EAASI companies: AVT Airborne Sensing, SOMAG AG, IGI, Phase One
Categories: Mountain mapping, Water Management, Climate Change
Project Overview
AVT Airborne's combined Thermal/RGB-Image flight project over Pasterzenkees / Großglockner exemplifies the utility of aerial imagery in monitoring mountain glaciers.
The project responds to the urgency of understanding and addressing glacier decline in the face of climate change. The high speed of deglaciation is pushing conventional methods of glacier observation to their limits. The thermography of glaciers is a good tool to determine the thickness of debris layers on the glacier surface. In addition, thermographic images can be used to validate energy balance models, classify glacier surfaces, and determine glacial surface meltwater runoff.
Competitive Advantage of Crewed Aerial Surveying
Satellites and UAVs are often used for this purpose. However, there are certain restrictions. Satellites enable large-scale coverage of glaciated areas, but only provide products with a coarse spatial resolution. UAVs provide high-resolution data but are severely limited in spatial coverage.
This test project was intended to demonstrate the feasibility of airborne thermal flights. It may be possible to close the gap between satellite and UAV data by using airborne thermography in glaciology. In addition, possible further applications should be identified in the context of monitoring the cryosphere.
Results and Impact
AVT flew this area with two different resolutions, the resolution of the thermal flight was 60 cm and 120 cm. The resolution of the RGB images was much better (10 cm and 25 cm). It should be noted that the thermal data are not surface temperatures but the recorded LWIR/TIR radiation of the surface, the intensity of which is "translated" by the sensor into a temperature value (°C or Kelvin).
AVT Airborne's cutting-edge measurement system features three imaging sensors along with a GNSS/INS navigation system, all housed in a stable camera head. This camera head is insulated from aircraft movements via a gyro-stabilized Somag GSM 3000/4000 platform. The entire system, crafted to AVT's specifications, was designed by the specialist firm IGI GmbH. The setup includes two uncooled thermal cameras known as "DDT," equipped with microbolometers and an extensive spectral range. These cameras sport 1,024 x 768 pixel dimensions, and each is tilted 15.5° to both left and right of nadir direction, covering an impressive 2,000-pixel strip width. The third sensor is an RGB camera, the Phase One iXM150 RS, with exceptional image dimensions, allowing for comprehensive and precise aerial imaging.
The project contributes to glacier research and our understanding of cryosphere changes, crucial for addressing climate challenges. AVT's project demonstrates the significance of aerial surveys in monitoring mountain glaciers and their response to climate change.
AVT Group funded a test project involving a combined thermal flight and RGB flight over the Pasterzenkees in the Hohe Tauern during the past autumn. The ongoing data processing collaboration includes various universities and university-affiliated institutions.
This case study appeared for the first time in the article How can aerial surveying help to monitor climate change? published by GIM International.
Learn more about how other EAASI members utilize crewed aerial technology to address global challenges in our Use Cases series, a dedicated section showcasing real-world applications, and achievements by EAASI’s diverse members.
This collection of use cases highlights the unique advantages and capabilities of crewed aerial surveying in various fields, from environmental monitoring to infrastructure planning.
Each success story presents a featured project by an EAASI member, illustrating how their expertise and technology drive impactful solutions. From collecting high-resolution aerial imagery to leveraging AI for advanced data analysis, these stories emphasize the value of crewed aerial technology for accurate, large-scale geospatial data.
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