Construction Maeconomics Conference 2019

Urban analysis through UAV

Sandra Bešťáková1 , Zbyněk Škoda2

1CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Construction Management and Economics, Thakurova 7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, sandra.bestakova@fsv.cvut.cz

2CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Construction Management and Economics, Thakurova 7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, zbynek.skoda@fsv.cvut.cz

Abstract

As a result of urbanization and industrialization, the pressure on land, water and the environment in general is increasing, especially in large metropolitan cities. These changes, related to the rapid development of cities and the increase in the number of people in them, need to be constantly monitored and seek to understand their current state and practices and thus move towards the planned and healthy development of urban areas. Measuring and monitoring these changes is essential to understand the dynamics of land use coverage and further proper development. The use of drones for technical purposes is constantly growing, especially for mapping, air inspections and monitoring. Using a drone, aerial orthophotomaps can be obtained with image resolution and detail previously unavailable. Information obtained from aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing finds good use for city analysis as a basis for deciding on future city planning and the associated minimization of urban problems.

Keywords

UAV, urban, drones, data, mapping

Introduction

Nowadays, closely related to rapid urbanization and industrialization, there is increasing pressure on land, water and the environment, especially in large metropolitan cities. These changes, related to rapid urban development and population growth, need to be constantly monitored and sought to understand their current state and practices, thus moving towards the planned and healthy development of urban areas. Measuring and monitoring these changes is essential to understand the dynamics of land use coverage and further proper development. Information obtained from aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing finds good use for city analysis as a basis for deciding on future city planning and the associated minimization of urban problems. Decision-making on any future development of the city should aim at planning and managing cities in a sustainable way, maximizing economic opportunities, efficiency of public services and minimizing social inequality and environmental damage. Planning, managing and improving the city requires information about what is happening in it, how many people live there across the age and social spectrum and in what locations we can find spaces with unused capacities suitable for the transformation of the territory and therefore with great potential for future development. Therefore, collecting and collecting urban data is essential for urban planning with regard to their social and economic dimension.

Urban planning

Urban planning can be seen as a professional work in leading urban development through the development of physical plans and regulations, or more generally as a sum of social, economic, environmental and constructive efforts to make the urban area a better and healthier place to live. Planning, visualization and spatial analysis are an important basis for urban infrastructure planning. In the area of spatial development, there are mainly three groups of actors: investors, local government and residents. It is always necessary to decide what intensity, form and spatial structure of the development to take into account the future expenditures of the city and the current circumstances.

UAV

UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), or drone is an unmanned aircraft that is controlled remotely. Unmanned aircraft began to develop in the military sector to reduce the loss of life. Today, however, the use of drones is widely spread and penetrates into many industries, so we can encounter a plethora of different types of drones on the market. Drones differ in size, reliability, equipment and purpose.

Figure 1: Basic civil categories of drones (source: www.droneflyers.com)

UAV usage is increasing across companies and industries, many different industries are improving their work processes and procedures through the use of drones. Using a camera, camera or laser attached to the UAV, we can collect digital data to capture photos, video, photogrammetric digital elevation models and 3D point clouds, then compare and analyze useful information. Drones can give us accurate surveys in hard-to-reach places and in a fraction of the time. By using this technology, we can increase safety, save time and reduce costs compared to traditional techniques.

Drones allow you to understand the physical world by capturing aviation data and using other programs to create accurate maps and 3D models. Map and model analysis enables companies to make faster, more informed decisions that increase efficiency, security and return on investment.

Mapping process of urban locations

The use of drones for technical purposes is constantly increasing, especially for mapping, air inspection and monitoring. Using a drone, aerial orthophotomaps can be obtained with image resolution and detail previously unavailable. This type of mapping is suitable for checking various areas, creating detailed digital maps and 3D models.

Figure 2: Drone flight plan map (source: www.dronedeploy.com)

Data collection and analysis

Urbanization, more and more densely populated cities and the harder, but even more important, exploration and data collection. However, data collection and subsequent analysis are crucial for any decision-making regarding the further development of cities. Normally this activity takes a lot of time, it is the work of a large number of people, and it entails high costs.

UAV can compete well with traditional aircraft and satellite data collection due to high image resolution, flexibility and low running costs. According to dronedeploy analysis, drone maps provide higher resolution at half the cost of aerial photos.

 Utilizing drone technology to collect data, using the right equipment, software and good scheduling, improves accuracy, speed, and enables real-time 3D geographic data collection. With this data, we have the ability to monitor and analyze urban changes. We can monitor the construction area, make updates to the construction plan, or detect illegal buildings. Therefore, the main advantage is to get a more complete set of information and increased availability of data in real time with a high degree of repeatability of controls and updates.

Drones allow you to explore new perspectives and fill the gap between purely aerial and ground photography. This allows the existing social and environmental conditions of the sites to be explored in greater detail.

3D visualization, public participation

Another use of the drone in the urban planning process is the use of realistic visualization of potential development and thus making the project much easier to present to the public. Aerial monitoring provides data for creating 3D models and areas that can be continuously updated and saved as an online map for interactive viewing of objects.

Operational problems and challenges

Large land mapping involves a number of challenges, such as careful flight planning to optimize battery power, collect and organize large amounts of data collected, and ensure safety over such a large area. Due to the large amount of data, special attention should be paid to creating a coherent, high-quality map without blurry images or gaps in coverage. Technical errors cause unnecessary delays and can even lead to the need to fly over the mission again, costing drone operators valuable time and the associated financial costs. Drones today compete with established technologies (aerial photogrammetry, laser scanning from aircraft, large cameras ..) and so they have to provide the required accuracy, greater detail and be competitive in terms of economic use compared to other measuring technologies.

However, the increasing use of drones also raises concerns about data security and misuse. There is a risk that the drone may be driven by unqualified persons, where the drone may fall in areas where people are working, causing personal injury or property damage by mistake. As in other emerging technology cases, UAV safety assessment lags behind technological advances. UAVs can create new workplace hazards that need to be evaluated and managed to ensure their safe operation around human workers. But on the other hand, UAVs can perform dangerous tasks and thus increase workplace safety. Therefore, when using UAVs, it is important to remember that there are some limitations in airspace and safe distances for the movement of machines from people, buildings or populated areas. The issue of personal data protection is also a major ethical aspect.

Conclusion

UAVs can compete well with traditional aircraft and satellite data collection due to high image resolution, flexibility and low running costs. Proper use of the data acquisition drone improves accuracy, speed and real-time 3D geographic data collection. With this data we have the possibility of more complex monitoring and subsequent evaluation of urban changes. It can be used in the planning phase as well as in the exploration of urban life. Increased data availability and high control repeatability provides key data for urban analysis such as spatial extent and location of areas, information on building structure, unused area, brownfields, illegal buildings, land use and landscape types, quality and mapping of transport networks, infrastructure as well as census statistics and landscape change detection.

Acknowledgement details

This work was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Technical University in Prague, grant No. SGS19/015/OHK1/1T/11.

References

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Construc

tion Maeconomics Conference 201

9

U

RBAN ANALYSIS THROUG

H

UAV

Sandra Bešťáková

1

, Z

byněk Škoda

2

1

CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Construction Management and

Economics, Thakurova

7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, sandra.bestakova@fsv.cvut.cz

2

CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department

of Construction Management and

Economics, Thakurova 7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, zbynek.skoda@fsv.cvut.cz

Abstract

As a result o

f urbanization and industrialization, the pressure on land, water and the environment in

general is increasing, especially in large metropolitan cities. These changes, related to the rapid

development of cities and the increase in the number of people in t

hem, need to be constantly

monitored and seek to understand their current state and practices and thus move towards the

planned and healthy development of urban areas. Measuring and monitoring these changes is

essential to understand the dynamics of land u

se coverage and further proper development. The use

of drones for technical purposes is constantly growing, especially for mapping, air inspections and

monitoring. Using a drone, aerial orthophotomaps can be obtained with image resolution and detail

previo

usly unavailable. Information obtained from aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing finds

good use for city analysis as a basis for deciding on future city planning and the associated

minimization of urban problems.

Key

words

UAV,

u

rban,

d

rones

, data

, mapping

Construction Maeconomics Conference 2019

URBAN ANALYSIS THROUGH UAV

Sandra Bešťáková

1

, Zbyněk Škoda

2

1

CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Construction Management and

Economics, Thakurova 7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, sandra.bestakova@fsv.cvut.cz

2

CTU in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Construction Management and

Economics, Thakurova 7, Prague, 166 29, Czech Republic, zbynek.skoda@fsv.cvut.cz

Abstract

As a result of urbanization and industrialization, the pressure on land, water and the environment in

general is increasing, especially in large metropolitan cities. These changes, related to the rapid

development of cities and the increase in the number of people in them, need to be constantly

monitored and seek to understand their current state and practices and thus move towards the

planned and healthy development of urban areas. Measuring and monitoring these changes is

essential to understand the dynamics of land use coverage and further proper development. The use

of drones for technical purposes is constantly growing, especially for mapping, air inspections and

monitoring. Using a drone, aerial orthophotomaps can be obtained with image resolution and detail

previously unavailable. Information obtained from aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing finds

good use for city analysis as a basis for deciding on future city planning and the associated

minimization of urban problems.

Keywords

UAV, urban, drones, data, mapping