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- Inform Reclamation Programs about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Identity Opportunities for Future Applied Research
Inform Reclamation Programs about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Identity Opportunities for Future Applied Research
Project ID: 8168
Principal Investigator: Kristin Swoboda
Research Topic: Water Resource Data Analysis
Funded Fiscal Years:
2013
Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicles, uavs, aerial imagery, video, infrared, data collection
Research Question
What potential Reclamation data collection projects could benefit from the ability to acquire high-resolution still, video, and infrared imagery using the Raven RQ-11A or T-Hawk RQ-16C unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) currently available through DOI, Office of Aviation Services? Would Reclamation programs or projects be willing to cost share in future applied research to investigate the cost-benefit of UAVs or explore innovative uses of UAV to support mission activities?
Need and Benefit
Aerial and infrared imagery are used extensively by Reclamation programs and projects in support of mission activities. In many cases, the acquisition of imagery can often be cost prohibitive and/or time prohibitive to meet the project needs. Timely and cost effective imagery acquisition particularly in remote or difficult to access and potentially hazardous locations is of considerable benefit to Reclamation. Mission activities, such as dam safety inspections, landslide investigations, and resource monitoring, often involve difficult to access locations that can be readily accessed by UAVs. However, use of UAVs is constrained because Reclamation managers and staff do not have the information needed to determine where and how UAVs could meet their needs.
Information about the capabilities of the Raven and T-Hawk UAVs is not readily available to Reclamation managers and staff in a useable form. There is a need to prepare and deliver information about the capabilities of available UAV platforms to assist Reclamation managers and staff in identifying potential opportunities to test and evaluate their use to meet program, project, and mission objectives.
Preliminary findings of ongoing research indicate that there are a number of activities that could benefit from the unique capabilities of UAVs. For example, the T-Hawk's capability to hover and capture infrared imagery/video could greatly enhance detection and investigation of seepage on difficult to access dam faces or remote canal structures. Another example is the potential use of a Raven UAV to protect archeological resources by with its capability to capture infrared imagery at night, which could provide law enforcement with the necessary information to investigate thefts of artifacts.
Contributing Partners
Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.
Research Products
Independent Peer Review
The following documents were reviewed by qualified Bureau of Reclamation employees. The findings were determined to be achieved using valid means.
Determinining how Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can help meet Reclamation's Remote Sensing Data Needs (interim, PDF, 1.9MB)
By Mr. Doug Clark
Report completed on November 12, 2013