Taming Drones for Forestry - CIF-IFC · Taming Drones for Forestry 1 ... No over-flight of persons...

Denis Cormier, Research Manager

Udaya Vepakomma, Remote Sensing Scientist

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Unmanned Aerial Systems in the

Natural Resources Sector Workshop

Corner Brook, Nfld, 24 February , 2017

Taming Drones for Forestry

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© 2013 FPInnovations. Tous droits réservés. Reproduction et diffusion interdites. Les marques et les logos de FPInnovations sont des marques déposées de FPInnovations

Remote sensing niche

Validation trials

Taming implementation (workflow and post-

treatment automation for regeneration

assessments)

Taming costs

Untamed challenges

Outline

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© 2014 FPInnovations. Tous droits réservés. Reproduction et diffusion interdites. Les marques et les logos de FPInnovations sont des marques déposées de FPInnovations © 2014 FPInnovations. Tous droits réservés. Reproduction et diffusion interdites. Les marques et les logos de FPInnovations sont des marques déposées de FPInnovations

A shoe for a tighter fit?

3 Time

Sca

le

Forest operations – Data needs

Operational

Strategic

Tactical

• Monitoring

• Control

• Decision

• Automation

http://www.clker.com/cliparts/D/o/v/6/1/5/shoe-prints-md.png

Drone / Unmanned aerial vehicle

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http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://blog.burningman.com/2013/07/eventshappenings/brc-drone-summit-for-droners-uav-operators/&ei=eDgYVcPqF7CIsQTo1YGwDg&bvm=bv.89381419,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNGDYb8iLbiNtinJ7ZsbGMmEM7ISKg&ust=1427737062339140

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MQ-9_Reaper_in_flight_(2007).jpg

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://xenlife.com.au/rise-personal-drones/&ei=yDgYVaW8Ks3bsASx4oHwCA&bvm=bv.89381419,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNGDYb8iLbiNtinJ7ZsbGMmEM7ISKg&ust=1427737062339140

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://www.gizmag.com/solar-ship-hybrid-airship/20263/&ei=LzkYVbzjGvXIsASZxIC4Bw&psig=AFQjCNGqY5vOvZJ6G9hBqS_DW0xquOjFhg&ust=1427737263569754

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.forcesdz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f%3D39%26t%3D592%26start%3D15&ei=IzoYVa3QKdK1sATsn4DoCA&bvm=bv.89381419,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNEvR9Nm9t6rOhVreE0epAWLUcKGeQ&ust=1427737422328205


A new degree of freedom: Drone

5 5

Reso

luti

on

/ d

eta

ils

Unrestricted views

Forested area

Conifer stand

Regeneration

Inexpensive

Simple logistics - deployment

Quick turnaround

Centimetric imaging

Multi-view, variable altitudes

Live video streaming

Multiple sensors

Vehicles off the shelf

Overview – 120m

Nadir – 60m

Oblique -20m

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://blog.burningman.com/2013/07/eventshappenings/brc-drone-summit-for-droners-uav-operators/&ei=eDgYVcPqF7CIsQTo1YGwDg&bvm=bv.89381419,d.cWc&psig=AFQjCNGDYb8iLbiNtinJ7ZsbGMmEM7ISKg&ust=1427737062339140


Dispersed small blocks

Varying and changing

conditions

Sampling vs census

Safety, inaccessibility

Time and cost inefficient

Data challenges

6 6

Roadside pile burning

Herbicide treatment

Regeneration assessment

Preharvest assessment Image interpretation Sample survey

Vis

ua

l A

rea

ba

se

d

De

taile

d

Post harvest assessment

Data needs

Conventional means

Visual assessment

Details Frequency, Coverage

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http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http://www.roche.ca/en/your-projects/industrial/forestry/&psig=AFQjCNHpSsMfa_wSvEl1E2eg-YejNErVPQ&ust=1443473129248772


FPInnovations focus

• Niche (feasibility)

• Accuracy

• ROI

• Best practices

• New applications

• Partnership

7 http://donextension.e-monsite.com/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=AQs8lkWkZUEceM&tbnid=kjYLuhKqKtag8M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.groupetrifide.com/entreprise/&ei=YvV_Ur_QBoPlyQHTvYGICg&bvm=bv.56146854,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHZX9yIyAbGR2B9V0uGp3KavgrQog&ust=1384203980321801

http://www.lavionjaune.com/

Potential applications

Visual Inspections

• Live video feed on tablet/computer

Replace helicopter flyovers for inspection, compliance, control, prescription, hazard detection

Area Based

• From orthomosaic

Planimetric estimations

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Potential applications (2)

3-D Point Cloud Analysis

• Heights and volumetric estimations

Multi spectral

• Health, species

Thermal analysis (IR)

• Hot spots: wildfire; post slash piles burning; hogfuel piles

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3.5m

Taming implementation – Workflow

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ROI

Applications

Planning

Flights

Post processing

Training

Permits

Validation trials

Standard workflow - Planning

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• Environment

• Safety

• Accessibility

• …..

SFOC

Trial / Application Site selection

Vehicle /Sensors

Constraints

Prelim. plan Exemptions / Permission

Transport Canada

Regulation

UAV Exemptions

Two (2) exemptions approved to permit lower-risk UAV operations without an SFOC

o 2kg or less has 37 conditions

o 2kg - 25kg has 58 conditions

SFOC

Applications evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on associated risks of the mission

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Examples of Safety Conditions

At least 5nm away from any aerodrome or built-up area

Below 300 feet

Daylight only

Only in Class G airspace (no forest fire, restricted airspace, air shows)

Maintain visual contact – No First Person View

Always give way to manned aircraft

Safe distances from people, buildings, vehicles etc.

No over-flight of persons

Weather limits

Notification requirements before flight

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FUTURE Regulatory approach

UAVs 25kgs or less, operated within visual line-of-sight

Define Categories

o Small – Complex

o Small – Limited

o Very Small

o Micro

SFOC process remains for operations not covered by the amendment (larger than 25kg, BVLOS, etc)

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Validation trials (application features)

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3D point cloud


Unprecedented details

16 16

Species classification

Canopy height

Height class

% T

ree

s p

er

sp

ecie

s

0 28 m

Image mosaic – 2.2 cm GSD

200 X 100m

Poplar Spruce Fir Tamarack

Pre-harvest assessment


Quick turnaround

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Harvested block

Temporary bridge

Stream network

Disturbance : 15%

Disturbed area

Post-harvest assessment

20 ha

Altitude: 100 m; RGB images

Visual inspection – live streaming: 5 mins

HR image + mosaic: 2-3 hours

Image interpretation: 1 hour

Additional details

Slash pile

Height: 4m; Volume: 182.5m3


Realistic 3D structure – visualisation

200

244 m

50 150 100 200 250 m

Harvested block

Log pile

Log pile

Regenerating stand

Hardwood stand

Height profile along a transect


Accurate volumetric analysis

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C2A

C1A

3D model of a mill yard

Log piles Pile height Log stack volume

Mill inventory

0 6 m

Height : 13.2 m

Volume: 12 570 m3


Stems of all height distinguishable

Ground Image DSM

Single stem identification

Single stem extraction Regular space 21.2 m

3 - 6 m 0.4 – 1.4 m

Tree height distribution

Irregular space

4 - 36 m


Census not survey

Regeneration standards

Spruce

Pine 48 X 40 m Na

tura

l re

ge

ne

ration

Pla

nta

tion

20 X16 m

Stem density

Space occupancy

5000 5000 – 20,000 > 20,000 stems per ha

94 % stocked

Gap


Situational awareness

Thermal IR Ground / Sol RGB

Mosaic - 85 images

300 cm2

In partial canopy – 120 m

Under full canopy – 120 m

Exposed - 120 m

Road side pile burn Hot spot detection

Altitude: 100 m; Area: 20 ha; IR scanning: 30 mins

Detection – in all directions Detection – up to 200 m

Taming implementation Post-treatment automation

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3D point cloud

Image size

Single image size:

Sunex (RGB) – JPEG 8 bit – 6.28 MB (32. 3 MB RAW)

(Acquired at nadir in a 22 ha. block at different altitudes)

Flying altitude (High to low)

Purple: Total Image size (MB)

Red: # of images

Green: Time of flight (min)


Data processing (Photoscan, Pix4D)

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All images

Alignment

NFO (geotags)

Reference (Targets - GPS)

Image matching

Feature extraction

Bundle adjustment

Dense Point Cloud

DSM

DTM

Orthomosaics

Feature extraction

Height Volume Type

Outputs – Photogrammetry

Orthomosaic

3D Point cloud

DSM

Time to process (hrs)

Workstation – 16 GB RAM + 8 core

Photoscan photogrammetry s/w


Ortho mosaic Conifer stand (Quesnel, BC)

Size: 19 ha

Display window: 5.3 ha

Age: 4 yrs since drag sip

3D rendering


Stocking Stocking

& Density

2500 100000 / ha

Stem – height

0.3 m

0.3 - 0.4

0.4 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.1


5000 5000 – 20,000 > 20,000

Extension to mixedwood stands

Free-to-grow assessment 10 year old block

43 ha

1 ha

Ortho

CIR mosaic

Single trees

Species group Free-to-Grow

Model

Canopy height

4 m 5 m

1

2 3

4

Ground


Model

Free-to-Grow Single trees

Extension to larger spaces with high res. satellite

Pleiades – Multi spectral (2m) Pleiades – Panchromatic (50cm)

• Reconnaissance and inspection

Visual flyovers

Harvesting inspections

Safety audits and hazards

identification

Live streaming for onsite feedback

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Taming costs

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3D point cloud • Detailed Costing Analysis

UAV Pilot and support crew

Machine (Platform) hourly rate based on

depreciation

Travel and preparation

Data handling and processing

Local and out-of-region

Taming costs

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3D point cloud • Assumptions for Costing Analysis

Fixed wing and high-end VTOL UAVs for mapping and

3D model production (with 75% overlap)

More productive with fixed wing over larger area

Low-cost VTOL UAVs for reconnaissance and visual

inspection (video and images, no overlap needed)

Altitude 90m

Automated data treatment (i.e., unsupervised

processing time not included)

Taming costs

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3D point cloud

Taming costs

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3D point cloud

Untamed challenges

Clear ROI is needed

Constraints related to regulations

Data management strategy

Automate post-processing

Service provider to avoid pilot issues and specialized data processing

Disruptive technology with huge unexplored potential

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Taming Drones for Forestry - CIF-IFC · Taming Drones for Forestry 1 ... No over-flight of persons...

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