Using Remotely Piloted Aerial Cameras to Estimate Runoff into Sediment Basins.

Small Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (sUAVs) have tremendous capabilities for collecting data at reduced cost, higher resolution, and even lower risk compared to on-ground methods. Relatively inexpensive UAVs (< $1500) can be setup and pre-programmed to capture aerial surveys with minimal effort and in little time (100 acres ~ 15 minutes). Aerial surveys that previously required a significant financial investment can now be collected for a few cents per acre. The ability to fly missions without human control (i.e. autonomously) makes them safer, easier to fly, and more capable than earlier versions. Additionally, new post-processing techniques derived from research in computer vision allows for the development of 3-dimensional models from sets of 2-dimersonal, UAV-acquired images. This technique, termed ‘structure through motion’ produces point clouds that when used within a GIS or CAD-type software are able to monitor, track, measure, and visualize changes in topography and surface elevations on construction sites. This technology was tested to determine the volumes of stormwater runoff from construction sites into sediment basins.