Luke Monette, OSMRE, “Drones and their use in Environmental Monitoring”
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Lukus Monette presented on the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSMRE) use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for inspections and monitoring. The OSMRE has been conducting UAS pilot projects since 2011 to assess their applicability. UAS allow OSMRE to view large areas quickly and safely, reducing time on site and risks to personnel. Data collected, such as images and 3D models, have been useful for measurements, mapping, and historical records. Current limitations include FAA regulations and the lack of trained OSMRE operators and dedicated UAS. The OSMRE plans to procure UAS costing $2,500-5,000 within the
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Luke Monette, OSMRE, “Drones and their use in Environmental Monitoring”
- 1. TESTING UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) APPLICABILITY FOR THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT Prepared by: Lukus Monette Office of Surface Mining ARO June 2016 Presented by Lukus Monette
- 2. OUTLINE Background of SUAS use in OSMRE Data and Derived Products Software Systems DOI Regulations Commercial Regulations (New) Future of SUAS in SMRCA
- 3. 2011- PILOT PROJECT 2011- Proof of concept project 1 site, 2 days, different cameras
- 4. 2012 2012- Inspection tool project 8 sites, 3 days, for cost benefit analysis
- 5. 2012 CONT.
- 6. 2013- IMPOUNDMENTS 7 permits over 3 days- looking at the downstream face of the dam for seeps
- 7. 2014- KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA
- 8. AML SITES Carbondale Co 2012 Montana Coal seam fire Dolph Fire (Mike Dunn 2010) –Note really a drone
- 9. Color Infrared - NDVI Point Cloud Generation Elevation Models Feature Extraction KML – 3D Modeling Orthophotography Contour GenerationVolumetric Measurements Point Cloud Classification Derived Geospatial Products – “GIS Ready” 9
- 10. DATA AND DERIVED PRODUCTS
- 11. DATA AND DERIVED PRODUCTS
- 12. DATA AND DERIVED PRODUCT Color Infra-red- Plants, soil moisture and water clarity NDVI images Intensity and density of vegetation Pond Baffle Piezometer Power line Pipeline Seep 4 Seep 10 Pond Baffle Piezometer Power line Pipeline Seep 4 Seep 10
- 14. PROJECT FINDINGS View large areas in a short time Data driven time in the field Can view remote/potentially dangerous areas from a safe distance- decreasing risk of injury to people and vehicles Save on equipment repairs
- 15. PROJECT FINDINGS CONT. Better image quality Time on site reduced Accuracy of the data allows for measurements on imagery
- 16. CLOSE RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY SOFTWARE AGISOFT PhotoScan ESRI Drone to Map PhotoModeler Recap 360 ReTake (formerly Memento) Pix4d CORRELATOR3D TRIMBLE Many many more
- 17. OTHER USES FOR CRP SOFTWARE
- 18. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS UAS operations can collect much more information UAS create a historical record of the site, that we now only capture by camera Different sensor types are available when using UAS
- 19. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT MAJOR LIMITATIONS? FAA regulations- 2 person operation Maintain line of sight No Trained operators within OSMRE No UAS readily available Minimum 2 months to plan and coordinate fights We need Office of Aviation Service approval for any UAS that is not currently approved Possible decommissioning of previously used airframes
- 20. DOI UAS PLATFORMS • All sUAS - 7 to 37 lbs • Both fixed wing and rotor • Both electric and gas • All flown LOS • Endurance - 20 minutes to 6 hours • Payloads – DSLR, TIR, custom • Payload weights - .5 to 8 lbs Falcon Falcon HoverPulse Vapor 55 MLB Super Bat
- 21. UAS Technology - Sensors Current • GoPro Hero 3 & 4 - 1080P & 4K HD camera (still frame and video) • Canon SX260HS & S100 – GPS enabled (RGB and IR) – CHDK • Sony ActionCam – GPS enabled • Ricoh GR – no GPS Future • Multispectral, Hyperspectral • Lidar, Thermal • Chemical/Air Sampling • Radio Relay/Tracking
- 22. 22 FAA AND DOI FAA - Develop and oversee Federal Aviation Regulations Office of Aviation Services (OAS) - Develop and oversee overarching DOI policies and programs Bureaus - Develop implementing bureau policies and programs DOI OAS OPM-11 DOI Use of UAS Only OAS can purchase UAS
- 23. 23 FAA AND DOI (CONT.) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) • Originally signed Dec. 24, 2013 (updated Sept. 2015) o Under 1,200’ o Line of sight o 5 nm from an airport (control tower) o 3 nm from an airport (published instrument procedures) o 2 nm from an airport (not having published instrument procedures) o 2 nm from a heliport o Not over people or urban settings o NOTAM o VFR weather minimums and allowed to fly at night o File Certificate of Authorization (COA) 48 hours prior to mission – file and fly • https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.opengov.ibmcloud.com/files/uploa ds/DOI_FAA_MOA_Class_G_09112015.pdf
- 24. WHAT IS THE DOI UAS STRATEGY DOI’s UAS program strategy is tailored to the mission, funding, personnel, and infrastructure levels of the Department and is summarized as: • Focus on small UAS (sUAS), which are more aligned with DOI’s decentralized mission execution strategy and more supportable by the Department’s funding, personnel and infrastructure levels. • Leverage available excess DOD sUAS to minimize procurement, training, and support costs. • Establish partnerships with Federal departments who possess UAS capabilities beyond DOI’s to support DOI missions that require more extensive UAS capabilities. • Conduct operational tests and evaluations of various UAS technologies to support the development of long-range UAS requirements and strategy for the DOI UAS activities. • Based on the requirements and strategy developed above, procure (buy or contract) for UAS capabilities that cannot be met either through excess DOD sUAS or those available through partnerships with other Federal agencies. https://www.doi.gov/aviation/uas
- 25. 25 Other information Link to FAA UAS website is https://www.faa.gov/uas/ Link to website with map of 333 commercial companies is http://www.suasnews.com/drone/exemptions333.html Note many states have their own “drone” laws that people need to be aware of, see http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/current-unmanned- aircraft-state-law-landscape.aspx This is an issue when you conduct operations in different states – what’s legal in one state may not be in another. This doesn’t impact Federal agencies, but does commercial groups. At some point the FAA and states will have to resolve the FAA regulations and what the states can regulate when it comes to UAS
- 26. SUMMARY OF SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT RULE (PART 107) Operational Limitations Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg). Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation, not under a covered structure, and not inside a covered stationary vehicle. Daylight-only operations, or civil twilight (30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset, local time) with appropriate anti-collision lighting. Must yield right of way to other aircraft. Maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots). Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (AGL) or, if higher than 400 feet AGL, remain within 400 feet of a structure. A person may not operate a small unmanned aircraft if he or she knows or has reason to know of any physical or mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small UAS. External load operations are allowed if the object being carried by the unmanned aircraft is securely attached and does not adversely affect the flight characteristics or controllability of the aircraft. Most of the restrictions discussed above are waivable if the applicant demonstrates that his or her operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver
- 27. SUMMARY OF SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT RULE (PART 107) Remote Pilot in Command Certification and Responsibilities Establishes a remote pilot in command position. A person operating a small UAS must either hold a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating or be under the direct supervision of a person who does hold a remote pilot certificate (remote pilot in command). To qualify for a remote pilot certificate, a person must: Demonstrate aeronautical knowledge by either: Passing an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center; or Hold a part 61 pilot certificate other than student pilot, complete a flight review within the previous 24 months, and complete a small UAS online training course provided by the FAA. Be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration. Be at least 16 years old.
- 28. WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? Solicitation has been completed OAS is currently testing three (3) possible aircraft Contract expected to be awarded in the next 3-6 months Cost range $2500-5000 (depending on payload/camera purchase- many choices GoPro 4 Sony DSLR GPS camera RGB camera (multi spectrum) Thermal Infra-red
- 29. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Special Thanks to Natalie Carter and Bruce Quirk
Editor's Notes
- All areas are viewed in real time as the flight is taking place, so areas that need further investigation can be identified immediately for all of the following projects 2011 we chose one mine site to fly to test the technology as a proof of concept. We flew 7 flights over a two day period, using a true color camera and a thermal camera over a 400 acre permit. we were able to demonstrate that this technology has some real applications with OSMRE and its oversight mission 1. inspect sediment control structures and identity areas of disturbances downslope and off of the permitted area 2. view underground mine fire. Black is hot. This helped us to identify where the fire is closest to the surface, and the crack along the ridge
- 2012 we decided to fly the UAS as if we were using it for oversight activities. We flew 8 sites over a 3 day period to determine how much territory can we cover and is it worth the investment of time and money. What were we look at? Valley Fill- drainage control around the valley fill both for under construction and completed Valley Fills Highwall- Ability to view large highwalls from the air. Notice the crack along the top-Big safety risk if we were to be standing up there. This highwall was measured in the field at approximately 2400 feet in length and 106 feet high. Measurements taken from the images collected indicated the highwall to be 102 feet tall. This can also be used to make 3D models We flew close to 6500 acres and 4 miles of sediment structures during this project. No NOV’s issued based solely on Imagery- all areas in question must be followed up with and documented on the ground
- Perimeter drainage control structures are functioning properly Ponds are appropriately placed Potential drainage problems- past or present.
- We were able to fly over 7 slurry impoundments, over a three day period. We concentrated our efforts on the downstream side of the impoundment looking for seeps and potential drainage problems. We covered approximately 4000 acres The T-Hawk captured data using a high definition video camera and a 12 megapixel Canon mounted to the airframe..
- 2014- Kentucky and West Virginia In an effort to test the portability of the technology we flew in both WV and KY. We selected a large complex of mine permits in each state to cut down on travel time between permits to get the best bang for our buck. 1 multiple permit complex, 1 week each, looking at portability Left hand picture is a preparation plant in WV. The picture on the right is a drainage structure in KY where there has been some repair work done recently. * ASK FOR QUESTIONS*
- Data collected during UAS research projects are used to produce various derived data products – standard GIS data layers and formats are very important to the utilization of the UAS platform and sensor technology. Easy integration with other remote sensing data such as satellite, aerial manned collections and in-situ acquisition is the goal. These products are generated by the USGS to help answer scientific and natural resource questions. UAS operations are low-cost, safer and can be conducted under non-optimal weather conditions, such as cloudy days. RTK is coming 3-5 cm horizontal accuracy, 4-5 cm vertical accuracy
- Digital model created from UAS video images- the downstream face of Ben’s Creek Impoundment in West Virginia
- We made 3D models of the impoundments and the highwall in to see if we could make measurements from the data. The Impoundments were calculated for volume to compare to the approved designs, so far no problems have been noted. The highwall in the field 106 ft high. Measurements taken from the images collected indicated the highwall to be just over 102 feet tall
- Using the Color Infra-red photos it is possible to identify, Plant species, Assess soil moisture and water clarity ( Bright Red- vigorous vegetation, Light Red/Pink – vegetation with low chlorophyll like unhealthy vegetation or stands of mature evergreens, White, blue, green or tan- soils or sediment laden moisture and Dark Blue/Black- Water. From this we can also create the NDVI –Normalized Difference Vegetation Index- Derived from #3. This enables us to see intensity and density of vegetation, as well as clearly identify seeps. Yellow- most dense vegetation, Blue- Water and gravel- it rained so the road was moist, therefore a darker blue, Red- the healthiest vegetation and Green and yellow can indicate several things- stressed, diseased, or dead vegetation.
- The video starts with the premining condition and fades into the Hewitt Creek Surface Mine, Boone Co, WV The permit was issued Dec 20, 2002 to Coyote Coal Co for 561 acres. This video has 0 vertical exaggeration. Highwall is about 102ft high and 2400ft long. The bench and the model itself is a 3 meter pixel size elevation model with the imagery used to make it draped over it. Next image..The Brushy Fork Impoundment, in Raleigh Co, WV issued Nov 28, 1995 for 645 acres. You are looking at 2012 WV LiDAR with 2011 NAIP imagery draped over it. Nothing really has changed on the site. Next is a elevation model built from the LiDAR. Next we transition into our model. Lastly, is our model derived from UAV and Close Range Photogrammetry fused with the LiDAR to fill in missing gaps of the data. This was a great test since the LiDAR and the UAV model fused seamlessly demonstrating the accuracy of the data. Accuracy is around 2 meters on average. But we are not trying to land the space shuttle. With more accurate cameras (IE our next mission) and better ground control (gps and targets) accuracy would improve significantly
- We can view very large areas in a relatively short time Based on the flight video, this can help the inspectors prioritize where they need to go by providing an overview of the site and identifying potential problem areas for follow up on the ground This will also provide additional safety to our folks in the field by eliminating the need to walk across steep and uneven areas where vegetation can be dense enough to cover hazards for tripping and animal interference…like snakes. There is the potential to cut down on wear and tear of our GOV’s by reducing the amount of rough terrain that must be driven And it give the potential to increase inspection numbers each year.
- As we have progressed from 2011 the image quality we collect now is much better than when we started, there is an expectation that this trend will continue. Time on site is reduced on site for inspection. The accuracy of the imagery allows for measurements to be within an acceptable range.
- CRP software. Explain the concept Numerous companys have extended full functioning trials. Try them see what meets your needs.
- Tools needed Camera with GPS or a known distance of measure Little know how to take proper photos Photoscan
- The T-Hawk is capable of producing high quality video for future reference, creating a historic record. This record would be stored with its associated report and retained according to each offices approved file plan. The sUAV allows OSMRE staff to view large potentially unstable areas from a safe distance, decreasing the possibility of injury in the field. sUAV can utilize different cameras to collect pertinent data for review and analysis.
- Current FAA regulations require the use of the currently approve UAS- the THawk- for a 2 person operation, 1 operator and 1 observer. The observer must maintain line of sight at all times. One positive is that the requirement for a COA- Certification of Authorization from FAA has been eliminated, we can operate under the approved MOA. Currently we have no trained operators within OSMRE. The USGS houses all aircraft in Denver Co. So in order for us to use them we must coordinate with folks in Denver on when we intend to fly months in advance. The shortest turn around time would be no less than 2 months. We need Office of Aviation Service approval for any UAS that is not currently approved- Current pprove airframes are the Raven –Fixed Wing, the Thawk with vertocal take off an landing- this is what we have been using, and now we also have a super bat avail.
- Hover 30 minutes, Falcon 1 hour, Super Bat 6 hrs
- Existing sensors came with systems, not designed for our use/needs
- Currently we are including in our budget request funding for training 6-8 OSMRE employees in FY 2016 The training request is based on trainers coming to OSMRE – rather than having our folks travel. There is current rulemaking proposed to outline the approved usage of UAS for Govt agencies If we get out people trained and obtain a complete system from USGS- we could reduce the lead time folks to train as operators.