Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Dates
Publication Date
2021
Start Date
2017
End Date
2019
Summary
These orthophotos and digital surface models (DSMs) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide information on the tile-drain network in individual fields with the goal of understanding already observed patterns in runoff amount and water quality from these sites. A 3DR Solo quadcopter served as the flight vehicle, flights were pre-planned using Mission Planner, and flights were flown using Tower. Geospatial data were originally in WGS84 and projected [...]
Summary
These orthophotos and digital surface models (DSMs) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide information on the tile-drain network in individual fields with the goal of understanding already observed patterns in runoff amount and water quality from these sites. A 3DR Solo quadcopter served as the flight vehicle, flights were pre-planned using Mission Planner, and flights were flown using Tower. Geospatial data were originally in WGS84 and projected to a local coordinate system for each site. Visible color imagery was collected with a Ricoh GRII as a single band. Multispectral imagery was collected with a MicaSense RedEdge 3 as five co-located bands: blue (B; approximately 475-500 nanometers [nm]), green (G; 550-560 nm), red (R: 660-670 nm), red-edge (710-720 nm), and near infrared (NR; 820-860 nm). Thermal-infrared (TIR ) data were collected using a FLIR Vue Pro R 640 camera with an uncooled vanadium oxide microbolometer and a 13-mm lens. Images were collected at 2-second intervals, with a flight speed of 9 meters per second (m/s), 7 m/s, or 5 m/s (visible, multispectral, thermal, respectively) with approximately 75% overlap between sequential images and 70% sidelap between adjacent flight lines.
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Related External Resources
Type: Publication that references this resource
Webber, J.J., and Williamson, T.N., 2021, Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5013, 18 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215013.
Williamson T.N., Dobrowolski E.G., Meyer S.M., Frey J.W., Allred B.J. (2019) Delineation of tile-drain networks using thermal and multispectral imagery—Implications for water quantity and quality differences from paired edge-of-field sites. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 74:1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.74.1.1.
The purpose of this high-resolution data collection was to inform site leads about subsurface drainage (tile drains), extent of sub-surface drainage, and additional information about sites. Flight activities were conducted according to Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Interior regulations and in communication with landowners.
