This document outlines a project that aims to measure the surface temperature of a glacier in Nepal using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The project objectives are to understand temperature variation over time by comparing current UAV temperature measurements to past data, and to demonstrate the use of UAVs for geospatial data collection in Nepal. The methodology involves using an infrared sensor-equipped UAV to capture images of Lirung Glacier and ground temperature readings to validate the airborne measurements. Thermal data will then be analyzed to visualize temperature changes at the glacier over the past 30 years.

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MEASUREMENT OF SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF A
GLACIER USING AN UNMANNED AERIAL
VEHICLE(UAV)
Group Members:
Aashutosh Bhandari
Biplov Bhandari
Niroj Panta
Upendra Oli
Uttam Pudasaini
12/27/2013

2. Glacier Melting
o Glaciers are large sheets of snow and ice that are found on land
all year long and those move under their own gravity.
o Various causes to Glacier melting are:
• Global Warming – Rise of Temperature.
• Dust and Debris Coverage.
• Movement of Tectonic Plates.
o Warmer temperatures cause glaciers to melt faster than they can
accumulate new snow.
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WHY DOES IT MATTERS?
o If temperatures keep rising, glaciers will continue
melting, and some could disappear completely.
o As glaciers and the giant ice sheets melts, they add more
water into the river, which ultimately causes sea level to rise.

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UAV ( Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle)
o UAVs are new photogrammetric measurement
tool which are evolving as low-cost
alternatives to the classical manned aerial
photogrammetry and high cost Satellite
Imagery.
o Thanks to GPS technology, these UAVs can be
programmed to make very detailed flight
patterns that can be flown automatically and in
very extreme weather conditions. Also INS
help fix the exterior parameter.

5. GROWING USE OF UAV
Precision farming using UAV data
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3D model of an area using UAV
Monitoring atmospheric pollution
using UAV

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Rationale

Field measurements are sparse or infrequent and subject to
disagreeable conditions or danger in many environments especially
in case of such higher altitudes and other inaccessible areas.

Growing use of UAV for geospatial purpose
 Disaster Site Monitoring & Mapping
 Climate Monitoring
 Forestry Management & Forest Fire Operations Support
 Monitoring and the effects of poaching and habitat destruction.
 Perimeter Surveillance
 Traffic Accident Analysis
 Fire Scene Inspection (Pre / During / Post) and many more
 Protection of Archeological Site.

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Real-time capability and the ability
for fast and low cast data acquisition
while transmitting the image, video
and orientation data in real time to the
ground control station makes them
more popular.

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Objectives

The major objective of this project is to introduce the use of UAV in
Geospatial work in Nepal and measuring the spatial pattern of
temperature was a topic of our interest

Sub –Objectives
 To understand the variation of temperature comparing the present
data with past ones
 This result can suggest us at what rate the climate change has
impact on temperature of some particular Glacier

To implement UAV as a data collecting instrument carrier for
conducting mini projects

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Methodologies
1.Instrumentation

UAV platform that can fly with a sensor load + Flight Control System:
GPS + INS ( Inertial Navigation System) for accurate positioning of
Camera center for image calibration/ georeferencing + Battery type
Infrared sensor

of particular thermal band
Camera mount, Ready to fly (RTF),Wind resistance, Camera mount with
automatic tilting

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2.Flight planning
Altitude of the flight of drone
 Distribution pattern of Ground Control Points (GCP)
 Area to be covered ,Size and number of images
 Flying height and flying speed
 No of flight sessions and interval between the exposure
 Focal length of sensors
 Pixel size on image/Ground sampling distance (GSD)
 Terrain Topography
 Weather/season


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3.Field works
 Conducting the flight over the area
 Recording the temperature from the ground stations as well

This data can be compared later with the information obtained from
UAV during work validation
4.Data Processing and Documentation



Obtain past data from concerned authorities and study the pattern
considering the present collected data
To validate the data collected using UAV with the information given
by ground stations
To visualise the pattern of temperature change for the past 30 years

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Work Area
Lirung Glacier, Nepal
4th largest Debris covered Glacier, Location: 28015’ N,85032’ E
Lies in Langtang National Park, Rasuwa District

13. Cost estimation
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Purchase instruments like

UAV platform that can fly with a sensor load range of 500gms to
1000gms

Flight Control System: GPS + INS ( Inertial Navigation System) for
accurate positioning of Camera center for image calibration/
georeferencing

Camera mount: With automatic tilting system so that camera can be
focused to a particular direction; Nadir for example

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 Ready To
Fly (RTF): for manual control and flight. RF
signal depending on project area
 Wind
 Way

resistance: If yes, it would be better for stability
point Navigation System for Autonomous flight
Flight time: Depending on project area, 20+ minutes.
This depends on payload and battery type
 Battery
type and rating: LIPO ( lithium polymer battery)
eg. 3S 4250mAh / 4S 4250mAh / 4S 100000mAh i.e
Battery with higher mAh has longer flight time.

15. Conclusion
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 Traditionally
such
projects
presuppose
aerial
photography, LIDAR and remote sensing techniques from
large manned aircrafts and satellites, which was not
economically justified
 This
project is an attempt in NEPAL to introduce the use of
UAV as a data acquisition platform to monitor an effect of
climate change i.e. rise of temperature

16. Use of UAV systems as
photogrammetric data acquisition
platforms
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