Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system

In this paper, a low-cost remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) technique is proposed for measurement of the surface velocity in rivers or channels with low surface velocity and small discharge. To verify the reliability of the results obtained with the RPAS, we simultaneously measured the surface...

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Main Authors: M. Bolognesi, G. Farina, S. Alvisi, M. Franchini, A. Pellegrinelli, P. Russo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-01-01
Series:Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Subjects:
UAV
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2016.1184717
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spelling doaj-665b1e2f1bb14ac28e1dd472eef3e98a2020-11-25T02:22:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk1947-57051947-57132017-01-0181738610.1080/19475705.2016.11847171184717Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft systemM. Bolognesi0G. Farina1S. Alvisi2M. Franchini3A. Pellegrinelli4P. Russo5University of FerraraUniversity of FerraraUniversity of FerraraUniversity of FerraraUniversity of FerraraUniversity of FerraraIn this paper, a low-cost remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) technique is proposed for measurement of the surface velocity in rivers or channels with low surface velocity and small discharge. To verify the reliability of the results obtained with the RPAS, we simultaneously measured the surface velocity with other methods based on total stations and close range photogrammetry. The RPAS was used both with ground control points (GCPs) for orientation of the photographic images and without GCPs. The data analysis showed that the RPAS provides valid results even without GCPs. Use of a RPAS without GCPs, relying solely on flight altitude to determine the water velocity, opens the way for its utilization in emergency conditions when it is impossible to access the river banks for the realization and survey of GCPs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2016.1184717Water surface velocityUAVmeasurementRPAS
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author M. Bolognesi
G. Farina
S. Alvisi
M. Franchini
A. Pellegrinelli
P. Russo
spellingShingle M. Bolognesi
G. Farina
S. Alvisi
M. Franchini
A. Pellegrinelli
P. Russo
Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Water surface velocity
UAV
measurement
RPAS
author_facet M. Bolognesi
G. Farina
S. Alvisi
M. Franchini
A. Pellegrinelli
P. Russo
author_sort M. Bolognesi
title Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
title_short Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
title_full Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
title_fullStr Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
title_full_unstemmed Measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
title_sort measurement of surface velocity in open channels using a lightweight remotely piloted aircraft system
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
series Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
issn 1947-5705
1947-5713
publishDate 2017-01-01
description In this paper, a low-cost remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) technique is proposed for measurement of the surface velocity in rivers or channels with low surface velocity and small discharge. To verify the reliability of the results obtained with the RPAS, we simultaneously measured the surface velocity with other methods based on total stations and close range photogrammetry. The RPAS was used both with ground control points (GCPs) for orientation of the photographic images and without GCPs. The data analysis showed that the RPAS provides valid results even without GCPs. Use of a RPAS without GCPs, relying solely on flight altitude to determine the water velocity, opens the way for its utilization in emergency conditions when it is impossible to access the river banks for the realization and survey of GCPs.
topic Water surface velocity
UAV
measurement
RPAS
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2016.1184717
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AT gfarina measurementofsurfacevelocityinopenchannelsusingalightweightremotelypilotedaircraftsystem
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AT mfranchini measurementofsurfacevelocityinopenchannelsusingalightweightremotelypilotedaircraftsystem
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