Remotely piloted aircraft system and ground penetrating radar investigation and development for aerial data collection

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Sensors & Software Inc. is an innovative developer and manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) instrumentation and software. Surveyors and others have used cart-mounted GPR for subsurface imaging since the 1970s. S&S' pulseEKKO® GPR technology is in its fourth generation, and remains the product of choice for surveyors. An operator typically walks the cart in a grid pattern over the area of interest, which can be time-consuming, and pose operator safety risks. There are circumstances such as rough surfaces, nighttime search and rescue, and former minefields that pose operator danger. To reduce cart limitations, dangers, and enable aerial opportunities, S&S would like to investigate the new technical processes and developments required to use a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), also known as a drone to collect aerial GPR data. Aerial GPR will have data quality and reliability challenges with the GPR system further from the ground. The Mohawk College Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Centre has expertise with RPAS-mounted sensor systems, RPAS technology, flying, and data analysis to collaborate on the project. The S&S and College teams will investigate the challenges, including mounting the GPR system to an RPAS; data quality; and geo-positioning; the larger air gap from the GPR to the ground. The teams will interpret the underlying functioning of the GPR and data outputs, and the RPAS flying and mapping to determine new technology developments required for quality GPR data collected aerially with an RPAS. In 2018, the output value of the construction industry in Canada was approximately $291 billion (B) USD, and it is forecasted to reach $304 B in 2023. The project findings will support the development of innovative technology for construction surveying and beyond.