Proposal

Narrative

Thermal imaging devices take advantage of the fact that all objects with a temperature above absolute zero have thermal energy and will emit infrared wavelengths of radiation. Thermal infrared (TIR) cameras convert the energy in the infrared radiation emitted by a viewed object into a visible light display. The vast majority of biological, hydrological and geophysical systems can be analyzed through their thermal signatures. For example, students can use TIR in urban climate and environmental studies for analyzing land surface temperature (LST) patterns to characterize landscape properties, patterns, and processes. Students can use TIR in groundwater/surface-water exchange studies and other investigations where surface temperature contrasts indicate various hydrological processes. Variations in temperature can be used to track the heat carried by flowing water, such as groundwater discharge into a stream, pinpointing zones of water exchange and water mixing for further analysis. Additionally, drones with TIR cameras are dramatically increasing the ability for TIR data collection and analysis. Thus, this proposal seeks to acquire a State of Florida approved aerial drone platform with a TIR camera for student instruction and research. Currently, there are no departments at FAU that have the ability to collect aerial TIR data. TIR data has the potential to drastically improve students’ understanding of various Earth systems. This proposal 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”. This will impact, directly and indirectly, approximately 700 students per year, via the following classes: GLY 3730, GLY 5575C, GLY 6708C, GLY 2010C, ESC 2000, GEA 4275, GEA 6277, GIS 4035/5038, GIS 4037/5033.

Facilities

There will be no facility renovations required for this project.

Hardware Requirements

The primary hardware requirement for this is a State of Florida approved aerial drone system with TIR camera. The drone system selected is the Altavian Ion M440 American Made Quadcopter. The Altavian drone includes a FLIR BOSON 329 TIR sensor with 6.3mm 34 degree FOV lens. The Altavian system includes a high-powered discrete mission computer for advanced autonomous functions, the drone airframe, TIR sensor, two optical visible light sensors, 2x batteries, battery charger, hard case, clam shell case, field repair kit, ground control station, 2x ground control station batteries, ground control station hard case, and end-user mobile device) Note that the State of Florida and Federal DoD have recently implemented a Blue UAS list of approved drone suppliers to ease security concerns and help government agencies buy federally and state approved drones. The Altavian drone system selected is on the State of Florida approved list as stated below. Pursuant to section 934.50(7)(b), Florida Statutes, the following list of approved manufacturers drones may be purchased or otherwise acquired and used by a governmental agency under section 934.50, Florida Statutes: Altavian, Skydio, Parrot,Teal Drones, Vantage, Robotics. source: https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/approved_drone_manufacturers In addition to the aerial drone system, a semi-rugged Dell laptop will be used for flight planning and data extraction.

Software Requirements

The drone system hardware bundle includes the software for operating the drone and data collection. The software required to analysis and processing the TIR data is cost shared by the Geosciences department with existing software licenses. This software includes, ERDAS Imagine, ESRI ArcGIS, ESRI Drone2Map, ENVI, Pix4Dmapper.

Personnel Costs

No additional personnel costs. The Department of Geosciences has existing faculty with the drone and image processing experience. This includes a certified drone pilot on our faculty.

Other Costs

No other additional costs

Timeline

The aerial drone system and laptop will be purchased immediately upon funding and then integrated into various Geosciences' course curriculum beginning the following semester.

Sustainability

The drone system includes a field repair kit and is expected to to be usable for five or more years. The use or remotely sensed data is a foundational part of our remote sensing courses as well as a variety of other geology and human-environment courses.

Resource Matching

The Department of Geosciences/Charles E. Schmidt College of Science contributes about $7,000 annually towards the ESRI/FAU annual ArcGIS site license agreement, about $4,000 annually for Erdas Imagine, About $1,000 annually for ENVI and recently purchased a perpetual license for Pix4Dmapper at $6,700. The Department of Geosciences maintains teaching and research computer labs on campus and remotely through Citrix virtual desktops that support current desktop GIS for educational and research activities.

Implementing Organization

The project will be implemented in the Department of Geosciences and includes a variety of faculty from various sub-disciplines - Dr. Tobin Hindle, Human-environment; Dr. Tiffany Briggs, Geology; Dr. Caiyun Zhang and Mr. Gammack-Clark, GIS. Students in the upper level undergraduate and graduate courses will have the opportunity to work directly with the aerial TIR drone system to collect data for class project and independent research. In lower level undergraduate courses, the above faculty will be able to bring real world TIR data into their course curriculum. The use of such locally collected and relevant data has the potential to dramatically increase student interest in Earth systems.