UAV / RGB (e.g. Canon EOS)

Owned by Maiwenn Herpe
Last updated: Jun 21, 2021 by Frederika Mourot
2 min read

Examples of potential applications

 

  • Visual analysis.

  • DEM photogrammetry.

  • Bathymetry.

  • Water surface elevation.

  • Flood monitoring, particle velocimetry.

  • Algal bloom monitoring/mapping.

  • Landslide mapping/characterisation.

  • Classification of surfaces.

Range of flight height and captured zone width (m)

Operated within line of sight, observation altitudes often capped at 120 m.

Airshare website

Spectral Range (nm)

Red, green, blue,
c. 400 -700 nm.

Spatial Resolution (m)

Depends on flight altitude and lens. Spatial resolution typically less than 15 cm.

Benefits

  • High spatial resolution.

  • Can adjust the time of imagery capture to the needs.

  • Can capture video.

  • Ability to capture data in remote, unsafe or difficult to access locations, lowering safety risks.

Limitations

  • Need operator to acquire data in the field and battery life can limit survey duration.

  • Lower spectral resolution.

  • Limited by visibility constraints and poor weather conditions.

  • Very sensitive to environmental and illumination conditions.

Selection of references

Lee G, Choi M, Yu W, Jung K. 2019. Creation of river terrain data using region growing method based on point cloud data from UAV photography. Quaternary International. 519:255-262. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2019.04.005

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618218311868


Mohamad N, Abdul Khanan MF, Ahmad A, Md Din AH, Shahabi H. 2019. Evaluating Water Level Changes at Different Tidal Phases Using UAV Photogrammetry and GNSS Vertical Data. Sensors. 19(17):3778.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/17/3778


Koutalakis P, Tzoraki O, Zaimes G. 2019. UAVs for Hydrologic Scopes: Application of a Low-Cost UAV to Estimate Surface Water Velocity by Using Three Different Image-Based Methods. Drones. 3(1):14.

https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/3/1/14


Ma S, Xu C, Shao X, Zhang P, Liang X, Tian Y. 2019. Geometric and kinematic features of a landslide in Mabian Sichuan, China, derived from UAV photography. Landslides. 16(2):373-381. doi:10.1007/s10346-018-1104-z.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-018-1104-z


Bandini F, Sunding TP, Linde J, Smith O, Jensen IK, Köppl CJ, Butts M, Bauer-Gottwein P. 2020. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) observations of water surface elevation in a small stream: Comparison of radar altimetry, LIDAR and photogrammetry techniques. Remote Sensing of Environment. 237:111487. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2019.111487

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425719305061