and after blood collection. Conclusion: the best practices defined in this study are an important management tool for the work of nurses in obtaining blood specimens of high cell quality.

scholarly journals UAS for Wetland Mapping and Hydrological Modeling

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Jeziorska
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
High Spatial Resolution ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Regulatory Environment ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Wetland Mapping ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Sensing Technology ◽  
Aerial Systems

The miniaturization and affordable production of integrated microelectronics have improved in recent years, making unmanned aerial systems (UAS) accessible to consumers and igniting their interest. Researchers have proposed UAS-based solutions for almost any conceivable problem, but the greatest impact will likely be in applications that exploit the unique advantages of the technology: work in dangerous or difficult-to-access areas, high spatial resolution and/or frequent measurements of environmental phenomena, and deployment of novel sensing technology over small to moderate spatial scales. Examples of such applications may be the identification of wetland areas and use of high-resolution spatial data for hydrological modeling. However, because of the large—and growing—assortment of aircraft and sensors available on the market, an evolving regulatory environment, and limited practical guidance or examples of wetland mapping with UAS, it has been difficult to confidently devise or recommend UAS-based monitoring strategies for these applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of UAS hardware, software, regulations, scientific applications, and data collection/post-processing procedures that are relevant for wetland monitoring and hydrological modeling.

scholarly journals Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Agricultural Operation Management: Part II: Platforms and Payloads

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Singh ◽  
James Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Operation Management ◽  
Sensor System ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Biological Engineering ◽  
Agricultural Operations ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Agricultural Operation

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs, UAVs, or drones) have emerged as an important tool for farmers, Extension agents, and landowners to map, monitor, and manage their properties. This 5-page publication provides an overview of the primary components of typical UASs to help growers, landowners, and/or Extension agents who want to configure and/or purchase a UAS or sensor system for agricultural operations. This document is one of a three-part series focusing on the applications, configuration, and best practices for using UASs in agricultural operations management. Written by Aditya Singh and James Fletcher, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, February 2021.

scholarly journals Application of Miniaturized Sensors to Unmanned Aerial Systems, A New Pathway for the Survey of Polluted Areas: Preliminary Results

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Fumian ◽  
Daniele Di Giovanni ◽  
Luca Martellucci ◽  
Riccardo Rossi ◽  
Pasqualino Gaudio
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Standoff Detection ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Aerial Systems

With the aim to have risk mitigation for people and first responders, active remote sensing standoff detection is a fruitful technology, both in case of accidental (natural or incidental) or intentional dispersion in the environment of volatile chemical substances. Nowadays, several laser-based methodologies could be put in place to perform extensive areal monitoring. The present study regards the proposal for a new system architecture derived from the integration of a low-cost laser-based network of detectors for pollutants interfaced with a more sophisticated layout mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) able to identify the nature and the amount of a release. With this system set up, the drone will be activated by the alarm triggered by the laser-based network when anomalies are detected. The area will be explored by the drone with a more accurate set of sensors for identification to validate the detection of the network of Lidar systems and to sample the substance in the focus zone for subsequent analysis. In this work, methodologies and requirements for the standoff detection and the identification features chosen for this integrated system are described. The work aims at the definition of a new approach to the problem through the integration of different technologies and tools in the operative field experiments. Some preliminary results in support of the suitability of the integration hypothesis proposed are presented. This study gives rise to an integrated system to be furtherly tested in a real environment.

scholarly journals Assessing the Ability of Image Based Point Clouds Captured from a UAV to Measure the Terrain in the Presence of Canopy Cover

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Wallace ◽  
Chris Bellman ◽  
Bryan Hally ◽  
Jaime Hernandez ◽  
Simon Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Surface ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Image Capture ◽  
Terrain Model ◽  
Processing Strategies ◽  
Aerial Systems

Point clouds captured from Unmanned Aerial Systems are increasingly relied upon to provide information describing the structure of forests. The quality of the information derived from these point clouds is dependent on a range of variables, including the type and structure of the forest, weather conditions and flying parameters. A key requirement to achieve accurate estimates of height based metrics describing forest structure is a source of ground information. This study explores the availability and reliability of ground surface points available within point clouds captured in six forests of different structure (canopy cover and height), using three image capture and processing strategies, consisting of nadir, oblique and composite nadir/oblique image networks. The ground information was extracted through manual segmentation of the point clouds as well as through the use of two commonly used ground filters, LAStools lasground and the Cloth Simulation Filter. The outcomes of these strategies were assessed against ground control captured with a Total Station. Results indicate that a small increase in the number of ground points captured (between 0 and 5% of a 10 m radius plot) can be achieved through the use of a composite image network. In the case of manually identified ground points, this reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) error of the terrain model by between 1 and 11 cm, with greater reductions seen in plots with high canopy cover. The ground filters trialled were not able to exploit the extra information in the point clouds and inconsistent results in terrain RMSE were obtained across the various plots and imaging network configurations. The use of a composite network also provided greater penetration into the canopy, which is likely to improve the representation of mid-canopy elements.

scholarly journals SPECIAL ASPECTS OF THE PARAMETERS ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS CLASSI AND II

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
V. Ilienko ◽  
O. Isachenko ◽  
A. Los ◽  
M. Gerashchenko ◽  
S. Rudnichenko
Keyword(s):  
Communication Channels ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Class I ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Electronic Warfare ◽  
Aerial Systems

Considering the lack of standard test methods for communication channels of modern unmanned aerial systems (UAS) class I and II, according to the UAS classification of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was decided to work out the basic approaches for determining indicators, conditions and procedure for conducting tests in this direction. The suggested methodological recommendations will improve the quality of the parameters and characteristics assessment for communication channels of UAS I and II classes. One of the distinctive trends in the development of modern forms and methods of conducting armed combat at all stages of the armed conflict is the widespread use of the UASs by opposing parties. UASs are capable of significant increasing the effectiveness of accomplishing aerial reconnaissance tasks, organizing electronic warfare, and providing real-time delivery of target pinpointing to fire means for the destruction of enemy’s manpower and material. A distinctive feature of UAS is that its external crew, as a rule, accomplish its mission at a considerable distance from the objects of attack. This fact significantly reduces the security risks and threats associated with performing combat missions under conditions of active enemy counteraction. Due to this feature, considerable attention is paid to the development of a reliable communication system that would be able to ensure task accomplishment at the maximum distance from command and control site. During the tests of UAS Class I and II, the specialists of the State Scientific Research Institute of Armament and Military Equipment Testing and Certification used testing methods of radio channels assessment, which will allow to improve the quality of UAS research of this type and give the manufacturers recommendations for increasing their capabilities.

scholarly journals Direct-Visual-Operation Support System for Unmanned Construction

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Shohei Yamaguchi ◽  
Yoshihiro Sato ◽  
Shota Funaki ◽  
Atsutoshi Kurihara ◽  
Satoru Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Support System ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Work Efficiency ◽  
Conventional System ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Switching Operation ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Construction Machine ◽  
Aerial Systems

Introduction: Unmanned construction through direct visual operation is performed to ensure the safety of workers at construction sites. In direct visual operation, although the equipment is simple and easy to install, the work efficiency and accuracy are reduced because of the lack of view and perspective obtained from boarding a construction machine. For solving this problem, images sent from multiple cameras, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) attached to the construction equipment and the images obtained from boarding a construction machine, as well as blind spots are confirmed by displaying them on the monitor at hand. However, the working efficiency is lowered by the restrictions on the utilization range of the camera monitor, switching operation of the camera, and gaze movement between the construction machine and the monitor. Methods: For solving the problem of low work efficiency and accuracy of the conventional system, this paper proposes a support system for a direct visual operation that does not require monitor installation and gaze movement and enables intuitive camera switching operation by using a transmissive Head Mounted Display (HMD) and a stereo camera robot. Results and Conclusion: The results of the experiment conducted using a remote-controlled backhoe show that unskilled operators can perform the same quality of work as skilled operators, and work efficiency and accuracy was improved by 44.2% and 37.8%, respectively compared to the conventional system. This confirms the usefulness of the proposed system, especially for unskilled operators.

scholarly journals The Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Quality of UAS Orthophoto-Maps in the Coastal Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Michaela Doukari ◽  
Stelios Katsanevakis ◽  
Nikolaos Soulakellis ◽  
Konstantinos Topouzelis
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Accuracy Assessment ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Remotely Sensed Data ◽  
Rough Sea Surface ◽  
Thematic Accuracy ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Remote Sensing Methods

Marine conservation and management require detailed and accurate habitat mapping, which is usually produced by collecting data using remote sensing methods. In recent years, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are used for marine data acquisition, as they provide detailed and reliable information through very high-resolution orthophoto-maps. However, as for all remotely sensed data, it is important to study and understand the accuracy and reliability of the produced maps. In this study, the effect of different environmental conditions on the quality of UAS orthophoto-maps was examined through a positional and thematic accuracy assessment. Selected objects on the orthophoto-maps were also assessed as to their position, shape, and extent. The accuracy assessment results showed significant errors in the different maps and objects. The accuracy of the classified images varied between 2.1% and 27%. Seagrasses were under-classified, while the mixed substrate class was overclassified when environmental conditions were not optimal. The highest misclassifications were caused due to sunglint presence in combination with a rough sea-surface. A change detection workflow resulted in detecting misclassifications of up to 45%, on orthophoto-maps that had been generated under non-optimal environmental conditions. The results confirmed the importance of optimal conditions for the acquisition of reliable marine information using UAS.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE, CHARACTERISTICS AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DETECTION SENSORS MOUNTED ON UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS

2021 ◽  
pp. 80-90
Author(s):  
S. Molochko ◽  
V. Bashynskyi ◽  
O. Kalamurza ◽  
V. Zhurakhov
Keyword(s):  
Navigation System ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial System ◽  
Thermal Imager ◽  
Metal Detector ◽  
Current State ◽  
Modern Economic ◽  
Aerial Systems

In recent years, the international community has become increasingly aware of the scale and severity of the problems posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, including unexploded ordnance, gradually agreeing that this is a global problem that requires international concerted actions [1]. Significant excess of pace of development and intensity of mines use in comparison with the means of demining determine the urgency of the problem of ensuring the required level of their technical perfection. At the same time, special attention should be paid to ensuring the required level of quality of demining processes, reducing to a minimum level of explosive threats and cost of demining [2]. In modern economic conditions, the high efficiency of UXO detection in a certain area with relatively minimal cost of material and human resources is of great importance. The article analyzes the possibility of detecting explosive ordnance using a thermal imager, hyperspectral camera, magnetometer, metal detector which are installed on an unmanned aerial system (UAS). In addition, there was given consideration to the properties of sensors for detecting explosive ordnance which will ensure their full use during humanitarian demining: performance, transportability, survivability, reliability, failure-free, durability, maintainability, storage ability, cost effectiveness. Explosive ordnance detection sensors mounted on UAS must have their own navigation system or be connected to an on-board navigation system that links information from the sensors to the terrain. It must be possible to determine the coordinates of any object after landing an UAS and process information from the sensors. The calculations were made regarding the effectiveness of actions for searching and detecting explosive ordnance using an unmanned aerial system.

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