1. Mentor: Mark McNeil
Supervisor: Kay Ryals
PROCESS
OBJECTIVESWATER RETENTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SURVEYORS
EROSION
Wyeth Binder, Irvine Valley College
Modeling topography for water runoff and retention
methods using UAV mapping with Civil 3D software
Wyeth Binder, Matthew McBee: Irvine Valley College
Mentor: Matthew Wolken
INTRODUCTION
Fresh water is an economically scarce resource and has been the highlight of the California media for the last
few years. The ongoing drought in Southern California has demanded greater attention to the ways in which
we use and misuse water. It is necessary to limit consumption, but there is also demand to trap excess water
and reuse it in other ways. There has been improvement in the recent years. However, hydrology research and
survey data are expensive for companies. Our research is designed to examine ways where we limit the cost of
survey research and provide better data to model water flow by using CAD software and drone imaging.
• After receiving this image, the image can be
analyzed using Pix4D. (This is an open source
free software that is able to perform basic
terrain modeling for aerial images catering to
drones)
• Using Pix4D will transform the image into a
topography image.
• It will create a point could of the terrain with
each point specifying a certain elevation.
• After rendering the point cloud it is possible to
triangulate the surface using the Pix4D’s
meshing software
• This will allow for the surveyors to evaluate
the different levels of elevation and be
accurate when it comes to mapping the water
flow when there is a significant amount of rain.
Using drone imaging and CAD software is a rather new idea. This idea, if proven worthy,
could save ample amounts of money that is put into survey research. Along with everyone’s
favorite topic, Money, using drones to survey an area will also decrease the time it is
surveyed. After the images are gathered surveyors will receive an image that looks like the
pictures you see below.
DATA
In California, there has been development in water “detention basins” and “bio-filtration swells”. These are two
methods that use naturally existing plants and sediment to create basins in which the water can filter and be
collected without causing flood damage or polluting the existing fresh water supply (see images below).
However, the problem here is to find the best
location to place these basins in order to maximize
efficiency. This is where our research is useful.
Through the use of our terrain modeling, we can
provide an accurate map of where the water runoff
is most concentrated. Placing water retention
measures in these areas will prove more effective in
the long run.
Drones
• Cost per drone is $1000 to $2000 dollars.
• Can survey an area, once it is in place, in
about 5-6 seconds
• Only takes one person to operate the drone
• With the right programs in place, the drone
can immediately give topography pictures
and display contour lines within the area.
• Entire process can be done before
completing 1 business day.
Surveyors.
• Surveyors work in groups of 2-3 people.
• Surveyors make somewhere in between
$40,000 to $60,000 a year.
• With a good company they take anywhere
from 5-10 business days
• After collecting the data over these 5 days,
surveyors have to go through and analyze
the data which could take another business
day to complete.
Website Title: “DJI Phantom 3 Professional review”. CNET.
Web. November 01, 2015.
“Surveyor Salary: Latest Wage and Compensation
Trends”. Recruiter. Web. November 01, 2015
Erosion is constantly sculpting the Earth’s surface,
into new forms. Human interaction with the
environment is a major cause of erosion. For
example, deforestation due to urban development
can increase the amount of exposed rock on the
surface. With the increase of expose comes the
increase of erosion.
One way to prevent erosion is to predict water
runoff and landscape accordingly. Shrubs and
other undergrowth can provide a layer of
protection for the soil, which will mitigate
erosion due to rainfall.
Our method of modeling the terrain can provide
insight on where to place vegetation, to
effectively reduce the speed of water runoff.
Figure 6 of 6The example on the left is from the Draft
Environmental Impact Report for the
“Skyridge” apartment development in
Mission Viejo. In the drafted report they
make use of the topography in
determining the impact of having a graded
housing development, complete with
paved roads and watered lawns.
This is the type of project that would
benefit from using the drone footage and
3D modeling software to speed up survey
work.
“Northeast Annexation Area and Skyridge VTTM –
Mission Viejo”. Draft Environmental Impact Report.
Web. PDF. October 2012. November 1, 2015.
This is the report that we generated using
the Pix4D software as the modeling
software for creating the point cloud and
3D mesh of the surface. The first part of
the report addresses quality of the input
data and analysis (see above images).
• We had a processing time of 2min 38sec
for the point cloud and a total number
of 59936 points. The average ground
sampling distance was 3.77cm.
To the right is a map of the image positions
that constitute the drone flyover. We used
a total of 6 images in progression.
Below is the point matching data summary.
Legend for Digital Surface Model on right:
- Lowest point on the data set (abs. zero)
- Highest elevation point relative to abs. zero
Figure 2 of 6
The data above and to the right is
on the accuracy and precision of
the point matching. For every point
of elevation in the model, its
position is verified in relation to
other points around it. The higher
the number of keypoints the higher
the accuracy of an exact
representation of the surface.
• In creating the surface it took a
total of 4min 27sec with optimal
settings. The resulting image is
to the left in the center column.
Mentor: Matthew Wolken
College: Irvine Valley College
Works Cited:
Barreiro, Anxo, et al. "Integration Of UAV Photogrammetry And SPH Modelling Of Fluids To Study Runoff On Real
Terrains." Plos ONE 9.11 (2014): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
Carrivick, Jonathan L., et al. "Developments In Budget Remote Sensing For The Geosciences." Geology Today 29.4 (2013):
138-143. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
“Northeast Annexation Area and Skyridge VTTM – Mission Viejo”. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Web. PDF. October
2012. November 1, 2015.
“State Route 241 Tesoro Extension Project Water Quality and Environmental Measures.” Transportation Corridor
Agencies. Stat Water Resources Control Board. <swrcb.ca.gov> 13 Mar. 2013. Web. PDF. 10 Oct. 2015
Above images courtesy of: Transportation Corridor Agencies. Stat Water Resources Control Board.