Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Ramsey, CL, Griffiths, PA and Stokes, TR. 2014. Multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) and high-resolution compact digital cameras: A promising new method for monitoring changes to surface karst resources. Acta Carsologica 43:269-286.
Organization Vancouver Island University
URL https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=120&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi7j7PeuObJAhUP7mMKHdHYCGM4bhAWCEkwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dlib.si%2Fstream%2FURN%3ANBN%3ASI%3ADOC-0K3Q9KAC%2F6b68b142-407e-40b9-b635-56e125113f41%2FPDF&usg=AFQjCNFy2oGvERdabRlx_EDULLNWEbSbkA&sig2=FUyzAZcjEcr5mGA4YGjsag&bvm=bv.110151844,d.cGc
Abstract/Description or Keywords In the course of doctoral research, the authors required a quick
and accurate means of documenting the real-time state of surface
karst features at a variety of scales in remote and challenging
field conditions. The main difficulty was finding an aerial
platform that was 1) consistently effective; 2) versatile; and 3)
relatively inexpensive. High resolution vertical images obtained
during recreational use of a small multi-rotor unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) seemed to have the potential to answer this
need. Using five case studies, the authors examine the potential
of these images for mapping, documenting, and monitoring
changes to surface karst resources following forestry-related
activities in the coastal temperate rainforest of British Columbia
(B.C.). Possible applications, strengths and limitations of
this technology are discussed. The authors conclude that mini
quadcopter UAVs equipped with high-resolution compact
digital cameras are a promising and cost-effective new tool for
karst scientists and karst managers.
Key words: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), quadcopter, vertical
aerial photography, monitoring, karst, British Columbia.
Information Type Article
Regional Watershed Vancouver Island North
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
Contact Email