Outline of seminar. The business case for operating a UAS

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2 Outline of seminar The business case for operating a UAS Process and what to include in a business case Demonstration project Issues we considered in selecting the type of UAS CASA certification and ongoing requirements Establishing an operational program Challenges we have overcome Applications Where to next: new platforms and sensors

3 The business case for operating a UAS Business case was first developed and submitted in 2012 Received the go ahead late 2013 We were operational as of April 2014 Multiple business cases and demonstration project prior to approval

4 Supervising Scientist Business Need Working to protect the environment through environmental research & monitoring, environmental supervision, audit and inspection. Ensuring the protection of the alligator Rivers Region from the effects of uranium mining and encouraging best practice in wetland conservation and management.

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8 What do the business cases look like Context: Business context (mission and objectives of the business) and proposed for a UAV to address objectives. How a UAS will address the business needs Obtaining data at the right frequency (temporal resolution) Obtaining data at the right sampling intensity (spatial resolution) Increased measurement accuracy Flexibility in data acquisition (rapid response & cost-effective) What is a UAS What types of data generated by a UAS Data products (e.g. Weed mapping) Organisations that currently use UAS Other government agencies, research groups Cost benefit analysis Operational considerations Staffing/resources Hardware & software Certifications & Legal requirements Maintenance Market analysis of UASs Risk Management Strategy Organisational risk Operator risk Version 2: focus on immediate project work and resourcing, why do we need a UAS as opposed to using high resolution satellite data, resourcing, target date for project deliverables, contribution to other projects across the business

9 Airborne/Satellite Monitoring Program UAS & Satellite Monitoring Program Ground survey (example only for one off survey) Capital Expenditure $0.00 Capital Expenditure $65,000 UAS (including software for data processing) $30,000 CASA approvals & operator training LiDAR data capture + high resolution imagery $150, (1 capture/year) ($70- Point cloud data capture + high $80K of the cost resolution imagery is associated with deployment costs) $ Preparation- Mission Planning Costing on one capture, although it is likely we would undertake two captures/year in the outset Capital Expenditure $0 Surface elevation of Trial land Form $5, Field work: 1 survey using a total station/year. 2 x EL1 for 5 person days + 1 day data processing. Note that this time increases as vegetation grows. There are many issues raised by PCP in this form of survey including georeferencing. 1 person day (EL1) Compared with $ for a UAV capture up to 30km2 $ Data capture/mission flying 2 x EL1 for 1 person day Plot vegetation surveys $14, I survey/year. 3 x EL1 for 10 person days. 16 plots at 100m $4, Data processing 10 person days $498.27/day * data processing costs are not included here for all data captures as there is data processing involved in all remote sensing captures SSDI undertake. We have provided a conservative estimate of what a UAS derived point cloud would cost to process (we believe 5 days would become routine processing time) $19, captures/year to coincide Cost based on above data with phenological & seasonal capture & processing costs. 3 changes captures & data $ each. High-resolution satellite data $60, (3 captures/year) High-resolution satellite data $20,000 (1 capture/year) No feasible comparison Multiple captures to coincide with phenological & seasonal changes Single image capture to look at gross change on an annual basis, including the downstream floodplain environment Current likely data source is WorldView-2 $5,000 $100 each in-house built custom sensors Current likely data source is WorldView-2 LED sensors $5, $100 each LED sensors in-house built custom sensors Maintenance & Repairs (UAS) $0.00 Maintenance & Repairs (UAS) $30,000 Buying a new body in case the body gets damaged is factored into this cost item. Any minor repairs can be done in-house Adhoc data capture -event based $40, x event based adhoc One off costs data capture. Estimated cost for tasking a high resolution satellite $6, x event based adhoc data capture. Uses the conservative figures above for a point cloud data capture. No comparision Could be compared with the cost of undertaking the fieldwork for Cyclone Monica x 100m over 4km 2 $14, Data entry & analysis - 1 EL1 for 30 person days. $29, Sub-total=1 survey compared with 3 data captures using the UAV One off costs $0.00 $2, Set up of permament marks for georeferencing. 2 X EL1 for 3 person days. No comparison First year set up cost $0.00 $95,000 $0 There would likely be s set-up cost in developing field monitoring protocols (mainly staff time) Five Year Monitoring Program Cost $1,275, $436, years of routine data collection ($87,387.55/year) Cannot compare

10 Demonstration project Objective: To trial the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) for obtaining very high resolution imagery that can be used to monitor mine site rehabilitation in a time and cost effective manner. Outcomes: Demonstration that a UAS can be used to successfully capture data required for environmental monitoring in the Ranger context. Data for test sites that can be analysed to demonstrate applications for environmental monitoring.

11 How do we do a test? Collaboration with the University of Queensland, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation The CMLR conducts research on monitoring and mapping technologies. A component of this research program is focused on collecting data from UAV platforms for monitoring minesite impacts and rehabilitation. Operate a fixed-wing UAS (Swampfox manufactured by Skycam NZ). Swampfox had not been tested in extreme climatic conditions such as those experienced in the ARR, nor in an environment like the Magela Creek catchment which includes savanna matrix, floodplains and billabongs. ERISS and CMLR research objectives and outcomes for operationalising remote sensing methods for minesite monitoring have formed the basis for collaboration.

12 Field tests Between 8 th -10 th October UAS tests were conducted at four sites. All areas flown were outside the 3nm restriction around Jabiru air strip which includes a large portion of the minesite. CMLR research team and the manufacturer of Swampfox conducted the tests with ERISS staff present. 39.6⁰ C 39.3⁰ C 40.3⁰ C

13 Swampfox flight at Buffalo Billabong

14 Magela Floodplain Jabiluka Buffalo Billabong test site Flown October photos (510 in total) 2.5cm spatial resolution Djarr Djarr test site Flown October photos (1,510 in total) 3cm spatial resolution Jabiru Ranger Uranium Mine

15 Preliminary Imagery RGB: Red, Green, Blue NIR RGB: NIR, Red, Green

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17 Challenges Extreme high temperatures Up to 40.3⁰C during flight times Auto pilot inside Swampfox was recording in excess of 60⁰C Cameras stopped triggering and working at these high temperatures Modifications to the cameras internal voltage regulation is inefficient and as a result produces large amounts of heat which may have contributed to the cameras failing at higher frame capture rates. The fix: reduce temperature around cameras Decrease the temperature inside Swampfox Holes for airflow were drilled into the body. White body rather than camouflage. Newly designed voltage regulator is being tested at higher frame rates (fps) and the camera tests will include an elevated temperature test to simulate the field conditions at high fps rates.

18 Challenges Environmental controls and overlap between photos Savannas have few features for registration which results in poor results when processing orthomosaics. Savanna project had 75% forward overlap, and we probably need >90% forward overlap for savanna in the late dry season. Could be problems with the software- Pix4D Djarr Djarr Test Poor results due to combination of low altitude (~80m AGL) and slow frame rate (1.8 secs) THE FIX: Increase forward overlap and have a triggering rate at 1fps.

19 Is a UAS suited for monitoring of Ranger mine site? Flexible image capture Time of day (reduce BRDF effects) Climatic conditions (cloud and water affected images) Event-based and ad-hoc captures Resolution of 5cm GSD is what is required for mine site applications Cost effective coupled with temporal resolution which we currently don t have. In the future a hyperspectral sensor (camera) will provide increased spectral resolution and therefore enhance the monitoring applications and science questions that can be answered using data and information derived from a UAS.

20 Issues to consider when selecting he type of UAS

21 UAS Capability Role of the system Tasking & Collection Requirement Prioritising what information is to be collected Information gaps Collection scheduling Tasking & Collection Data Processing Data Analysis Information Extraction Information Management Disseminating information to address requirements

22 Where are you planning on operating? Over water: potential crashes and damage to sensor(s), autopilot, airframe. Retrieval. This relates to cost. In savanna with trees: take off capabilities in the context of obstructions (trees).fixed wing vs octocopter. Launch method.

23 Work, Health and Safety considerations: Fixed wing: overhead launch vs catapault (bungy launch). Kinetic energy on impact (particularly if working on mine sites) Landing mechanism: parachute, catch or crash landing. How does the autopilot handle loss of signal to GCS, what happens if you lose control.

24 Size of operational area/missions Duration of UAV: octocopter has limited duration, whilst fixed wing has longer duration Ability to swap payload easily Can different sensors be readily fitted? What type of data do you require? Speed of UAV can impact what sensors you can utilise. Frame rates of sensor

25 CASA Certification & ongoing requirements

26 CASR 101 Australian Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 1 Provides the requirements to fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

27 Legal requirements and Certification ACROP Radio Operator Certificate RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) Controller s Certificate 5 day course on site (all 4 RLE staff have this certificate) Have an Aeronautical Reference Number (ARN) for the Department. Submitting our RPAS Operators Certificate Contracted Ultimate Positioning Group to prepare the submission. Initial payment of $3K to CASA for assessment.

28 Ranger site for RPA Operations The Ranger site comes under a Danger Area as listed in the En- Route Supplement Australia D hour (blasting) Ideal site for us to obtain an Area Approval under the Operator s Certificate Enables us to fly within the 3nm of Jabiru airstrip and can enact the Danger Area for added safety control when we fly a mission on site.

29 Establishing an operational program

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35 Digital Surface Model (DSM) Sparse point cloud

36 Dense point cloud

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38 Processes Procedures and process are critical to a successful operation Recording of all missions and incidents Continual improvement of processes, safety and operations. Communication: with Jabiru Airport with aircraft operators Jabiru community Parks Australia

39 Maintenance & log books Flight logs Battery logs Maintenance schedules Recording of what parts are used on what flights

40 Software & Hardware Started off with AgiSoft PhotoScan Pix-4D Now currently using SimActive Pre-processing for vignette correction using RawTherapee

41 Challenges

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45 Monitoring billabong turbidity using an UAV

46 Context The outcome of this project is to have a method to quantitatively measure turbidity in waters in a spatially continuous manner, both on and offsite of Ranger during the rehabilitation and closure phases of the mine. The current surface water quality monitoring program (which measures turbidity) is a point sampling program and as such does not capture spatial variability in turbidity. We are working on developing a method using the UAV to derive spatially continuous maps of a number of floodplain billabongs. Ideally we would have used Coonjimba and Georgetown Billabongs, or Magela and Gulungul Creeks, but we don t the required certification to get a clearance to fly Ranger as yet. This application can value add to the soil erosion monitoring program during decommissioning and rehabilitation by providing distribution maps of suspended sediment in the surrounding creek systems & provide extra information for interpreting biological monitoring results. Maps may also be useful aids in designing or improving point sampling monitoring programs through highlighting the best locations for sampling.

47 Study sites and aims Jabiluka Billabong 1. To develop a quantitative method to map turbidity in floodplain billabongs using data derived from a UAV. 2. To characterise the spatio-temporal dynamics of turbidity in floodplain billabongs. Jabiluka 3. To compare the spatio-temporal patterns of turbidity between floodplain billabongs. Part- time Honours project (Javier Chen, CDU) Completion by July 2016 Kelly s Billabong RLE team are involved in the development of the method and associated technology and data capture Wirnmuyrr Billabong

48 Jabiluka Billabong December 2014 Djarr Djarr/Kelly s Billabong October 2013 December 2014 Wirnmyurr Billabong December 2014

49 Ground truthing Autopilot Turbidity data TSS Sample collection Data collection Data processing techniques -sun glint -Image pre-processing (vignetting) -image calibration - mosaicing

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52 VEGETATION MAPPING Ceratophyllum/Utricularia Floating mats- Mixed species Leersia Para grass Hymenachne acutigluma

53 Population surveys- Waterbirds

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55 White egret Pelican Tern

56 Our current UAV program Airframe and components 2 x airframes each with an autopilot (2 x autopilots) 3 sets of wings 7 sets of LiPo batteries

57 Sensors 3 x SONY camera sets (R,G,B and modified NIR) MicaSense RedEdge 3 multispectral camera (will be integrated ASAP) BaySpec- OCI (All Seeing Eye)UAV Hyperspectral camera (on route to Darwin)

58 MicaSense RedEdge 3 multispectral camera (Blue-Green-Red-Red Edge-Near IR) $6.5K (US) Capturing all bands once per second enables faster flight speeds and lower altitude captures. Specifications Weight 150 g Dimensions 12.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 4.6 cm Spectral Bands Narrowband filters for Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, Near-Infrared Ground Sample Distance (~400 ft) AGL 8.0 cm/pixel (per band) at 120 m Capture Speed 1 capture per second (all bands), 12- bit RAW

59 Hyperspectral sensor BaySpec- OCI (All Seeing Eye)UAV Hyperspectral camera OCI-UAV-1000: True Push-broom $39K (Australian Distributor) Up to 120 bands ( nm/red-infrared)

60 Software CORRELATOR3D - simactive Pix4D Agisoft Photoscan Have tried to get a test done using UAS Master (Trimble)

61 Data capture standardised methods GCPs collected with DGPS Calibration targets (bright and dark)

62 Follow Swampfox on

63 Follow Swampfox on Instagram: swampfoxnt

64 Upcoming Continuing Professional Development Event: Demonstration of a UAV in operation. Aiming for late August Fly Swampfox Image capture Demonstrate video live link