A Swiss-Austrian consortium will take a look at large-area laser scanning functions within the Swiss Alps, utilizing progressive 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 may be rising curiosity amongst numerous personal and public stakeholders in high-resolution, up-to-date and cost-effective information, significantly within the space of alpine environmental hazards or power manufacturing. At present, aeroplanes and helicopters are used for large-scale, high-resolution laser scanning. This take a look at collection will display the effectivity of drone software with a view to a decrease environmental influence and vital price reductions.
Dufour Aerospace will assist the venture with its 3-metre-wingspan AeroMini and 6-metre-wingspan Aero2 UAS platforms. RIEGL will present the laser scanners and assist with the mixing. BSF Swissphoto will contribute to information validation and assess the industrial relevance of the know-how and the processes. The WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Analysis SLF will be certain that the info high quality meets high quality necessities, and serves utilized science use circumstances and helps the sector take a look at with skilled personnel.
Dufour Aerospace Co-founder and CEO Thomas Pfammatter stated: “It is a implausible alternative to display the capabilities of our AeroMini and Aero2 vertical take-off-and-landing uncrewed aerial methods in related functions. We’ll have a shared, clear intention of accelerating effectivity in information technology medium and long-term, supported by famend, skilled companions. We are able to’t wait to start out.”
RiCOPTER UAV GmbH (a RIEGL firm) Managing Director Michael Mayer stated: “Whereas we have already got a variety 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 venture will assist us to know the potential of drones in bigger scale, overlaying massive software areas with the intention to exploit the efficiency of our high-end units 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 information acquisition, however solely usable for small areas. Dufour Aerospace develops a platform appropriate for tasks that may solely be realised with crewed planes as we speak. The deliberate take a look at collection lays the premise for autonomous, massive space aerial geo information 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 information for our personal analyses in addition to for companies. We’re happy to symbolize 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 potential, particularly within the discipline of snow- and mountain hazard analysis.“
The take a look at collection is predicted to start this spring in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with fundamental practical exams 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 venture 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 as we speak’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 workers.
About RIEGL:
With greater than 40 years of expertise within the analysis, improvement and manufacturing of laser rangefinders, distance meters, and LiDAR sensors and methods, RIEGL is continually innovating within the discipline of 3D measurement know-how.
We mix our highly effective laser scanners and laser scanning methods for terrestrial, industrial, cell, airborne, bathymetric and UAV-based laser scanning with specifically developed RIEGL software program packages for information acquisition and processing to create methods optimized for essentially the most difficult surveying duties.
Based mostly on RIEGL’s Final LiDAR know-how, RIEGL UAV LiDAR sensors and methods provide a variety of capabilities to satisfy the necessities of the varied duties of UAV-based information acquisition in surveying. The wide selection of units distributed by RiCOPTER UAV GmbH, a RIEGL Group firm, allows customers to search out precisely the correct sensor for his or her particular surveying activity.
RIEGL has all the time been dedicated to delivering the very best efficiency, high quality, reliability, and longevity of all its services, 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 information utilizing fashionable, sustainable plane and newest know-how sensors, each massive format cameras and laser scanners. With a various workforce unfold throughout the three areas in Berlin, Zagreb and Zurich, we ship numerous merchandise based mostly on the acquired information, 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 discipline 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 discipline. Together with fundamental analysis, the SLF performs utilized analysis and supplies numerous 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 folks and the atmosphere:
- The SLF displays and researches the situation, origin and evolution of pure hazards, snow, permafrost and mountain ecological methods.
- The SLF develops ideas, methods and particular measures to guard populations towards 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
