A Swiss-Austrian consortium will take a look at large-area laser scanning functions within the Swiss Alps, utilizing modern drones. The companions are Dufour Aerospace, RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto and the SLF, who will collaborate for a collection of take a look at flights over a number of months.
There’s rising curiosity amongst varied non-public and public stakeholders in high-resolution, up-to-date and cost-effective knowledge, notably within the space of alpine environmental hazards or power manufacturing. Right this moment, aeroplanes and helicopters are used for large-scale, high-resolution laser scanning. This take a look at collection will exhibit the effectivity of drone utility with a view to a decrease environmental impression and important value reductions.
Dufour Aerospace will assist the mission with its 3-metre-wingspan AeroMini and 6-metre-wingspan Aero2 UAS platforms. RIEGL will present the laser scanners and assist with the combination. BSF Swissphoto will contribute to knowledge validation and assess the industrial relevance of the expertise and the processes. The WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Analysis SLF will be certain that the information high quality meets high quality necessities, and serves utilized science use instances and helps the sphere take a look at with skilled personnel.
Dufour Aerospace Co-founder and CEO Thomas Pfammatter stated: “This can be a unbelievable alternative to exhibit the capabilities of our AeroMini and Aero2 vertical take-off-and-landing uncrewed aerial techniques in related functions. We’ll have a shared, clear goal of accelerating effectivity in knowledge technology medium and long-term, supported by famend, skilled companions. We will’t wait to begin.”
RiCOPTER UAV GmbH (a RIEGL firm) Managing Director Michael Mayer stated: “Whereas we have already got quite a lot of expertise with utilizing our high-end sensors with UAS, that is these days principally restricted to smaller areas utilizing multicopter varieties, single-rotor drones or VTOLs of smaller scale. This mission will assist us to grasp the potential of drones in bigger scale, protecting giant utility areas in an effort to exploit the efficiency of our high-end gadgets much more. As a quality-conscious high-end producer of laser scanners, we’re predestined to contribute our experience.”
BSF Swissphoto CEO Jörg Wertli stated: “For a while, drones have been round for aerial geo knowledge acquisition, however solely usable for small areas. Dufour Aerospace develops a platform appropriate for initiatives that may solely be realised with crewed planes immediately. The deliberate take a look at collection lays the premise for autonomous, giant space aerial geo knowledge acquisition. We’re excited to be a part of it.”
WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Analysis SLF, Dr. Yves Bühler stated: “As a number one nationwide analysis institute, we depend on up-to-date, cost-effective and high-quality knowledge for our personal analyses in addition to for companies. We’re happy to signify the utilized science aspect of this take a look at setup and to contribute our expertise in excessive alpine terrain. We’re satisfied that a lot progress remains to be attainable, particularly within the area of snow- and mountain hazard analysis.“
The take a look at collection is anticipated to start this spring in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with primary purposeful checks and can then be prolonged to the Alpine area in the middle of 2024 and 2025, relying on the outcomes from every particular person take a look at collection. This mission can also be supported by the Fondation The Ark and armasuisse.
About Dufour Aerospace:
Dufour Aerospace develops environment friendly and sustainable plane for cargo transportation, logistics and public security. It makes use of distributed electrical propulsion and a hybrid module to have the ability to meet immediately’s Superior Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market necessities. The corporate was included in 2017 and has its headquarters in Visp, Switzerland, with a design workplace and flight testing services in Dübendorf, Switzerland. At present, Dufour Aerospace employs 47 staff.
About RIEGL:
With greater than 40 years of expertise within the analysis, improvement and manufacturing of laser rangefinders, distance meters, and LiDAR sensors and techniques, RIEGL is continually innovating within the area of 3D measurement expertise.
We mix our highly effective laser scanners and laser scanning techniques for terrestrial, industrial, cellular, airborne, bathymetric and UAV-based laser scanning with specifically developed RIEGL software program packages for knowledge acquisition and processing to create techniques optimized for probably the most difficult surveying duties.
Based mostly on RIEGL’s Final LiDAR expertise, RIEGL UAV LiDAR sensors and techniques supply a variety of features to satisfy the necessities of the assorted duties of UAV-based knowledge acquisition in surveying. The wide selection of gadgets distributed by RiCOPTER UAV GmbH, a RIEGL Group firm, allows customers to seek out precisely the proper sensor for his or her particular surveying process.
RIEGL has all the time been dedicated to delivering the very best efficiency, high quality, reliability, and longevity of all its services and products, and strict adherence to relevant worldwide requirements is a precedence.
www.riegl.com
About BSF Swissphoto:
BSF Swissphoto is a Swiss-German service supplier for airborne surveying. We purchase geo knowledge utilizing trendy, sustainable plane and newest expertise sensors, each giant format cameras and laser scanners. With a various group unfold throughout the three areas in Berlin, Zagreb and Zurich, we ship varied merchandise based mostly on the acquired knowledge, starting from conventional Orthophotos, excessive precision elevation fashions to finish 3D metropolis visualisation. Along with our core enterprise of airborne surveying, we seek the advice of governments within the area of land administration.
www.bsf-swissphoto.com
About WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Analysis SLF:
The SLF is well-known worldwide as a number one analysis institute in its area. Together with primary analysis, the SLF performs utilized analysis and supplies varied companies, such because the Avalanche Bulletin. The SLF carries out superior analysis whereas on the identical time contributing to the decision of pressing social points, reminiscent of warning of pure hazards or analysing climatic and environmental modifications in mountain areas.
Analysis for individuals and the setting:
- The SLF screens and researches the situation, origin and evolution of pure hazards, snow, permafrost and mountain ecological techniques.
- The SLF develops ideas, methods and particular measures to guard populations in opposition to pure hazards, particularly avalanches.
- The SLF develops sustainable options for socially related points, in collaboration with companions within the scientific and social sectors.
The SLF is a part of the Swiss Federal Analysis Institute WSL, making it a part of the ETH area.
www.slf.ch
