Abstract

Rapid Terrain and Infrastructure Mapping in Precarious Conditions using mini-UAV
Track: Defense and Intelligence
Authors: John Teufert

NATO frequently deploys field survey teams in operational areas to conduct terrestrial surveying campaigns, used to precisely measure and map the position of camp buildings, airfields and other infrastructure. These survey campaigns are time and labor intensive, but do not collect detailed and contiguous elevation or imagery data resulting in a current and growing geospatial information gap. In order to fill this operational gap, NATO sent a team to Afghanistan to field test an autonomous UAV, the Gatewing X100, which compliments traditional terrestrial survey campaigns by capturing both 3-5cm hi-resolution color imagery and elevation data. The rapidly collected data was then used to produce high-quality and detailed terrain maps to perform advanced geospatial terrain analysis using Esri GIS-software.
This presentation reveals how incorporating this innovative image acquisition technology with Esri GIS software offers an expedient workflow and provides a new type of valuable data products in operational and precarious environments.