Innovation in Environmental Management

Remote Sensing / Drone Scoping

With the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smaller, lighter, and less costly imagery sensors, remotely sensed data has become ubiquitous. The use of this data for natural resources mapping and as a source of input data for environmental process modeling and landscape ecology applications will transform environmental management in the 21st century.

Kleinschmidt’s remote sensing team has the capability to incorporate data from a number of sensors, extract useful information, and deliver powerful insights with state-of-the-art software and analytical methods. Our remote sensing projects have saved our clients time and money as expensive, large team surveys are no longer required to assess the same area. We have also provided added safety for projects with site access constraints. Our remote sensing work adds efficiency by being repeatable by following programmed routes multiple times. Kleinschmidt has a range of applications that we can incorporate into projects.

Remote Sensing Services Include:

Remote Sensing Imagery Products
- Ortho Photographs/Video
- Oblique angle photographs/video
- Full Motion Video
- Site Tour Video
- Color orthomosaic image
- Digital Elevation Model and Digital Terrain Model creation
- Interactive 3D Models
Engineering Applications
- Construction Monitoring
- Volume Analysis

Regulatory Applications
- Aesthetics and Whitewater Analysis
- Mesohabitat Characterization
- Impoundment Shoreline Characterization
- Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM)/Minimum Flow Assessment
  Regulatory Applications
- Recreation Use Analysis
- Shoreline Management Analysis
Science Applications
- Land Use and Land Cover Studies
- Vegetative Cover Analysis
- Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Analysis
- Invasive Species Monitoring

Contact us to learn about how the use of remote sensing can benefit your projects - we are ready to assist you! solutions@kleinschmidtgroup.com

PROJECT EXAMPLES

Monitoring Retired Facilities by Drone

Tasked with assessing the structure and erosion conditions at the retired Old
Alcoa Powerhouse and Massena power canal. Access to the powerhouse and
canal bank was limited. Facilities needed to be compared to the previous 5-year assessments.

We provided a 3D, georeferenced photogrammetric model of the Old
Alcoa Powerhouse and Massena power canal to accurately measure structures and erosion. High-resolution video and images were also provided to assist documentation.

Client Benefit:
A two-person Kleinschmidt field crew was able to map the powerhouse and
power canal in just a few days and avoid safety concerns of getting in the power canal or restricted sections of the retired powerhouse. The highly accurate photogrammetric models will serve as a benchmark to compare future survey efforts against to provide quantitative change analysis.

ByPass Flow Study

As part of the relicensing studies, the bypass reaches below the J. Brodie
and Gorham Hydroelectric Facilities CRP was required to complete a
bypassed flow study to confirm that the bypassed flows would support
aquatic habitat under existing minimum flows.

Typically transect data is collected in the reaches, however, due to safety
concerns with access to the reaches, data were collected via an aerial
drone survey. A DJI Phantom 4 drone was deployed and held at a level that allowed for overall channel coverage and excellent image clarity for purposes of defining channel features, substrate particle size, hydraulic patterns, wetted width and cover quality.

Client Benefit:
By completing the fieldwork using an aerial drone survey, transect data
was safely collected without staff needing to enter the bypassed flow
area. The drone was able to cover the bypassed area faster than a ground
crew and reduced time in the field. The high-resolution images and video
were later referenced to ensure accuracy to field observations. Wetted
width, substrate, and mesohabitat delineations were easily measured
using the quantitative images.