Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Innovation for affordable, improved and accelerated spatial data acquisition Kathrine Kelm, The World Bank Rumyana Tonchovska, FAO Walter Volkmann, Micro Aerial Projects, LLC
Global Need for Improved Land Administration 75 percent of the world s population do not have access to formal systems to register and safeguard their land rights. There is an urgent need to build affordable and sustainable systems to identify the way land is occupied and used. The key bottleneck in land administration services is the use of traditional, high accuracy, expensive land surveying techniques to record land rights.
Fit for Purpose Land Administration Fit for purpose: means that the land administration systems especially the underlying spatial framework of large scale mapping should be designed for the purpose of managing current land issues within a specific country or region rather than simply following more advanced technical standards. A fit for purpose approach includes the following elements: Flexible in the spatial data capture approaches to provide for varying use. Inclusive in scope to cover all tenure and all land. Participatory in approach to data capture to ensure community support. Affordable for the government to establish and operate, and for society to use. Reliable in terms of information that is authoritative and up to date. Attainable to establish the system within a short timeframe and within available resources. Upgradeable with regard to incremental improvement over time in response to social and legal needs and emerging economic opportunities.
Condition of Cadastre Maps
Official Map Facts on the Ground
World Bank Innovation Grant Multi Purpose Spatial Data Capture Phase 1: December 2013 Phase 2: May, 2014 Phase 3: Planned September, 2014
UAS Selection Criteria Safety Affordability Reparability Portability Versatility Endurance/Coverage Flying Skills fixed wing vs multi rotor X8 Fixed Wing Quadrocopter ( X4 ) Hexacopter X8 Convention al Y3 Y6 Octocopter Source: Helicopter Mission Planner (downloadable at http://ardupilot.com/downloads/?did=82
Innovation: Off the shelf Parts + Open Source Software Airframe: Quad 4, take off weight 2.4 kg from South Africa Camera: Nikon 20MP, 16mm lens ($ 450) Central flight controller: APM 2.6 from 3DR inc. (open source) Image processing: Photoscan (Russian firm Agisoft) $3500 The price of the platform is half of a common GNSS rover unit Quadcopter: Payload 0.75kg, Endurance: 15min
UAS Methodology Flight Planning Inputs: Resolution/Accuracy Camera geometry Overlap Percentages Outputs: Flying Height Exposure Intervals Line Spacing Waypoints Safety first! Field Reconnaissance 3D Inspection Equipment Checks
UAS Methodology Ground Control and Image Acquisition Surveying Ground Control Points Image Acquisition in Automatic Flight Mode Overlapping Photos
UAS Methodology Image Processing Observe GCPoint image coords Cameras aligned and sparse point cloud Dense Point Cloud Surface TIN Model Textured 3D Surface Model
Spatial Data Products 3 D TIN Model Orthophoto Orthophoto draped over Google Earth imagery 3 D Model (Need for oblique photography)
UAV derived products vs. conventional ground methods < 1 day of flying = 4+ weeks of field surveying (2cm resolution) New map produced locally and shared with property owners 3 days later 3D model and rich imagery are bonus products High resolution reduces need for map reading skills
Boundary Adjudication Local, incremental mapping synchronizes adjudication with reliable visualization and documentation of the event Participatory adjudication and delineation of 26 parcels in half a day.
De Jure vs De Facto Property Boundaries
Detection/Prevention of Infrastructure Planning Conflicts
Visualization: improved project design, safeguards compliance, and participation
Disaster Risk Management and Assessment
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring (algae blooms)
Infrastructure: Asset inventory, inspection and management
Feasibility, design, monitoring and contract management 30 min flying = 2 weeks ground surveying Products: 3D models, Digital Elevation Models, Orthophoto
Engineering Surface models Triangulated Irregular Networks (TIN)
Project and Contractor Monitoring Problem Detection Pending failure of the embankment
Realistic dynamic 3D Visualizations Fly throughs
Urban Expansion and Planning High Resolution Ortho Photos
Change detection Figure 2: 2cm UAV derived Ortho Photo dated 8 December 2013
Virtual Surveying: 2.5D models 28.61 m 10.65 m
Virtual Model from Vertical Photography
Stepping up from 2D to 3D requires individual modelling of buildings
Adding Oblique Photography to Refine Modelling
Adding Value Through Manual Inputs
Incremental Upgrading of Models in a Virtual City Bulk Processed Vertical Photography Micro tasked manual production of full 3D building models with added oblique photography
Conclusions UAS based Approach is an effective methodology for: Acquiring current high res imagery for multiple purposes Creating virtual models for realistic visualization Measurement on virtual models replacing lengthy field surveying Promoting participation of landholders and other stakeholders Conventional approaches vs. UAS based methodology offers: Significant cost and time savings (days vs months or years) Transferable technology facilitates development and decentralization of mapping capacity and stimulates/broadens local innovation In line with Fit For Purpose Principles: Flexible spatial data capture, on demand Incremental approach allowing for just in time spatial data provision Upgradeable with incremental improvement over time Participatory with and for the community Attainable within timeframe and available resources In line with broader e government/nsdi agenda
Thank you!