2018 GSA Rocky Mountain and Cordilleran Section UAV Short Courses
Venue: GSA Joint Sectional Meeting: Rocky Mountain and Cordilleran, Flagstaff, AZ. May 14th, 2018
Instructors: Arthur Sylvester, Chelsea Scott, Nicolas Barth, Marc Mayes
Overview:
Prospective UAV Users for Geologic Purposes: Brief presentation of examples of what people are doing with drones in geology. An overview of what products are available, FAA regulations, and a flight demonstration.
UAV Geologic Applications: This will be a “hands on” laboratory by 3–4 people demonstrating use of software applications for map making, photogrammetry, sampling, lidar.
Software:
Please plan to download and install the following software packages before you arrive.
CloudCompare: An open source 3D point cloud and mesh processing software. Downloads for Windows, Mac OSX, Linux.
Agisoft PhotoScan: Commercial structure from motion photogrammetry software, demo/trial version will be used in the course. Installers for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux available.
AGENDA
8:30am - 8:40am -- Introductions
8:40am - 9:00am -- Broad Research Applications (Barth & Mayes)
How to Get Airborne:
9:00am - 9:30am -- Types of UAS, History, Regulations (FAA, Public Lands, Permitting, Insurance) (Sylvester)
9:30am - 10:00am -- Part 107 License Knowledge + hands-on examples, FAA Airspace (Mayes - hands on map-based exercise)
10:00am - 10:10am -- Break
10:10am - 10:40am -- Overseas, Apps & Online Resources (Barth)
Summary: Best Practice & Safety Considerations (Sylvester)
10:45am - 1:30 pm -- UAS demonstrations at Iris Tank (Barth)
UAV Geologic Applications:
- Overview of SfM data acquisition concepts & platforms
- UNAVCO Agisoft Photoscan guide
- zip folder with Raft images
- zip folder with Bishop fault scarp images
1:30pm - 1:50pm -- Science Motivations for high-res surface data (Scott)
1:50pm - 2:10pm -- SfM background (Scott)
2:10pm - 2:40pm -- AgiSoft PhotoScan Demo
2:40pm - 3:00pm -- Cloud Compare Demonstration (Scott)
3:00pm - 3:10pm -- Break
3:10pm - 3:25pm -- SfM Results & Discussion (Scott)
3:25pm - 3:40pm -- OpenTopography (Scott)
3:40pm - 4:00pm -- Pedagogy Examples / Field & Lab Logistics (Barth)
3:50pm - 4:00pm -- Extensions: digital mapping, 3D printing, augmented reality, structural analysis (Barth)
4:00pm - 4:30pm -- Open Discussion or small group breakout
4:30pm -- Closing Remarks --> migrate to a watering hole or optional group dinner
Other Content:
- Considerations for building SfM processing machines
- Structure from Motion from video
- prompt 3D mapping of the earthquake-triggered lansdlide in Minami-Aso, Kumamoto, Japan
- GETSI Analyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM module. Specifically, Unit 1-SfM: Introduction to SfM.
- Sketchfab - browser-based environment for 3D model sharing and visualization.
- UNAVCO Agisoft Photoscan guide
- http://www.vrgeoscience.com/ - "Virtual Reality Geological Studio (VRGS) is a 3D data visualisation and interpretation software tool for field based geology and geophysics, as well as for geoscientists working with 3D digital outcrop models (DOM)"
- Compass plugin for CloudCompare - "Compass is a structural geology toolbox for the interpretation and analysis of virtual outcrop models."