Interview with Alison Ballance, Radio National New Zealand - click on the link below...
Labels: AUT Fox, Data collection, NIR camera, Pix4UAV, Skycam, Swampfox, vegetation stress camera
We are heading out to fly the Hawk UAV to collect nIR and nIR+RGB images of our current study site. We flew last week but for some reason when we changed filters on the camera we shut down the camera and it did not restart to capture any images on our second flight! Frustration was felt by the entire team, but with frustration comes learning! We have now modified our protocol to download images after every flight and to reset the camera each time. The pre-flight check list now includes a test firing of the shutter. We are starting to build an extensive image library and we are looking forward to further work with the Pix4UAV mosaicing software.
Today we are taking two of our master thesis students into the field with us. They will be using the handheld spectroradiometer to collect reflectance data for several species of native trees.
Today we are taking two of our master thesis students into the field with us. They will be using the handheld spectroradiometer to collect reflectance data for several species of native trees.
Labels: AUT Hawk, Data collection, NIR camera, Pix4UAV
We have been waiting for our cameras to arrive. We now have a Sony Nex-5N modified to take NIR images, and a Tau 324 25mm lens FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera and Gimbal assembly. The upgraded Nex-5N requires a small modification to the fuselage to enable easy installation and removal.
The Nex-5N unit has been tested by Skycam UAV in their latest creation, which can carry two cameras simultaneously, and we now have a paired set of NIR and RGB images. These images are quite stunning.
The FLIR will be used to measure leaf temperature of trees. One of our new researchers from Switzerland has worked extensively in this area. More details will be published soon, but it appears that leaf temperature can be related to metabolic activity of the trees.
Now that we are all back from holidays and overseas trips, we hope to complete our flight training and make some scientific observations (the Head of School wants to see some results from his investment!)
Meanwhile, Prof. John B. is preparing the Manual of Approved Procedures for our operations. We are also about to start a course on remote sensing.
The Nex-5N unit has been tested by Skycam UAV in their latest creation, which can carry two cameras simultaneously, and we now have a paired set of NIR and RGB images. These images are quite stunning.
The FLIR will be used to measure leaf temperature of trees. One of our new researchers from Switzerland has worked extensively in this area. More details will be published soon, but it appears that leaf temperature can be related to metabolic activity of the trees.
Now that we are all back from holidays and overseas trips, we hope to complete our flight training and make some scientific observations (the Head of School wants to see some results from his investment!)
Meanwhile, Prof. John B. is preparing the Manual of Approved Procedures for our operations. We are also about to start a course on remote sensing.
Labels: AUT Hawk, FLIR, NIR camera