Mentor: Mark McNeil Supervisor: Kay Ryals

PROCESS

OBJECTIVESWATER RETENTION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SURVEYORSEROSION

Wyeth Binder, Irvine Valley College

Modeling topography for water runoff and retention methods using UAV mapping with Civil 3D software

Wyeth Binder, Matthew McBee: Irvine Valley CollegeMentor: Matthew Wolken

INTRODUCTIONFresh water is an economically scarce resource and has been the highlight of the California media for the last few years. The ongoing drought in Southern California has demanded greater attention to the ways in which we use and misuse water. It is necessary to limit consumption, but there is also demand to trap excess water and reuse it in other ways. There has been improvement in the recent years. However, hydrology research and survey data are expensive for companies. Our research is designed to examine ways where we limit the cost of survey research and provide better data to model water flow by using CAD software and drone imaging.

• After receiving this image, the image can be analyzed using Pix4D. (This is an open source free software that is able to perform basic terrain modeling for aerial images catering to drones)

• Using Pix4D will transform the image into a topography image.

• It will create a point could of the terrain with each point specifying a certain elevation.

• After rendering the point cloud it is possible to triangulate the surface using the Pix4D’s meshing software

• This will allow for the surveyors to evaluate the different levels of elevation and be accurate when it comes to mapping the water flow when there is a significant amount of rain.

Using drone imaging and CAD software is a rather new idea. This idea, if proven worthy, could save ample amounts of money that is put into survey research. Along with everyone’s favorite topic, Money, using drones to survey an area will also decrease the time it is surveyed. After the images are gathered surveyors will receive an image that looks like the pictures you see below.

DATAIn California, there has been development in water “detention basins” and “bio-filtration swells”. These are twomethods that use naturally existing plants and sediment to create basins in which the water can filter and becollected without causing flood damage or polluting the existing fresh water supply (see images below).

However, the problem here is to find the best location to place these basins in order to maximize efficiency. This is where our research is useful. Through the use of our terrain modeling, we can provide an accurate map of where the water runoff is most concentrated. Placing water retention measures in these areas will prove more effective in the long run.

Drones

• Cost per drone is $1000 to $2000 dollars. • Can survey an area, once it is in place, in

about 5-6 seconds• Only takes one person to operate the drone• With the right programs in place, the drone

can immediately give topography pictures and display contour lines within the area.

• Entire process can be done before completing 1 business day.

Surveyors.

• Surveyors work in groups of 2-3 people.• Surveyors make somewhere in between

$40,000 to $60,000 a year.• With a good company they take anywhere

from 5-10 business days• After collecting the data over these 5 days,

surveyors have to go through and analyze the data which could take another business day to complete.

Website Title: “DJI Phantom 3 Professional review”. CNET.Web. November 01, 2015.

“Surveyor Salary: Latest Wage and Compensation Trends”. Recruiter. Web. November 01, 2015

Erosion is constantly sculpting the Earth’s surface, into new forms. Human interaction with the environment is a major cause of erosion. For example, deforestation due to urban development can increase the amount of exposed rock on the surface. With the increase of expose comes the increase of erosion.

One way to prevent erosion is to predict water runoff and landscape accordingly. Shrubs and other undergrowth can provide a layer of protection for the soil, which will mitigate erosion due to rainfall.

Our method of modeling the terrain can provide insight on where to place vegetation, to effectively reduce the speed of water runoff.

Figure 6 of 6The example on the left is from the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the “Skyridge” apartment development in Mission Viejo. In the drafted report they make use of the topography in determining the impact of having a graded housing development, complete with paved roads and watered lawns.

This is the type of project that would benefit from using the drone footage and 3D modeling software to speed up survey work.

“Northeast Annexation Area and Skyridge VTTM –Mission Viejo”. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Web. PDF. October 2012. November 1, 2015.

This is the report that we generated using the Pix4D software as the modeling software for creating the point cloud and 3D mesh of the surface. The first part of the report addresses quality of the input data and analysis (see above images).

• We had a processing time of 2min 38sec for the point cloud and a total number of 59936 points. The average ground sampling distance was 3.77cm.

To the right is a map of the image positions that constitute the drone flyover. We used a total of 6 images in progression.

Below is the point matching data summary.

Legend for Digital Surface Model on right:

- Lowest point on the data set (abs. zero)

- Highest elevation point relative to abs. zero

Figure 2 of 6

The data above and to the right is on the accuracy and precision of the point matching. For every point of elevation in the model, its position is verified in relation to other points around it. The higher the number of keypoints the higher the accuracy of an exact representation of the surface.

• In creating the surface it took a total of 4min 27sec with optimal settings. The resulting image is to the left in the center column.

Mentor: Matthew WolkenCollege: Irvine Valley College

Works Cited:Barreiro, Anxo, et al. "Integration Of UAV Photogrammetry And SPH Modelling Of Fluids To Study Runoff On Real Terrains." Plos ONE 9.11 (2014): 1-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Carrivick, Jonathan L., et al. "Developments In Budget Remote Sensing For The Geosciences." Geology Today 29.4 (2013): 138-143. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

“Northeast Annexation Area and Skyridge VTTM – Mission Viejo”. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Web. PDF. October 2012. November 1, 2015.

“State Route 241 Tesoro Extension Project Water Quality and Environmental Measures.” Transportation Corridor Agencies. Stat Water Resources Control Board. <swrcb.ca.gov> 13 Mar. 2013. Web. PDF. 10 Oct. 2015

Above images courtesy of: Transportation Corridor Agencies. Stat Water Resources Control Board.