Exploitation of Small Format KAP for Geospatial Data Acquisition.

Executive Summary
ResearchersDr M. Smith: CEESR
Dr J. Chandler: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Loughborough
Funding Body/SourceHEFCE Promising Young Researcher
DurationJanuary 2005-June 2006
Project Summary 

Introduction

KAP has been used as a method of remote sensing for well over a century, however in the last 20 years there has been renewed interest in this method of data acquisition as it relatively cheap, quick to perform and easily implemented. In particular, the last decade has seen the growth of specialised leisure and environmental applications of KAP as a result of:

  • emergence of low cost digital cameras
  • application of model aircraft technology (RC components)
  • design of stable, high lift, soft (fabric) and framed kites

A good quality rig, camera and kite setup, designed for environmental applications, costs ~US$1000. Photographic output from such a system can be imported directly in to a GIS for digital geospatial manipulation. Equivalent survey grade photography would typically be flown from fixed wing aircraft or helicopters; such techniques are clearly expensive. KAP enables low-cost data acquisition and can particularly leverage the following characteristics:

  • high spatial resolution (0.5 - 10 cm)
  • high temporal resolution
  • potential for multi-spectral data collection

Objectives

This project aims to explore some of the aspects of KAP outlined above, with a particular emphasis on photogrammetric ouput. Based within the School of Earth Sciences and Geography, Kingston University, this research brings together expertise in GIS and remote sensing within the Centre for GIS. Project members include Dr Jim Chandler, who has extensive experience in photogrammetry, and Scott Haefner, who is an experienced KAPper and has worked on rig design optimisation.

We have initially focussed upon the development and construction of a remote controlled rig, based upon the design of Scott Haefner. Subsequent work will test:

  • the ability to obtain high resolution (~2cm) vertical aerial photography
  • fully georeferenced aerial imagery within a GIS
  • use of self-calibration techniques for input of photography into a digital photogrammetric workstation

Further information/links

General Information

Equipment