GISC4328 - Drone and Remote Sensing

GISC 4328 Drone and Remote Sensing (3 semester credit hours) Recent technological advancements and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations have opened new possibilities for an increasing number of individuals and commercial enterprises to possess small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), commonly known as drones. This presents new opportunities for businesses and scientific research, notably in the acquisition of high resolution remotely sensed images, a task traditionally relegated to sensors mounted on satellites and manned aircraft platforms. Drones, as an innovative alternative remote sensing platform, provide individuals with complete control over various aspects, including the choice of aircraft type (e.g., fixed-wing or multi-rotor drone), sensor systems (e.g., visible, NIR, and thermal camera), location, time of day, altitude above-ground-level (AGL), look-angle (e.g., oblique or vertical), look-direction, and duration-all at a cost that was previously unattainable. The course encompasses the exploration of theories, technologies, methodologies, and applications of drone-based photography and videography for remote sensing purposes. The course is open not only to GIS students, but to any individuals interested in the realm of drone technology. (3-0) Y