Proposal

Narrative

Multispectral remote sensing is the collection & analysis of reflected, emitted, or back-scattered energy from an object or an area of interest in multiple bands of regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The thing that distinguishes it from traditional forms of remote sensing, are those portions of the spectrum (visible, near infrared, & short-wave infrared) that are captured outside of the range perceived by humans (visible light). This allows us to precisely identify various objects across the earth’s surface & evaluate the health of various plant species both by their spectral characteristics and their physical dimensions. Students seeking to study the progress of Everglades restoration, or the spread of algal blooms, for example, rely heavily upon such data. However, it can be difficult and expensive to acquire, particularly in those cases where high spatial and temporal resolution is required. Acquisition of the UX11Ag would make this possible. Agencies that are hiring graduates of earth science programs increasingly seek these skills, which means that our graduates will be highly sought after in the job market. Students will be able to employ this platform and its derivatives both as part of their curriculum as well as in their Graduate and Undergraduate research. This aligns with the following pillars of FAU’s strategic plan: “Ocean Science and Engineering/Environmental Sciences”, “Sensing and Smart Systems”, and “Undergraduate Research and Inquiry”. It also supports the University’s QEP by increasing exposure of students to research inquiry and the scientific methods in the Geosciences' curriculum, and enhances “student knowledge, skills, behaviors, and/or values.” This will impact, directly and indirectly, approximately 200 students per year, via the following classes: GIS4035/5038, GIS4037/5033, GIS4021/GIS 6028, GIS4138, GIS4043/5051, GIS 4048/GIS 5051, & GIS4140. NOTE: The savings of $27,947.50 make this a fantastic 'bang for buck' proposal.

Facilities

N/A

Hardware Requirements

The following hardware shall be acquired: Delair UX11 Ag PPK Fixed Wing System, with spare parts and 2 year warranty $28,605.75 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S7 $599.99

Software Requirements

Pix4Dmapper Classroom (25 perpetual floating licenses) $6,700

Personnel Costs

N/A

Other Costs

Shipping $750

Timeline

Integration of the Multispectral platform will begin immediately upon acquisition. The project manager is intimately familiar with its use, has years of experience flying a variety of UAS platforms, and has an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot's license.

Sustainability

Equipment has an estimated 5-year life expectancy as is, and has the ability to be further extended through the acquisition of additional spare parts. All software is licensed on a permanent basis. The platform comes with an extended warranty and various replacement parts to account for normal wear and tear.

Resource Matching

The Department of Geosciences has secured an educational discount with the manufacturer of the platform which collectively will save the University $27,947.50 versus the retail price. Additionally, the Department of Geosciences/Charles E. Schmidt College of Science contributes approximately $7,000 annually towards the ESRI/FAU annual GIS site license agreement supplying most of the additional software to operate the GIS component of this system. The Department of Geosciences maintains teaching and research computer labs with approximately 100 computers that support current desktop GIS for educational and research activities.

Implementing Organization

Department of Geosciences, Charles E Schmidt College of Science. Faculty: James Gammack-Clark.