The first field activity we conducted was geared toward teaching us the beginning steps of image gathering fundamentals and the techniques used to acquire the images. We wanted to learn how to properly use a camera sensor on an aerial platform, and how to use those images in geospatial analysis.
The first step to we did while conducting this field activity was to get our aerial platform ready. Originally we were going to use a kite to conduct the experiment, but since there was no wind we choose to use a ballon. Pictured below is the ballon we used almost at max capacity. We then put an O-ring at the bottom of the ballon and clamped it off with zip ties.
After the ballon was secured we needed to setup our cameras and the picavet rigging. The rigging was already setup from previous activities. We used two different camera's, one was a NIR camera while the other was an RBV camera. Both cameras were set to take pictures every six seconds so we would have ample overlap in pictures to produce a good end product. The cameras were positioned on the picavet rigging about two inches apart and at the Nadir angel, or with the lenses facing directly towards the ground. We then secured the picavet rigging to our line that would allow the ballon to rise with Kap-Klips. A picture of these clips is below.
These clips were spread out about three feet apart from one another on our line. With one washer in the middle of the picavet rigging, it would allow for our cameras to slide and stay upright to take pictures. A picture of the rigging is below. In this picture you can see the clips along with a single washer.
After everything was setup and the ballon was ready, we then raised the ballon into the air. We were looking to raise the ballon to around 100 feet high which in turn would have the cameras around 95 feet. We also brought along a hover UAS that we flew alongside the ballon as it was in the air. With the UAS in the air, it would tell us the elevation of the ballon. We also were able to take pictures directly about the ballon along with videos. One problem we encountered with the UAS was that it only had about 25-30 minutes of flying time, while it took us over an hour to walk the entire areas that we wanted to cover with the ballon. The next two pictures below will show the ballon with the picavet rigging and camera being raised into the air and the last picture you can see the UAS flying alongside the ballon.
After completing the areas that we walked we then lowered the ballon down and had our professor take the cameras in for processing. Since it was our first field activity we didn't know how to process the pictures yet, but will learn more about that in future activities. After the field activity I felt that the group as a whole learned a lot by getting a hands on experience. There is only so much you can discuss in class before learning what to actually do out in the field. This activity we did was the very basic way of using camera sensors and an aerial platform. I can see however that with the pictures we captured that there is many different geospatial analysis that one can use, even from this basic activity. You could assess vegetation growth, areas that are strained or not, or even use it just to take cool pictures of the area. I am looking forward to learning more and using more advanced techniques to gaining aerial photographs for future activities.
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