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Lab 10: Aerial Field Survey & UAS Image Processing

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Introduction/Background Lab 10 combined an aerial field survey lab with the image processing lab as a training opportunity with drone imagery as well as Pix4D image processing techniques.  Lab 10 incorporated Unsupervised Classification using 5 classes in order to portray the imagery as accurately as possible. Methods Survey Day Before going into the field, Mr. Martin Goettl provided a quick presentation on Drones and their uses.  In the presentation, we learned that drones are officially known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) and are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  In accordance to regulation, drones must follow all FAA rules including flight restriction days, and airport distance operation.  Drones are used for multiple purposes including recreation, civil, and public as well as educational purposes. After the presentation, we went into the field on November 6, 2019 to collect Drone Imagery data with the Geography Department dron...
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Lab 8: Spatial Video and Geotagged Photos

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Introduction/Background Lab 8 was an introduction to using spatial videos and geotagged photos from GPS cameras for map making.  The field work was conducted on campus where I participated in target video recording with one other student. Methods First, my partner and I decided on using the University Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Little Niagara Creek as our target data.  We acquired Professor Rahman's personal spatial camera and started our recording at the creek outside of Phillips Science Hall.  My partner held the camera as we walked the length of the Little Niagara Creek, recording the creek until we reached the Chippewa River.  On the way back we discussed potential uses of the spatial video and recalled noticing different populations of ducks, storm sewer drains, and garbage as potential attributes. A Garmin VIRB Elite Action Camera used for spatial video recording. One of the three duck populations on Little Niagara. A skittle bag found nea...
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Lab 7: Arc Collector

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Introduction/Background Lab 7 was an introduction to the ArcGIS mobile app: Arc Collector.  For this lab, we worked in groups to collect data and collaborated with another GIS 336 class to create a mass data collection for  October 22 and 23 on UWEC campus. Methods In order to collect data for this project our class divided into two groups.  In our group, I downloaded Arc Collector on my phone and worked as the data collector for my group.  We were instructed to distribute into a specified zone on campus and collect data from 20 different locations that were different from the previous class's collections.  We were given a hand held Kestrel 3000 Weather Meter to acquire the following data: Humidity Temperature 5cm from the surface Temperature 200cm from the surface Windspeed Dew Point Type of ground coverage Group name Kestrel 3000 Weather Meter used to acquire all of our data. While collecting data we worked around the data points that the...
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Lab 6: Survey123

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Introduction/Background Lab 6 was an introduction to the Survey 123 application.  This lab was split into two activities.  For the first activity, we gathered data for Professor Rahman's tree survey on UWEC campus.  This survey was then used to create two maps based off of two different attributes.  The second activity included creating a unique and individual survey through Survey 123, collecting data for the survey, and then transforming the data into two maps displaying different attributes. Methods Activity 1 Professor Rahman had created a generalized survey so we would have experience using the ArcGIS based app: Survey 123.  Each student was given a pair of coordinates in which we considered to be our point zero for acquiring 10 surveys in the coordinated area.  His survey included questions such as: Date Time GPS Location Tree Type Tree Species Tree Structure Picture Extra Comments A small section of Professor Rahman's tree surv...
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Lab 5: Total Station Survey

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Introduction/Background In Lab 5, we collaborated with the Eau Claire County Surveyor's Office to collect XYZ topographic points by establishing a Total Station Survey in UWEC's courtyard.  After our survey was conducted, I used the data from the Total Station Survey to create a topographic map depicting our surveying techniques. Methods Surveying the Courtyard After meeting with the Dean Roth and Shawn Meyer from Eau Claire County Surveyor's Office, we decided on establishing UWEC's courtyard as our point of interest.  Dean and Shawn were extremely knowledgable; I will be paraphrasing a lot of the information they provided to us throughout the rest of this post.   Our point of interest: UWEC's courtyard. Our first task was to establish a Total station.   The Total station is a surveying instrument that measures sloping distance, horizontal angles, and vertical angles.  The instrument is equipped with a microprocessor unit which analyzes acquir...
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Lab 4: Distance Azimuth Survey

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Introduction/Background Lab 4 was an introduction to conducting a Distance Azimuth Survey, and utilizing this survey method as a technique to plot larger-scale geographical sites.  This Lab established utilizing tools such as a laser rangefinder to calculate azimuth, a compass to designate potential magnetic field error, GPS to establish coordinates, and a laser distance measurer for furthering azimuth accuracy. Methods Site 1: First, we decided on sites to plot in compliance with the rainy weather; we chose UWEC Phillips courtyard for site 1.  Once on site, we first recorded coordinates using a GPS.  After we recorded our location, we targeted four different trees in the courtyard and proceeded to measure the degree location of each tree by using the laser rangefinder.  In order to maintain accuracy, we had a single person measure from a stationary area.  Once our azimuth measurements were recorded, we measured the same three trees with a compass in order...
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