NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Australia

这项行动资助了俄亥俄州州立大学的Ben Vander Jagt于2013年夏天在澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州霍巴特的塔斯马尼亚大学进行地球科学研究项目。 该项目的标题是“利用无人驾驶航空器远程估计积雪深度”。“主持科学家是塔斯马尼亚大学遥感和地理信息系统高级讲师Arko Lucieer博士。该奖学金的目的是利用无人机上的光探测和测距（LiDAR）和基于摄影的方法，准确估计空间连续的积雪深度场。 通过在雪季开始之前测量一次地理区域，并在雪季期间再次测量，研究员可以有效地确定该区域内的雪量和分布。这是第一次进行这种性质的研究，是使用无人机可以实现的新颖科学研究的一个很好的例子。此外，由于世界上很大一部分人口依赖雪作为淡水来源，因此能够准确测量和量化积雪是一个具有科学和民用价值的重要目标。通过向资源管理人员提供更好的信息，促进有效的水资源管理，可以减轻个人和政府组织之间的冲突。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验;介绍各自所在地的科学，科学政策和科学基础设施;以及社会，文化和语言的方向。 这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在科学家，工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期进行国际合作教育，从而确保具有全球意识的美国科学工作者。此外，该奖学金还提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，以促进地球科学和工程的一般人口，特别是中学教育机构。该研究员计划向当地高中展示无人机的科学能力，以吸引和鼓励学生在科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域寻求机会。 研究员将向公众免费提供研究期间收集的所有数据，以及作为研究金成果撰写的任何科学出版物。最后，参加东道国为研究员提供了与无人机的科学和商业用途相关的科学政策和立法的丰富介绍，并为进行高级研究提供了良好的文化和科学学习环境。

This action is funding Ben Vander Jagt of The Ohio State University to conduct a research project in Geosciences during the summer of 2013 at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. The project title is "Estimating Snow Depth Remotely Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle." The host scientist is Dr. Arko Lucieer, Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and GIS at the University of Tasmania.This Fellowship is working on accurately estimating spatially continuous snow depth fields, using a combined Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and photographic based approach on-board an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). By measuring a geographic area once before the onset of the snow season and once again during the snow season, the Fellow can effectively determine both the amount and distribution of the snow contained within that area. It is the first time that a study of such nature has been performed, and is an excellent example of the novel scientific research that can be achieved using UAVs. Additionally, because a large percentage of the world's population depends on snow as a source of freshwater, being able to accurately measure and quantify snow accumulation is an important objective that has both scientific and civil merit. By providing resource managers with better information to facilitate effective water management, conflict between individuals as well as governmental organizations can be mitigated.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, this Fellowship also provides an exciting opportunity to promote earth science and engineering within the general population, specifically secondary educational institutions. The Fellow plans to demonstrate the scientific capabilities of UAVs to local high schools in order to captivate and encourage students to pursue opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The Fellow will make all data collected during the study freely available to the public, as well as any scientific publications which are authored as a result of the Fellowship. Lastly, attending the host country supplies the Fellow with a rich introduction to the science policy and legislation associated with the scientific and commercial use of UAVs, and provides an excellent cultural and scientific learning environment for conducting advanced research.