Activity Day: Thermal Sensor on UAS for Detecting Humans and Various Thermal Signatures

Introduction

figure 1: Dr Hupy establishing connections while
Zac enjoys a cold one. 

On April 18, 2016, Dr. Hupy's UAS class went to the student Scott Nesbit's house in Fall Creek, WI, to conduct remote sensing analyses with an unmanned aerial device mounted with a thermal sensor. In total, 6 flights were conducted in the day, with the first flight being at 6AM and the last flight at 6PM. The purpose of these flights was to collect data for students Scott Nesbit and Zach Nemeth, whose research projects pertain to the uses and value of thermal sensor based data that can be obtained with a UAS.  Dr. Hupy, Scott, and the classes TA Mike Bommer needed to do multiple flights for Scott's project, and the rest of the class joined from 3PM to 6PM to help, observe, and gain more experience with setting up and running field collection operations with UAV's.

Zach's Project: Detecting Humans Using a UAS Mounted with Thermal Camera. 

Zach's interest is exploring the value of using a UAS platform mounted with a thermal sensor to detect human heat signatures.  The application of a project like this could elude to potential uses for UAS usage in cases of missing persons or criminal pursuits.  For his data, Zach had students and Dr. Hupy go throughout the area of the established flight which covered a portion of Scott's property.  Students placed themselves in a variety of land cover types: Tall grass, bare cornfield, under shade, and right next to a body of water ( small creek).  Diversifying the land cover is intended to get a better idea of the extent and capabilities of the thermal sensor.  When processed, Zach will classify the various temperatures that were collected in such a way that highlights the location of the persons scattered throughout the area.  

Scott's Project: Analyzing Changing Heat Signatures of Various Materials Overtime. 

Scott's goal was to use the thermal sensor to track the changing temperatures of various material and land covers throughout a 12 hour span.  For Scott's data, flights were conducted at 6AM, 9AM, Noon, 3PM, and 6PM.  Doing this, persumptively, was to create a contrast of heat signatures that various objects of interest would produce as time went on and as the temperature of that day fluctuated.  That day was rather warm, with a high amount of sun exposure.  For each flight that was conducted, Scott would use a thermal laser thermometer to get a temperature reading of the specific surfaces/materials that were apart of his study.  This was done so that the later on the appropriate sybologocial elements could be better tied to a precise temperature reading. The expectation is that these various materials will react to the different conditions throughout the day at various rates, some will cool and heat up faster/slower than other materials

Conclusion

This field activity was yet another opportunity for the class to gain experience with conducting UAS operations in the field. It was enjoyable to be out and about on the warmest day of this new spring, and it felt good to be made even more comfortable with conducting flight missions.  The biggest take away from this day in the field was a becoming more familiar with the pref light and post flight checklist.