Visual Resources Association Annual Conference March 27-30, 2018, Philadelphia Session: Engaging New Technologies Presenter: Chris Strasbaugh, Digital Library Archivist and Curator, The Ohio State University

1. Capturing the Unseen from Above: UAVs as
Platforms for Imaging Techniques
Chris Strasbaugh, Digital Library Archivist and Curator
@cstrasbaugh

2. Multi/Hyperspectral Photography
https://www.slideshare.net/rijksmuseum/23d-photography-2017-inv-7-the-3d-image-capture-
moonshot-managing-the-energetics-don-williams-76804015

3. Multi/Hyperspectral Photography
• Both Multi- and Hyper- capture wavelengths of light inside and
beyond visible (aka UV, IR, etc…) via filters
• Multi is about a dozen channels while hyper- is about 100 or more
• Each channel can pickup new and different details for analysis
• Software like Multispectral Tools combines the data layers
• Semi-specialized equipment but hackable
https://www.slideshare.net/rijksmuseum/23d-photography-2017-inv-7-the-3d-image-capture-
moonshot-managing-the-energetics-don-williams-76804015

4. Multi/Hyperspectral Photography

5. Multi/Hyperspectral Photography

6. https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/researchers-turn-a-
dslr-into-hyperspectral-camera-using-pvc-and/
https://www.adorama.com/alc/8550/article/how-convert-
your-dslr-full-spectrum-camera

7. Multi/Hyperspectral Photography
http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/MultispectralIBRL/

8. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

9. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

10. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

11. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

12. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

13. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging
• Applications
• Art
• Archaeology
• Archives
• Paleontology
• Equipment needs is a mix of common and specific
• Open-source software
• Community support
• Another tool for analysis

14. Brief History of Consumer Drones
• 2010 - The Parrot AR Drone, credited as the first consumer drone, is released
• 2013 – DJI Phantom 1 released in January with GoPro Camera
• 2013 – Amazon announces that it is working towards a drone delivery fleet
• 2013 – DJI Phantom 2 released with integrated camera gimbal and smartphone
app
• 2016 – FAA created the Section 107 remote pilot license to allow for better
regulation
• 2016 – DJI releases the Mavic Pro which is one of the most portable and robust
drones ever
• 2017 – Knowlton School purchases first DJI Mavic Pro to start site surveys for
classes
• 2018 – First aerial survey to support a Knowlton School class complete

15. DJI Mavic Pro
• Small, foldable, and very
portable
• 4K camera for both video and
stills
• 27 minute max flight time
• 40 MPH max speed
• 4 mile range from controller
• $1000
• Compatible with Pix4D flight
controller

16. Drone as a Tool
• When integrated with apps like Pix4D or DroneDeploy, you are not
capturing just beautiful images but data.
• These apps use a technique called photogrammetry to stitch photos
together using common points to create large image overlays for
maps or 3D reconstructions.
• The GIS on the drones provides additional information to create
accuracy of the stitch and to georeferenced image as GeoTIFF or KML
for analysis in ArcGIS and other software.
• We use the app Pix4D app to create a flight grid over a map which is
loaded to drone. Click go and the drone flies the grid (~15-20 acres
per flight) and lands automatically

17. Pix4D App

18. Pix4D App
Preflight selection including flight time and battery check
Flight view showing progress as photos are taken.

19. 19 Acres of Agriculture in Dalton, Ohio

20. 122 Acres Metro Park Construction:
Pickerington Woods
Detail. Can you see the blue square in the
full picture?

21. 3D Reconstruction from Drone Images

22. Photogrammetry vs Videogrammetry

24. Potential uses in RTI

25. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

26. RTI: Reflectance Transformation Imaging

27. UAV Multispectral Data Collection

28. UAV Multispectral and Thermal Data
Collection
Fixed wing drone for ~200 acres on one flight. $4500 with Sequoia multispectral camera.

29. Truckee River Projects: Multispectral Drone
Survey

30. UAV Multispectral and Thermal Data
Collection

31. UAV Thermal Data Collection

32. UAV Thermal Data Collection

33. DJI Matrice 210: Enterprise Level for Duel
Camera Collection
• $10,000-20,000 depending on
cameras
• Waterproof
• Two controllers (one pilot, one
camera operator)
• 38 minute flight time

34. The Law and Regulations of UAVs
• Drones are required by law to follow policies in place by the FAA the main
ones are:
• All drones must be registered with the FAA
• A pilot must be aware of airspace and cannot fly within 5 miles of Class B, C, or D
airports
• In order to receive special permission for flights, you must pass your Section 107
Remote Pilot exam
• All waivers require 60-90 day lead time and you must contact air traffic control on
the day of flight
• A pilot must renew license every 2 years
• Besides airports, many parks and large campus (including OSU) require
special permits to fly
• While there are paid study course online for the 107 exam, there are plenty
of free tutorials on YouTube. I passed with just free materials.

35. UAV (Drone) Imaging
• Pilot
• Airspace
• Weather
• Authorization
• Outcome
• Equipment

36. UAV (Drone) Imaging

37. UAV (Drone) Imaging

38. UAV (Drone) Imaging

39. UAV (Drone) Imaging

40. https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/4/16970706/lidar-lasers-
mayan-civilization-guatemala-archeology
The VLP-16 Puck LITE is $8800
The Puck is $7200,
The Puck Hi-Res is $13,500.
The HDL-32E is $29,900
The VLP-32C is $49,999

42. Thank You