Assignment #3 Creating A Map With UAS Data In ArcPro
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| Figure 1: Completed Assignment Poster |
Introduction
The purpose for this weeks assignment was to exercise the skills learned last week, and learn a few new tools that had not been previously introduced. These tools are slope and aspect located in the raster function. Additionally, a 3 dimensional (3D) model was created and can be seen in the bottom right corner of figure 1. As seen in a previous post, the questions that will follow or are imbedded in each section are question that are mean to present this text in a template approach. Some information is only addressed in the questions as to make this article less cumbersome to read.
Why are proper cartographic skills essential in working with UAS data?
Proper cartographic skills are essential in working with UAS data to appropriately convey the information and give context to the data. Cartographic skills would include not only the science of maps but also the production of maps. Being able to easily convey information both orally and visually to others is what adds the value to what you do. Since UAS data happens at a location, having these cartographic skills are essential.
What are the fundamentals of turning either a drawing or an aerial image into a map?
To my best understanding, the fundamentals to turning a drawing or aerial image into a map is to give the image; direction, scale and a location. Adding data sources and metadata further validates the drawing or image that was collected
What can spatial patterns of data tell the reader about UAS data? Provide several examples.
Spacial patterns can be anything that allows for data to be interpreted and understood based on its relationship to the things around it. Examples of this can be population density by state shown on a map with states size and coloring showing highly populated regions in darker colors and sparsely populated regions shown in lighter colors.
What are the objectives of the lab?
The objective of this assignment was to clearly define what makes a good map. A good map was defined as one with a north arrow, a scale bar, a locator map, data sources and metadata, and finally a watermark as a means of claiming ones work. Adding a north arrow gives the map direction and adding a scale bar gives reference to the scale of what you are trying to present. Adding the locator map lets the reader know where the data is taking place. If someone would like to know the parameters in which the data was collected the medadata will provide; data & sometimes time, the vehicle, the sensor, altitude, ground control coordinates, ground control GPS, the UAS coordinates, and finally the UAS pilot. You can add more things when you collect the data for personal records like take off/landing times, batteries used, or anything else that might be needed.
Proper cartographic skills are essential in working with UAS data to appropriately convey the information and give context to the data. Cartographic skills would include not only the science of maps but also the production of maps. Being able to easily convey information both orally and visually to others is what adds the value to what you do. Since UAS data happens at a location, having these cartographic skills are essential.
What are the fundamentals of turning either a drawing or an aerial image into a map?
To my best understanding, the fundamentals to turning a drawing or aerial image into a map is to give the image; direction, scale and a location. Adding data sources and metadata further validates the drawing or image that was collected
What can spatial patterns of data tell the reader about UAS data? Provide several examples.
Spacial patterns can be anything that allows for data to be interpreted and understood based on its relationship to the things around it. Examples of this can be population density by state shown on a map with states size and coloring showing highly populated regions in darker colors and sparsely populated regions shown in lighter colors.
What are the objectives of the lab?
The objective of this assignment was to clearly define what makes a good map. A good map was defined as one with a north arrow, a scale bar, a locator map, data sources and metadata, and finally a watermark as a means of claiming ones work. Adding a north arrow gives the map direction and adding a scale bar gives reference to the scale of what you are trying to present. Adding the locator map lets the reader know where the data is taking place. If someone would like to know the parameters in which the data was collected the medadata will provide; data & sometimes time, the vehicle, the sensor, altitude, ground control coordinates, ground control GPS, the UAS coordinates, and finally the UAS pilot. You can add more things when you collect the data for personal records like take off/landing times, batteries used, or anything else that might be needed.
Methods
This assignment began with launching ArcGIS Pro. Can was taken in making sure that the data was going to be the focus of the paper was on the computers main drive. Three folders were created as a way to organize the data. The first of these folders is labeled as "Collection" and contains photos, videos, and any other data. Next is the "Processing" and will act as our save bank for the ArcGIS Pro files. This may also include processing statistics that we might collect from Pix4D including the orthomosaic. The last folder will be titled the "Analysis" and includes our our put statistics as copies if used from the Processing folder, final maps and graphs, and/or the final document that we are presenting. Outside all of this we insert a text file that will have all of our metadata. The metadata serves as a light technical summary of the data collection flight. An example of this can be seen below in figure 2 on a mac computer but the same organization is followed on any other computer.
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| Figure 2: Folder Organization Example |
What key characteristics should go into folder and file naming conventions
The over all idea of the naming and organization is to me direct and maintain simplicity. Folder one should include all of the collected data in its fresh format. A folder for videos and one for photos should be added as to not overwhelm when looking into contents. Folder two included all of the processing results. This folder serves as your working space. It is okay if the things in this folder appear like there is a lot goin on. Anything that is not a finished output that is meant to be worked with will stay in this second folder. Folder three serves as a collection of finished or supporting document. Statistical out puts, graphs, and maps that can serve as stepping points in supporting the final out put can go in this section. The final out put its self can go in here or as a fourth folder can be added for the final outputs like the final or most up to date version of a presentation poster or map.
Why is file management so key in working with UAS data? How does this relate to the metadata?
File management is so important because you can be dealing with a lot of information in shifts or parallel with others. Having a system that easily organizes the data for quick recovery can speed up the processing time, keeping everyone up to date. The idea of simple and effective presentation of information is also used to organize the metadata. The closer you can get to a fill-in-the-blank meta data sheet the easier it can be collected and interpreted.
What key forms of metadata should be associated with every UAS mission
The over all idea of the naming and organization is to me direct and maintain simplicity. Folder one should include all of the collected data in its fresh format. A folder for videos and one for photos should be added as to not overwhelm when looking into contents. Folder two included all of the processing results. This folder serves as your working space. It is okay if the things in this folder appear like there is a lot goin on. Anything that is not a finished output that is meant to be worked with will stay in this second folder. Folder three serves as a collection of finished or supporting document. Statistical out puts, graphs, and maps that can serve as stepping points in supporting the final out put can go in this section. The final out put its self can go in here or as a fourth folder can be added for the final outputs like the final or most up to date version of a presentation poster or map.
Why is file management so key in working with UAS data? How does this relate to the metadata?
File management is so important because you can be dealing with a lot of information in shifts or parallel with others. Having a system that easily organizes the data for quick recovery can speed up the processing time, keeping everyone up to date. The idea of simple and effective presentation of information is also used to organize the metadata. The closer you can get to a fill-in-the-blank meta data sheet the easier it can be collected and interpreted.
What key forms of metadata should be associated with every UAS mission
Key forms of metadata that should be associated with every UAS mission include data, time, location, vehicle, sensor, coordinate collection device used, and the coordinate system used.
After the filing was done, data from a flight over the WolfCreek mining sight was put into the processing folder as the raw data was not provided. This data included vector data, rater data, and the digital surface model (DSM). Hillshading was put in to identify faces of each surface as the model is manipulated. Pyramids were added to make the viewed image easier for the computer to present and develop. Pyramids will generalize pixels as you zoom out but separate them as you get closer. So, the closer you are the more detail you see. The DSM was loaded into ArcGIS Pro because it has all the x y z information that we need to develop a 3d model. Once the 3 dimensional model was created an RGB composite (red, green, blue) was laid over it. RGB images are just standard photos. With this we can see the terrain and area we are working with. Next a slope analysis was created and shows the slope of walls in the DSM. An aspect analysis was done with the map to identify the slope direction that we are looking at. When analyzing data like slope and aspect we need descriptive statistics. These help to read the data and interpret the colors projected by the individual processes respectively.
What basemap did you use? Why?
For this map a general street map was used because it shows the layout of the roads for location orientation and it shows bodies of water that might be in the area.
What is the purpose of the pyramid and calculate statistics commands
The purpose of the pyramid command is to make viewing DSMs easier. The Calculate statistics command is meant to more easily pull information out of the visual model that has been created.
Why might knowing Cell Size, Units, Projection, Highest Elevation, Lowest Elevation be important?
Without showing the values for each of these, the information that is trying to be presented by the map will be lost or misrepresented.
What is the difference between a DSM and DEM?
A DSM is a digital surface model that collect the natural elevation of terrain in the area covered. A DEM is a digital elevation model and is a DSM corrected for bridges, buildings, roads and trees, bushes, or other vegetation. A DEM will be smoother in appearance than a DSM.
What does hillshading do towards being able to visualize relief and topography?
Hillshading shows areas of high angles to a standard level area in terms of degrees. Areas of high slope will have darker color because they are areas of high change and areas that are level will be lighter because they have less change. This color difference, when appropriately understood in reference to a legend, helps to present rapid or gradual change over a terrain.
How does the orthomosaic relate to what you see in the shaded relief of the DSM?
An orthomosaic is an image with multiple layers that is scaled for accuracy and geographically located. The shaded relief of the DSM can help to present the surface that you see in the orthomosaic as we see the rising and falling terrain depth.
What benefits does hillshade and 3D view provide? How might this relate to presenting this information to a client/customer?
The benefit of hillshading is that it shows the rising and falling of terrain, adding it to a 3D view can allow for better visualization of the area being worked with. Clients/customers who might have a hard time visualizing the information or see the depth in an image will get great benefit out of a 3d model and hillshading.
What color ramp did you use? Why?
The color ramp I used started at a gold-ish yellow and went all the way up to a crimson red. This was chosen because of the contrast in color but also to avoid being confused with thermal imaging that uses a closely related scale.
How might generated slope and aspect forms of added data analysis prove useful value to various applied situations?
Generated slope and aspect data are useful to many people such as those in the mining business. Seeing this information helps to predict the movement of of mounds of soil or progression of erosion over time.
Maps
The purpose of the pyramid command is to make viewing DSMs easier. The Calculate statistics command is meant to more easily pull information out of the visual model that has been created.
Why might knowing Cell Size, Units, Projection, Highest Elevation, Lowest Elevation be important?
Without showing the values for each of these, the information that is trying to be presented by the map will be lost or misrepresented.
What is the difference between a DSM and DEM?
A DSM is a digital surface model that collect the natural elevation of terrain in the area covered. A DEM is a digital elevation model and is a DSM corrected for bridges, buildings, roads and trees, bushes, or other vegetation. A DEM will be smoother in appearance than a DSM.
What does hillshading do towards being able to visualize relief and topography?
Hillshading shows areas of high angles to a standard level area in terms of degrees. Areas of high slope will have darker color because they are areas of high change and areas that are level will be lighter because they have less change. This color difference, when appropriately understood in reference to a legend, helps to present rapid or gradual change over a terrain.
How does the orthomosaic relate to what you see in the shaded relief of the DSM?
An orthomosaic is an image with multiple layers that is scaled for accuracy and geographically located. The shaded relief of the DSM can help to present the surface that you see in the orthomosaic as we see the rising and falling terrain depth.
What benefits does hillshade and 3D view provide? How might this relate to presenting this information to a client/customer?
The benefit of hillshading is that it shows the rising and falling of terrain, adding it to a 3D view can allow for better visualization of the area being worked with. Clients/customers who might have a hard time visualizing the information or see the depth in an image will get great benefit out of a 3d model and hillshading.
What color ramp did you use? Why?
The color ramp I used started at a gold-ish yellow and went all the way up to a crimson red. This was chosen because of the contrast in color but also to avoid being confused with thermal imaging that uses a closely related scale.
How might generated slope and aspect forms of added data analysis prove useful value to various applied situations?
Generated slope and aspect data are useful to many people such as those in the mining business. Seeing this information helps to predict the movement of of mounds of soil or progression of erosion over time.
Maps
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| Figure 3: Slope Map |
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| Figure 4: Aspect Map |
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| Figure 5: Hillshaded Map |
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| Figure 6: Orthomosaic |
Conclusion
UAS data is useful as a too to the cartographer and GIS user because you can cover a large area musch faster than by traditional means. You also have a different array of sensors that you can mount to a drone. Some of these can give a better and more accurately scaled picture of terrain than can be obtained by traditional means. Cartographers can fly the same exact flight with a drone over and over again quickly and get information out to their users much faster. GIS users would have a more accurate scale of the terrain or volume of stock with the use of a UAS as compared to traditional means.
Summarize what makes UAS data useful as a tool to the cartographer and GIS user.
What limitations does the data have? What should the user know about the data when working with it.
Data collection can be limited by natural boundaries such as reflective things or artificial boundaries like airspace limitations. The data its self is limited by what was collected and with what sensor. Users should know that data is collected through a scope or a specific range and if what you think you might want isn't in that scope, then you will not find it in your data. Out puts are only limited because of the resources you have to collect or interpret the data with. These limitations can be the researchers own personal knowledge with a data set, limitations with knowledge of a program or using a program, or lastly the sensor used to collect the data.
Speculate what other forms of data this data could be combined with to make it even more useful.
The data that was looked at in this lab could be combined with previous sets over many months and predictions can be made on erosion patterns or places. Other predictions can be made on evacuation operational efficiency, plant activity could be tracked or, if combined with larger functional data from plant operations, statisticians can be made on the out put and necessity of this plant.
What limitations does the data have? What should the user know about the data when working with it.
Data collection can be limited by natural boundaries such as reflective things or artificial boundaries like airspace limitations. The data its self is limited by what was collected and with what sensor. Users should know that data is collected through a scope or a specific range and if what you think you might want isn't in that scope, then you will not find it in your data. Out puts are only limited because of the resources you have to collect or interpret the data with. These limitations can be the researchers own personal knowledge with a data set, limitations with knowledge of a program or using a program, or lastly the sensor used to collect the data.
Speculate what other forms of data this data could be combined with to make it even more useful.
The data that was looked at in this lab could be combined with previous sets over many months and predictions can be made on erosion patterns or places. Other predictions can be made on evacuation operational efficiency, plant activity could be tracked or, if combined with larger functional data from plant operations, statisticians can be made on the out put and necessity of this plant.
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