NSC/ Architecture design and software development for UAV-based multi-sensor mapping system

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Accurate 3D reconstruction of our environment has become essential for non-traditional mapping applications such as urban planning, mining industry, environmental monitoring, navigation, surveillance, pipeline inspection, infrastructure monitoring, landslide hazard analysis, indoor localization, and military simulation. The needs of these applications cannot be satisfied by traditional mapping, which is based on dedicated data acquisition systems that are designed for mapping purposes. Recent advances in hardware and software development have made it possible to conduct accurate 3D mapping without using costly and high-end data acquisition systems. Low-cost digital cameras, laser scanners, and navigation systems can provide accurate mapping if they are properly integrated at the hardware and software levels. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a mobile mapping platform that can provide additional economical and practical advantages. The ability of UAVs to fly at lower elevation and slower speed than manned systems allows them to capture data with higher resolution. Moreover, these systems can be economically stored and deployed. These characteristics make UAVs an optimal platform for affordable rapid-response mapping applications. The realization of these benefits is the main reason behind the current and future growth in UAV production and applications. For example, the current UAV global markets, which are estimated to be at $7.2 billion, are anticipated to reach $51 billion by 2018. In spite of its proven potential, the research related to UAV-based mapping is lacking in terms of what is needed for it to become an acceptable mapping tool. This proposal, which is a joint submission under the international collaborations program with the National Science Council of Taiwan with academic and industrial collaborators in both countries, aims at developing system architecture for a low-cost UAV mapping using directly georeferenced passive and active optical imaging systems as well as the necessary tools/algorithms for flexible UAV-based 3D mapping while considering the posed challenges by using non-mapping grade sensors.