Unmanned Aerial Remote Sensing: UAS for Environmental Applications

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) are a rapidly evolving technology with an expanding array of diverse applications. In response to the continuing evolution of this technology, this book discusses UAVs and similar systems, platforms, and sensors, as well as exploring some of their environmental applications. It explains how they can be used for mapping, monitoring, and modelling a wide variety of different environmental aspects and, at the same time, addresses some of the current constraints placed on realising the potential use of the technology, such as flight duration and distance, safety, and the invasion of privacy.

Unmanned Aerial Remote Sensing: UAS for Environmental Applications is an excellent resource for any practitioner utilising remote sensing and other geospatial technologies for environmental applications, such as conservation, research, and planning. Students and academics in information science, environment and natural resources, geosciences, and geography will likewise find this comprehensive book a useful and informative resource.

Features

• Provides necessary theoretical foundations for pertinent subject matter areas
• Introduces the role and value of UAVs for geographical data acquisition and the ways to acquire and process the data
• Provides a synthesis of ongoing research and a focus on the use of technology for small-scale image and spatial data acquisition in an environmental context
• Written by experts of the technology who bring together UAS tools and resources for environmental specialists.

David R. Green is the Director of the Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management (AICSM), Director of the M.Sc. Degree Programme in Geographical Information Systems, and Director of the UAV Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Mapping (UCEMM) (www.abdn.ac.uk/research/ucemm) at the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. He is past Chairman of the Association for Geographic Information (AGI); past Editor in Chief of The Cartographic Journal; past-President of the EUCC-The Coastal and Marine Union; past-Vice-Chair of the European Centre for Nature Conservation Scientific Committee (ECNC); Currently a Director and Chair of EGCP Ltd., and Chair of the CoastGIS 2018 Conference. He is a specialist in the environmental applications of geospatial technologies with interests in geographical information systems, remote sensing (terrestrial and bathymetric), cartography/digital mapping, Internet and mobile GIS, coastal and marine resource management, hydrography, marine spatial planning (MSP), and UAV technology. He has published a number of books on Coastal Zone Management and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). David is also Editor in Chief of the Journal of Coastal Conservation, Planning and Management (Springer).

Billy J. Gregory is a powerboat instructor, sailing instructor, skier and CAA qualified commercial drone pilot. Having flown fixed-wing radio-controlled model aircraft for many years, he began flying small multi-rotor UAVs. As an associate of UCEMM (UAV Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Mapping) at the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom (www.abdn.ac.uk/research/ucemm) he has been involved with a number of UAV-based research projects and helps to train both MSc and PhD students looking to use drones in their projects. In 2018 he set up DroneLite (www.dronelite.co.uk) a small drone company which is based in Forres, Scotland, UK. He continues to combine his interests in watersport activities with flying both multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones for a variety of aerial photographic and video projects, and participating in small drone workshops, training events, and conference organisation.

Alex Karachok was born in Toronto, Ontario. He has many hobbies, the most significant being geology and photography. Alex acquired his first mini-camera in 2011 and his fist drone in 2014. From there, he has developed a passion for photography. In 2018, he was astounded by one his scout leaders flying a Mavic pro. This led him to eventually selling his new game console for a DJI Spark. He now lives with his parents, younger sister and dog in Oakville, Ontario. He owns a DJI Osmo Pocket and edits his own footage from both the drone and the Osmo hoping to become a filmmaker and to use drones in the field of geology. Alex is also an associate of UCEMM (UAV Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Mapping) (www.abdn.ac.uk/research/ucemm) at the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom focusing on raising awareness and educating school age pupils in safe, legal and responsible drone flying. He is also an Honorary Pilot for DroneLite.