Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Remote Sensing Payloads

This chapter navigates the realm of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and their integral role in remote sensing applications, focusing on the sophisticated payloads they carry. The exploration begins with an in-depth examination of the UAV platform, elucidating the key features that make it an invaluable tool for aerial data collection. Within the context of lightweight sensorsLightweight sensors, the chapter outlines the capabilities of various sensors, including RGBRGB cameras, multispectralMultispectral cameras, short-wave infraredShort-wave infrared (SWIR) cameras, and thermalThermal cameras. The discussion extends to UAV image acquisition and processing, covering flight mission design and the intricacies of image processing techniques. Challenges and opportunities in the utilization of UAVs and associated image processing are meticulously explored, encompassing aspects such as UAV path planningPath planning, pre-flight path planning, multispectral image calibration, thermal camera calibrationThermal camera calibration, and image stitchingImage stitching for orthomosaicOrthomosaic generation. A compelling case study is presented, investigating the impact of high spatial resolution on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in UAV-based individual tree-level mapping. The study employs evidence from nine field tests and discusses implications, providing valuable insights into the practical implications of UAV remote sensing at a high spatial resolution.