Michael Holland

In this week of class, we started working with the software ArcGIS Pro and looking at maps with different characteristics. We started off by discussing reflectance bands for different colors, including Red Edge and Near Infrared (NIR) as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1- Reflectance bands including blue, green, red, red edge, and NIR We then explored multiband composite rasters. We used the composite tool to take multiple single-band rasters and create a multiband raster. If satellite imagery is given in individual layers, you could use this tool to combine the layers. We then started to adjust the RGB settings. This is where you assign a color to each band of reflectance. You can make it look realistic or edit the colors to be whatever you would like. We took a give picture of a forested area and adjusted these RGB settings by making Band 5 red, Band 3 green, and Band 2 blue. This changed it to look like Figure 2, where you can see the green areas are now pink. Figure 2- Adjusted RGB We co...

 In this week of class, we took the images from the scans we had previously completed and we processed them in a software called Pix4D Mapper to create a 3D model. We processed the first three scans we did in the class, which were the 3D object scan of my lab partner's car, a 3D tower scan of a light pole, and a 2D mapping missing of a soccer field. We started by creating a new project in Pix4D mapper, went through the applicable settings, uploaded the geotagged images from the scans, and then began the processing.  Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3 show the location of each image taken during the scan. This is the view of the scan area before it begins processing. There are three stages of the processing shown at the bottom of the screen, which are initial processing, point cloud and mesh, and DSM, orthomosaic, and index. It is important to have all three of these boxes checked. Figure 1- Picture location of 2D mapping mission Figure 2- Picture location of 3D tower scan Figure...

For this lab, my lab partner and I completed a total of 5 3D scans using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and a Skydio S2+. We conducted 2D mapping missions, 3D object scans, and 3D orbit scans. The purpose of this was to compare the two platforms. 2D Mapping Missions: We first used the Skydio S2+ to conduct a mapping mission of a small section of a parking lot at the William H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center. After that, we used the DJI Mavic 2 Pro to conduct 2 scans of the same area- one being a lawnmower grid and the other being an opposing grid scan. Both scans were fairly easy to set up, but the main difference we noticed was that the Mavic 2 Pro was able to set up the scan on the ground using Pix4D Capture, while the Skydio had to take off before it could set up the scan. This makes a large difference in battery life, with the Mavic 2 Pro being more efficient. Specific details on how we set up these scans can be found in the lab report. Figure 1 shows the scan area of the p...

In Lab 4, my lab partner Saurav Dalvi and I conducted two mapping missions using a Mavic 2 Pro. The study area was the William H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center, requiring LAANC approval for operation within controlled airspace.  We used Pix4D Capture, a 3rd party software, to complete the scans using the Mavic 2 Pro. Two grid scans were performed – a lawnmower pattern and an opposing grid pattern. The latter required more time and battery power but provided increased detail and accuracy due to a higher number of images. Having previously performed 3D scans with a Skydio S2, we were able to compare these two platforms. The Mavic 2 Pro scans using Pix4D Capture were more user-friendly to set up than the Skydio, but the time to download the images after the scan was complete took significantly longer. The drone behavior post-scan also differed, with the Mavic requiring manual adjustment for landing. Throughout these scans, we collected lots of data includin...