The Harmonious COST Action have developed a number of video lectures covering different aspects of UAS-based environmental monitoring.
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Using drones to measure leaf area index
View More ....HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Using drones to measure leaf area index
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Monitoring River Channel Dynamics - part 1
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Monitoring of River Dynamics - part 2
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3D model of the Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea Maritima (Israel)
View More ....Structure from motion (SfM) can lead to extraordinary and realistic 3D models of our cultural heritage. See this example of the Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea Maritima (Israel). COST Action - HARMONIOUS #Aqueduct #SfM #UAS #uavs
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Image Stabilization
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Flood ExtReme velOCity Estimations (FEROCE): Seeding metrics to image-velocimetry performances
View More ....https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-5173-2020
How to cite: Pizarro et al., Identifying the optimal spatial distribution of tracers for optical sensing of stream surface flow, HESS, 2020.
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Vegetation assessment by UAS - current state and perspectives
View More ....https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108156
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Vegetation assessment by UAS - current state and perspectives
Müllerová, J. , X. Gago, M. Bučas,J. Company, J. Estrany, J. Fortesa, S. Manfreda, A. Michez, M. Mokroš, G. Paulus, E. Tiškus, M. A. Tsiafouli, R. Kent, Characterizing vegetation complexity with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – A framework and synthesis, Ecological Indicators, Volume 131, November 2021, 108156.
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Monitoring Agricultural Ecosystems
View More ....https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2020.3019200
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Monitoring Agricultural Ecosystems
Paruta, A., P. Nasta, G. Ciraolo, F. Capodici, S. Manfreda, N. Romano, E. Bendor, Y. Zeng, A. Maltese, S. F. Dal Sasso and R. Zhuang, A geostatistical approach to map near-surface soil moisture through hyper-spatial resolution thermal inertia, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, (doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2020.3019200) 2020.
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Soil Moisture Retrievals from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
View More ....https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051495
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Soil Moisture Retrievals from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
How to cite: Su, Z.; Zeng, Y.; Romano, N.; Manfreda, S.; Francés, F.; Ben Dor, E.; Szabó, B.; Vico, G.; Nasta, P.; Zhuang, R.; Francos, N.; Mészáros, J.; Dal Sasso, S.F.; Bassiouni, M.; Zhang, L.; Rwasoka, D.T.; Retsios, B.; Yu, L.; Blatchford, M.L.; Mannaerts, C. An Integrative Information Aqueduct to Close the Gaps between Satellite Observation of Water Cycle and Local Sustainable Management of Water Resources. Water 2020, 12, 1495. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051495
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Mapping soil properties for UAS-based environmental monitoring
View More ....https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13132606
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Mapping soil properties for UAS-based environmental monitoring
Water infiltration rate (WIR) into the soil profile was investigated through a comprehensive study harnessing spectral information of the soil surface. As soil spectroscopy provides invaluable information on soil attributes, and as WIR is a soil surface-dependent property, field spectroscopy may model WIR better than traditional laboratory spectral measurements. This is because sampling for the latter disrupts the soil-surface status. A field soil spectral library (FSSL), consisting of 114 samples with different textures from six different sites over the Mediterranean basin, combined with traditional laboratory spectral measurements, was created. Next, partial least squares regression analysis was conducted on the spectral and WIR data in different soil texture groups, showing better performance of the field spectral observations compared to traditional laboratory spectroscopy. Moreover, several quantitative spectral properties were lost due to the sampling procedure, and separating the samples according to texture gave higher accuracies. Although the visible near-infrared–shortwave infrared (VNIR–SWIR) spectral region provided better accuracy, we resampled the spectral data to the resolution of a Cubert hyperspectral sensor (VNIR). This hyperspectral sensor was then assembled on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to apply one selected spectral-based model to the UAV data and map the WIR in a semi-vegetated area within the Alento catchment, Italy. Comprehensive spectral and WIR ground-truth measurements were carried out simultaneously with the UAV–Cubert sensor flight. The results were satisfactorily validated on the ground using field samples, followed by a spatial uncertainty analysis, concluding that the UAV with hyperspectral remote sensing can be used to map soil surface-related soil properties.
How to cite: Francos, N.; Romano, N.; Nasta, P.; Zeng, Y.; Szabó, B.; Manfreda, S.; Ciraolo, G.; Mészáros, J.; Zhuang, R.; Su, B.; Ben-Dor, E. Mapping Water Infiltration Rate Using Ground and UAV Hyperspectral Data: A Case Study of Alento, Italy. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 2606. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13132606
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Protocols for UAS-based observation
View More ....https://www.costharmonious.eu/2020/03/20/current-practices-in-uas-based-environmental-monitoring/
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Protocols for UAS-based observation
With the increasing role that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are playing in data collection for environmental studies, two key challenges relate to harmonizing and providing standardized guidance for data collection, and also establishing protocols that are applicable across a broad range of environments and conditions. In this context, a network of scientists are cooperating within the framework of the Harmonious Project to develop and promote harmonized mapping strategies and disseminate operational guidance to ensure best practice for data collection and interpretation. The culmination of these efforts is summarized in the present manuscript. Through this synthesis study, we identify the many interdependencies of each step in the collection and processing chain, and outline approaches to formalize and ensure a successful workflow and product development. Given the number of environmental conditions, constraints, and variables that could possibly be explored from UAS platforms, it is impractical to provide protocols that can be applied universally under all scenarios. However, it is possible to collate and systematically order the fragmented knowledge on UAS collection and analysis to identify the best practices that can best ensure the streamlined and rigorous development of scientific products.
How to cite: Tmušić, G.; Manfreda, S.; Aasen, H.; James, M.R.; Gonçalves, G.; Ben-Dor, E.; Brook, A.; Polinova, M.; Arranz, J.J.; Mészáros, J.; Zhuang, R.; Johansen, K.; Malbeteau, Y.; de Lima, I.P.; Davids, C.; Herban, S.; McCabe, M.F. Current Practices in UAS-based Environmental Monitoring. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 1001.
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Recent Advances in UAS technologies
View More ....HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - Recent Advances in UAS technologies
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10040641 - On the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Environmental Monitoring, Remote Sensing, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12061001 - "Current Practices in UAS-based Environmental Monitoring" Remote Sensing, 2020.
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General Introduction on Harmonious activities
View More ....https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10040641
HARMONIOUS VIDEO LECTURE - General Introduction on Harmonious activities
Environmental monitoring plays a central role in diagnosing climate and management impacts on natural and agricultural systems; enhancing the understanding of hydrological processes; optimizing the allocation and distribution of water resources; and assessing, forecasting, and even preventing natural disasters. Nowadays, most monitoring and data collection systems are based upon a combination of ground-based measurements, manned airborne sensors, and satellite observations. These data are utilized in describing both small- and large-scale processes, but have spatiotemporal constraints inherent to each respective collection system. Bridging the unique spatial and temporal divides that limit current monitoring platforms is key to improving our understanding of environmental systems. In this context, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have considerable potential to radically improve environmental monitoring. UAS-mounted sensors offer an extraordinary opportunity to bridge the existing gap between field observations and traditional air- and space-borne remote sensing, by providing high spatial detail over relatively large areas in a cost-effective way and an entirely new capacity for enhanced temporal retrieval. As well as showcasing recent advances in the field, there is also a need to identify and understand the potential limitations of UAS technology. For these platforms to reach their monitoring potential, a wide spectrum of unresolved issues and application-specific challenges require focused community attention. Indeed, to leverage the full potential of UAS-based approaches, sensing technologies, measurement protocols, postprocessing techniques, retrieval algorithms, and evaluation techniques need to be harmonized. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing research and applications of UAS in natural and agricultural ecosystem monitoring in order to identify future directions, applications, developments, and challenges.
How to cite: Manfreda, S., M. F. McCabe, P. E. Miller, R. Lucas, V. Pajuelo Madrigal, G. Mallinis, E. Ben-Dor, D. Helman, L. Estes, G. Ciraolo, J. Müllerová, F. Tauro, M. I. de Lima, J. L. M. P. de Lima, A. Maltese, F. Frances, K. Caylor, M. Kohv, M. Perks, G. Ruiz-Pérez, Z. Su, G. Vico, and B. Toth, On the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Environmental Monitoring, Remote Sensing, 10(4), 641; 2018.
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Video Lecture Short Intro
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Interview to the chair of the COST Action Harmonious, Salvatore Manfreda
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Interview to Félix Francés, vice-leader of the WG2
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