{"id":26,"date":"2019-10-14T12:59:53","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T19:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:56:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:56:06","slug":"uav-lidar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/projects\/uav-lidar\/","title":{"rendered":"UAV Lidar"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"wsu-article-header \">\r\n\t<h1 class=\"wsu-article-header__title\">\r\n\t\tUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Lidar Data: new science for 3-D environmental monitoring\t<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<\/header>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Estimating fuel loads, forest structural properties, and stream habitat using unprecedented high-resolution lidar data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"792\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_field-792x559.jpeg\" alt=\"Field crew preparing unmanned aerial vehicle for take off.\" class=\"wp-image-99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_field-792x559.jpeg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_field-396x280.jpeg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_field-768x543.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_field.jpeg 797w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has increased the potential for environmental monitoring by collecting low-cost data at high spatial resolution within relatively short timeframes. In addition, the use of lidar remote sensing has improved the characterization of vegetation and topographical attributes of landscapes, and is useful for understanding the dynamics of the Earth\u2019s surface. In this project, we are collecting three unique datasets from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a lidar sensor onboard, operated by our industry partner Alta Science and Engineering. The first product includes spatially explicit fuel load estimates near homes within the wildland-urban interface to assess future fuel treatment effectiveness. The second product will include quantification of forest structural properties, and the third product will establish baseline data for stream habitat. We will develop a workflow for processing these unique data sets into usable environmental monitoring products and increase student participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through data-driven research while establishing several larger research projects for the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"792\" height=\"526\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-792x526.jpg\" alt=\"Unmanned aerial vehicle on the ground\" class=\"wp-image-149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-792x526.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-396x263.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-990x657.jpg 990w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground-1188x789.jpg 1188w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_cover_ground.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"792\" height=\"347\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_Cover_Airborne-1-792x347.jpg\" alt=\"Unmanned aerial vehicle airborne\" class=\"wp-image-151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_Cover_Airborne-1-792x347.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_Cover_Airborne-1-396x174.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_Cover_Airborne-1-768x337.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/2472\/2019\/10\/UAV_Cover_Airborne-1.jpg 954w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--sidebar-right\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personnel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Principal Investigator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Arjan Meddens<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collaborators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Lee Vierling<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Susan Firor<\/strong> (Alta Science and Engineering)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Andy Heitmann<\/strong> (Alta Science and Engineering)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Troy Magney<\/strong> (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Marcie Carter<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Karla Eitel<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Travis Paveglio<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong>Anthony Martinez<\/strong> (University of Idaho)<br><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Acknowledgements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Thanks to all who participated in the data collection and to Ben Bright (USFS) for sharing photos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Funding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This project was funded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahospacegrant.org\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium<\/a>. We also recognize the importance of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alta-se.com\/\">Alta Science and Engineering<\/a>&nbsp;in this project, as they operated the UAV lidar.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Updates\/News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>October 20, 2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>We finished the field observations and have collected fuel load and forest inventory data on 24 plots.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>September 14, 2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>We collected the UAV lidar data on the University of Idaho Experimental Forest (for forest metrics) and private property (for fuel loads).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>August 24, 2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Project Start<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":16861,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16861"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":659,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/659"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meddenslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}