Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Editors -- Contributors -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Context -- The Birth of UAVs -- This Book -- Book Chapters -- Chapter 1 - Introduction -- Chapter 2 - From Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft to Drones -- Chapter 3 - Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring with UAS -- Chapter 4 - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Riverine Environments -- Chapter 5 - Low-Cost UAVs for Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling of the Coastal Zone -- Chapter 6 - Unmanned Aerial System Applications to Coastal Environments -- Chapter 7 - UAV Image Acquisition Using Structure from Motion to Visualise a Coastal Dune System -- Chapter 8 - Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling Saltmarsh with UAVs -- Chapter 9 - Autonomous UAV-Based Insect Monitoring -- Chapter 10 - UAV Imagery to Monitor, Map, and Model a Vineyard Canopy to Aid in the Application of Precision Viticulture to Small-Area Vineyards -- Chapter 11 - Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Using Unmanned Aerial Systems -- Chapter 12 - Monitoring Oil and Gas Pipelines with Small UAV Systems -- Chapter 13 - Drone-Based Imaging in Archaeology: Current Applications and Future Prospects -- Chapter 14 - Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Applications in the Built Environment: Towards Automated Building Inspection Procedures Using Drones -- Chapter 15 - The Application of UAVs to Inform Coastal Area Management -- Chapter 16 - From Land to Sea: Monitoring the Underwater Environment with Drone Technology -- Chapter 17 - A Question of UAS Ground Control: Frequency and Distribution -- Chapter 18 - Launch and Recovery System for Improved Fixed-Wing UAV Deployment in Complex Environments -- Chapter 19 - Epilogue -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 2 From Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft to Drones -- Introduction -- Small Airborne Platforms. Environmental Remote Sensing -- Platform Names -- Types of Platforms -- Fixed-Wing -- Rotary-Wing -- Construction -- Engines -- Operational Considerations -- Positioning -- Flying Regulations -- Photography -- Advantages -- Technological Developments -- Today -- Multi-Rotor UAV -- Fixed-Wing UAV -- Combined Multi-Rotor and Fixed-Wing Platforms -- Sensors -- Passive Sensors -- Multispectral and Near Infrared (NIR) -- Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) -- Hyperspectral -- Thermal -- Fluorescence -- Active Sensors -- Radar -- LIDAR -- Video and Still Cameras -- Stereo Cameras -- Advances in the Technology -- Platforms -- Multiple Drone Configurations -- Ready to Fly (RTF) -- Batteries -- Autonomous Navigation, GPS, and Collision Avoidance -- Sensors -- Software -- Summary and Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 3 Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring with UAS -- Introduction -- Aquatic Vegetation UAS Field Deployments -- Site Selection and Mission Planning -- UAS Hardware -- Ground Control Points (GCPs) -- Lighting, Cloud, and Wind -- Camera Settings -- Fieldwork for Vegetation Biomass -- Fieldwork for Hydraulic Measurements -- Processing Aquatic Vegetation Imagery Data -- Georeferenced Orthomosaic -- Manual Image Segmentation and Classifications -- Automatic Image Segmentation and Classifications -- Geometric Properties of Individual Plants -- Labwork for Aquatic Vegetation Biometrics -- Sample Health and Handling -- Sample Drying Techniques for Fresh Biomass -- Standardised Centrifugal Drying for Fresh Biomass -- Dry Biomass -- Vegetation Volume and Density Estimation -- Biometrics and Biomechanics -- Aquatic Vegetation at Larger Spatial Scales -- Cover -- Biomass -- Hydraulic Interactions -- Targeted Removal of Aquatic Vegetation -- Emerging Technologies in Aquatic Vegetation Surveying -- Hydraulic Measurements from UAS -- Multispectral Imagery. Hyperspectral Imagery -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Riverine Environments -- Introduction -- Data Collection and Processing Considerations -- Data Collection -- Data Processing -- Riverine Feature Detection and Mapping -- Quantifying Riverine Environments -- References -- Chapter 5 Low-Cost UAVs for Environmental Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling of the Coastal Zone -- Coastal and Marine Applications -- Coastal UAV Applications in the Literature -- Evolution of the Technology -- Monitoring and Mapping Macroalgal Weedmats in the Ythan Estuary, Scotland, UK -- Spey Bay - Monitoring a Dynamic Coastline with a Model Helicopter and Multi-Rotor UAV -- Change Detection and Rates of Erosion on the Norfolk Coastline Using a Multi-Rotor UAV -- Summary and Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 6 Unmanned Aerial System Applications to Coastal Environments -- Introduction -- UAV Models: Fixed-Wing Aircraft, Rotary-Wing Aircraft, and Other Vehicles: Potentialities and Limitations for Coastal Surveys -- Fixed-Wing Aircraft -- Rotary-Wing Aircraft -- Blimps, Balloons, and Kites -- Payloads -- Unmanned Aerial System-Based Multispectral and Visible Surveys of Coastal Environments -- Multispectral Data -- Visible Imaging -- Elevation Models from UAV-SfM (SFM) and Quality Assessment -- Mission Planning -- Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems to Coastal Environments -- High-Resolution Coastal Topography by Unmanned Aerial System-Based Photogrammetry -- Low Sandy Beach Morphometry -- Cliffs -- Dune Systems -- Monitoring Coastal Dynamics and Geomorphological Processes -- River Mouth, Coastal Wetland, and Intertidal Landscape Dynamics -- Coastal Engineering -- Coastal Vulnerability and Hazard Assessment -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References. Chapter 7 UAV Image Acquisition Using Structure from Motion to Visualise a Coastal Dune System -- Introduction -- Survey Location -- Methodology: Project Planning -- Site Selection and Mapping -- Ground Control Points and GPS Location -- Structure from Motion (SfM [SFM]): Applications -- Survey Application -- Desktop and Cloud-Based Processing -- UAV Technical and Survey -- Ground Truth -- Results -- UAV Flight Overview -- UAV, GNSS, and LiDAR Elevation Errors -- Structure-from-Motion Survey Comparison -- Pix4D Cloud Results -- Pix4Dmapper Results -- Results Conclusion -- Image Resolution and Point Cloud -- Pix4D Cloud -- Pix4Dmapper -- Ground Truth -- Case Study -- Marram Grass Dilemma -- Effects of Wind-Blown Vegetation -- Solution -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 8 Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling Saltmarsh with UAVs -- Introduction -- Remote Sensing and Saltmarsh -- UAVs -- Research -- Novel Approach -- Summary and Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 9 Autonomous UAV-Based Insect Monitoring -- Introduction -- Drosophila Suzukii as an Example of an Insect Pest -- Trapping D. Suzukii -- Trapping D. Suzukii - Work in Progress -- Computer Vision to Identify Insects on Traps -- Computer Vision to Identify Insects on Traps - Work in Progress -- UAV-Based Image Acquisition -- UAV Platforms -- Aerial Image Acquisition -- UAV-Based Image Acquisition - Work in Progress -- Manual and Autonomous Flights -- Commercial UAVs -- Sensors and Cameras -- Software -- Platform Selection -- Flight Tests -- Camera Resolution Tests -- Autonomous UAV Flight, Platform, and Camera Positioning -- Further Flight Tests -- Limitations and Constraints -- Flying and Environmental Conditions -- Platform and Camera Positioning -- Transferability and Alternative Image-Based Monitoring Strategies -- Conclusion and Perspective. Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 10 UAV Imagery to Monitor, Map, and Model a Vineyard Canopy to Aid in the Application of Precision Viticulture to Small-Area Vineyards -- Introduction -- Precision Viticulture -- Small Airborne Platforms and Sensors -- An Example -- Study Area -- The Vineyard -- Study Equipment -- Building a 3D Model of a Vineyard Using Structure from Motion (SfM [SFM]) -- Information Layers -- Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) -- Solar Map -- Image Classification -- Summary and Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 11 Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Using Unmanned Aerial Systems -- Introduction -- Precision Forest Inventory -- Study Area -- UAV Imagery and ALS Data -- Area-Based Estimates -- Individual-Tree Estimates -- Conclusion -- Forest Regeneration -- Study Area -- UAV Imagery and Processing -- Classification -- Conclusion -- Forest Health Monitoring -- Study Area and Field Data -- UAV Imagery and Landsat Data -- Stand-Level Defoliation -- Tree-Level Defoliation -- Conclusion -- Invasive Species -- Study Area -- UAV Imagery and WorldView-2 Data -- Mapping of the Invasive Species -- Conclusion -- Final Remarks and Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 12 Monitoring Oil and Gas Pipelines with Small UAV Systems -- Introduction -- Methods for Monitoring Oil and Gas Pipelines -- Detection of Leaks from Hydrocarbon Pipelines -- Emerging Opportunities with UAV Remote Sensing -- Sensors On-Board UAV for Monitoring Oil and Gas Pipelines -- Auxiliary Equipment -- UAV Regulations -- Use of UAVs for Oil and Gas Pipeline Monitoring -- Considerations for Specifications of a UAV System for Monitoring Oil and Gas Pipelines -- Advantages and Limitations of UAVs for Monitoring Pipelines -- Operational Cases -- Oil and Gas Pipelines Monitoring Scenarios -- Scenario 1: Proximity Survey with Visual Identification of Pipe Damage. Scenario 2: Short Distance Survey with Visual Identification of Leak.
In response to the rapidly evolving technology and applications UAS technology, this book discusses both UAV and similar systems' platforms and environmental applications. The platforms and sensors provide the setting while the applications chapters are focused on the environment from monitoring to mapping. The book also addresses the constraints placed on the use of the technology in some circumstances e.g. safety, invasion of privacy etc. The book provides a comprehensive overview on a rapidly developing area of technology.