Unmanned aircraft systems for protected areas: Gadgetry or necessity?

Seier, Gernot; Hödl, Claudia; Abermann, Jakob; Schöttl, Stefan; Maringer, Alexander; Hofstadler, Daniel Nicolas; Pröbstl‐Haider, Ulrike; Lieb, Gerhard Karl

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126078

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 128 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The various techniques outlined above emerged at different points in time (e.g., Bhardwaj et al, 2016) and enabled a variety of analyses, for example, compiling glacier inventories and estimating glacier volumes (Andreassen et al, 2015(Andreassen et al, , 2022. Despite pros and cons of each of the techniques, using unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) in protected areas could be critical from a nature conservation perspective, and needs thorough planning (Seier et al, 2021). Recently, highresolution thermal infrared (TIR) has become increasingly used in glaciology (Tarca & Guglielmin, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier thinning, recession and advance, and the associated evolution of a glacial lake between 1966 and 2021 atAusterdalsbreen, westernNorway

Seier,

Abermann,

Andreassen

et al. 2023

Land Degrad Dev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Jostedalsbreen is the largest ice cap in Norway and mainland Europe. Rapid retreat of many of its outlet glaciers since the 2000s has led to the formation of several glacial lakes. Processes causing the formation and expansion of glacial lakes and their interaction with a glacier and terminal moraine have not been widely addressed yet. In this study, we investigate the degradation of the front of the southeast‐facing outlet glacier Austerdalsbreen. Based on a variety of remotely sensed data (UAV‐based and airborne orthophotos and DEMs, satellite images), we analyze the coincident glacial and proglacial changes of Austerdalsbreen and quantify the evolution of this transition zone during the last decades. In particular, we focus on the short‐term evolution of the glacial lake since 2010, we examine the context of a glacier advance in the 1990s, and we report long‐term changes by utilizing 1960s imagery. We discuss the evolution and conditions of Austerdalsbreen compared to other outlet glaciers of Jostedalsbreen. Overall, the glacier terminus has experienced a recession in the last decades. The 1990s terminus advance was more restricted than at other nearby outlet glaciers due to glacier surface debris cover, which is a critical factor for the glacier and lake evolution. However, in the most recent period, since 2012, a distinct expansion of a glacial lake is quantifiable. Since the rates of glacier surface lowering also considerably increased since approximately 2017 and the glacier retreated since the beginning of the 2000s with a clear maximum length decrease in 2015, we interpret the recently formed glacial lake as a contributory factor of glacial changes.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier thinning, recession and advance, and the associated evolution of a glacial lake between 1966 and 2021 atAusterdalsbreen, westernNorway

Seier,

Abermann,

Andreassen

et al. 2023

Land Degrad Dev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such protocols for environmental measurements exist focused on different aspects e.g., terrestrial invertebrate functional traits [26], carbon stock in forests [27], for GIS applications [28], for drone missions and pre-flight conditions [29,30]. There are also protocols focused on specific areas; e.g., for monitoring protecting areas by drone technology [31], for marine debris assessment [32], for lakes and other standing waters [33] for coastal areas which incorporate the morphology of the study area, the environmental conditions, and flight parameters [34,35], for dams constructed on stream network and how affect environmental flows [36], among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UAV-based Optical Methods to Estimate the Flow of Temporary Streams and Evaluate their Environmental Status

Koutalakis,

Stamataki,

Tzoraki

2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Temporary streams are a key component of the hydrological cycle in arid and semi-arid regions, but their flow is highly variable and difficult to measure. In this paper, we present a novel approach that could be used to assess the flow of temporary streams and characterize their environmental status. Specifically, we apply the Image Velocimetry method to estimate surface velocity in temporary streams using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with optical sensors (IV-UAV method). The IV-UAV method enables the easy, safe and quick estimation of the velocity on the water’s surface. This method was applied in different temporary streams in Lesvos Island, Greece. The produced results show that the IV-UAV can be implemented at low discharges, at temporary streams and at small streams. However, there were many occasions that measurements were unable due to various reasons such as dense vegetation or archaeological sites. Despite of this, the proposed methodology could be incorporated in optical protocols which are used to assess the environmental status of temporary streams of Mediterranean conditions. Finally, this would become a valuable tool for understanding the dynamics of these eco-systems and monitoring changes over time.

show abstract

“…The method of simulation, experimental measurements and tests with statistical evaluation were used to solve the research task-the accuracy of landing at a specified point (experimental landing area) placed into a massif in the mountain environment. In order to determine the exact trajectories in the rugged mountain terrain, it was necessary to carry out a whole series of experimental measurements during the landing, thanks to which it was possible to collect and statistically evaluate information about the random errors of the unmanned aerial vehicle used as a supplementary UAV for the needs of HEMS, flying either fully autonomously or partially controlled by a pilotoperator [8][9][10][11][12][13][29][30][31].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Success of Simulation of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Precision Landing Provided by a Newly Designed System for Precision Landing in a Mountainous Area

Kurdel,

Gecejová,

Češkovič

et al. 2024

Aerospace

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Unmanned aerial vehicle technology is the most advanced and helpful in almost every area of interest in human work. These devices become autonomous and can fulfil a variety of tasks, from simple imaging and obtaining data to search and rescue operations. The most challenging environment for search and rescue operations is the mountainous area. This article is devoted to the theoretical description and simulation tests of a prototype method of landing the light and the medium-weight UAVs used as supplementary devices for SAR (search and rescue) and HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) in hard-to-reach mountainous terrains. The autonomous flight of a UAV in mountainous terrain has many specifics, and it is usually performed according to predetermined map points (pins) uploaded directly into the control software of the UAV. It is necessary to characterise each point flown on the chosen flight route line in advance and therefore to know its exact geographical coordinates (longitude, latitude and height of the point above the terrain), and the control system of UAV must react to the change in the weather and other conditions in real time. Usually, it is difficult to make this forecast with sufficient time in advance, mainly when UAVs are used as supplementary devices for the needs of HEMS or MRS (mountain rescue service). The most challenging phase is the final approach and landing of the UAV, especially if a loss of GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signal occurs, like in the determined area of the Little Cold Valley in the Slovak High Tatras—which is infamous for the widespread loss of GNSS signals or communication/controlling connection between the UAV and the pilot-operator at the operational station. To solve the loss of guidance, a new method for guiding and controlling the UAV in its final approach and landing in a determined area is tested. An alternative landing navigation system for UAVs in a specific mountainous environment—the authors’ designed frequency Doppler landing system (FDLS)—is briefly described but thoroughly tested with the help of artificial intelligence. An estimation of dynamic stability is used based on the time recording of the current position of the UAV, with the help of a frequency-modulated or amplitude-modulated signal based on the author’s prototype of a precision landing system designed for mountainous terrain. This solution could overcome the problems of GNSS signal loss. The presented research primarily evaluates the success of the simulation flights for the supplementary UAV. The success of navigating the UAV to land in the mountainous environment at an exact landing point using the navigation signals from the FDLS was evaluated at more than 95%.

show abstract

Unmanned aircraft systems for protected areas: Gadgetry or necessity?

Cited by 13 publications

References 128 publications

Glacier thinning, recession and advance, and the associated evolution of a glacial lake between 1966 and 2021 atAusterdalsbreen, westernNorway

Glacier thinning, recession and advance, and the associated evolution of a glacial lake between 1966 and 2021 atAusterdalsbreen, westernNorway

UAV-based Optical Methods to Estimate the Flow of Temporary Streams and Evaluate their Environmental Status

Evaluation of the Success of Simulation of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Precision Landing Provided by a Newly Designed System for Precision Landing in a Mountainous Area

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About