UAVs and Urban Spatial Analysis: An Introduction

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Acronyms
Chapter 1: Introduction to Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) and Urban Spatial Analysis
	1.1 Introduction
	1.2 UAS as a General Purpose Technology
	1.3 sUAS for Mapping and Urban Spatial Analysis
		1.3.1 What sUAS Cannot Do for Mapping and Urban Spatial Analysis
	1.4 Including an sUAS in a Technology Portfolio
	1.5 Book Organization
	References
Chapter 2: UAS Platforms and Applications for Mapping and Urban Analysis
	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 sUAS Platforms
	2.3 Applications of sUAS in Urban Settings
		2.3.1 Green Infrastructure
		2.3.2 Environmental Monitoring
		2.3.3 Public Safety and Emergency Response
		2.3.4 Public Health
		2.3.5 Infrastructure Inspection
		2.3.6 Law Enforcement
		2.3.7 Cargo Transport and Delivery
		2.3.8 Mapping and Surveying
	2.4 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 3: A Primer on Aeronautical Charts and Maps
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Airspace
		3.2.1 Class A Airspace
		3.2.2 Class B Airspace
		3.2.3 Class C Airspace
		3.2.4 Class D Airspace
		3.2.5 Class E Airspace
		3.2.6 Class G Airspace
		3.2.7 Special Use Airspace
	3.3 Sectional Charts
		3.3.1 Airspace on VFR Charts
		3.3.2 Special Use Airspace on VFR Charts
		3.3.3 Miscellaneous
	3.4 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 4: Legal, Environmental, Operational, and Safety Challenges in Urban Areas
	4.1 Legal Challenges
		4.1.1 State and Local Regulatory Activity
		4.1.2 Federal Changes to sUAS Regulation
		4.1.3 Spatiality of Legal Challenges
	4.2 Environmental Challenges
		4.2.1 Local Landscape
		4.2.2 Local Air Traffic
	4.3 Operational Challenges
		4.3.1 Administrative
		4.3.2 Aircraft Limitations
	4.4 Safety Challenges
		4.4.1 Flying Over People
		4.4.2 Flying Near Buildings
		4.4.3 Geofences
	4.5 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 5: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems and Privacy
	5.1 A Primer on Privacy
	5.2 Privacy and sUAS
		5.2.1 Commercial Use
		5.2.2 Government Use
		5.2.3 Recreational Users
	5.3 sUAS Privacy Research
		5.3.1 Privacy Considerations in the Field
	5.4 Mechanisms to Mitigate Privacy Concerns
		5.4.1 Operational Mechanisms to Enhance Privacy Assurance
		5.4.2 Beyond Operational Controls
	5.5 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 6: sUAS Data Integration for Urban Spatial Analysis
	6.1 Introduction
	6.2 Foundational Concepts for sUAS Data Integration
		6.2.1 Geographic Representation
		6.2.2 Data Models
		6.2.3 Vector Data
		6.2.4 Raster
	6.3 Geodesy and Map Projections
		6.3.1 Which Projections to Use
			6.3.1.1 Cylindrical Equidistant (i.e., Plate Carree)
			6.3.1.2 Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
			6.3.1.3 State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS)
	6.4 Ground Control Points (GCPs) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
		6.4.1 Global Positioning and GCPs
		6.4.2 Real-Time Kinematics (RTK)
		6.4.3 Post-processed Kinematics (PPK)
	6.5 sUAS Data Integration
		6.5.1 sUAS Data
		6.5.2 Census Cartographic Boundary Files
		6.5.3 Cadastral and Urban Structure Data
		6.5.4 Urban Amenities and Disamenities
	6.6 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 7: Capturing Neighborhood Physical Disorder Using Small, Unmanned Aerial Systems
	7.1 Introduction
	7.2 Background
		7.2.1 Semi-public Spaces and Physical Disorder
	7.3 sUAS for Detecting Physical Disorder
	7.4 Capturing Physical Disorder in Sunnyslope
		7.4.1 Platform and Mission Details
		7.4.2 Comparing sUAS Imagery with LandSat 8
		7.4.3 Capturing Physical Disorder with sUAS Imagery
		7.4.4 Measuring Physical Disorder with sUAS Imagery
	7.5 Limitations and Implications for Urban and Environmental Planning
	References
Chapter 8: Unmanned Aerial Systems for Energy Infrastructure Assessment
	8.1 Introduction
	8.2 Close Inspectors of the Drone Kind
	8.3 sUAS Energy Infrastructure Monitoring and Assessment Research
		8.3.1 LiDAR Applications for sUAS
	8.4 Urban Solar Audit Using an sUAS
		8.4.1 Mission Details
		8.4.2 Data Preparation
		8.4.3 Analysis
	8.5 Limitations and Implications of Using sUAS for Energy Infrastructure Assessment
	References
Chapter 9: Detecting and Monitoring Informal Trails in an Urban Mountain Preserve Using Small Unmanned Aerial Systems
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 Phoenix Mountains Preserves
		9.2.1 Sensitive Desert Soils
	9.3 Urban/Wildland Interface
	9.4 Informal Trail Detection and Analysis with sUAS Imagery
		9.4.1 Mission Details and Study Area
		9.4.2 Software, Data Preparation, and Analytics
	9.5 Results
		9.5.1 Landscape-Level Results
		9.5.2 Class-Level Results
	9.6 Discussion
	9.7 Conclusion
	References
Chapter 10: Drone Futures
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 The Future of sUAS Technology
		10.2.1 Control Autonomy
		10.2.2 Miniaturization and Low-Power Hardware Accelerators
	10.3 μUAS for Urban Spatial Analysis
	10.4 Public Policy and Regulation
	10.5 Conclusion
	References
Index