No abstract

The paper deals with the calibration of a non-metric digital camera Nikon EOS 6D with a 50 mm lens that could be adapted as a potential UAV sensor for the purposes of aerial inspections. The determination of the internal orientation parameters and the image errors of the non-metric digital camera involved self-calibration with Agisoft Metashape software solving the network of the images obtained from different test fields: a chessboard field, a professional laboratory field and a spatially diverse research area. The results of the control measurement for the examined object distance of 6 meters do not differ significantly. The RMSE from the control measurement for the second analyzed object distance of 15 meters was calculated on the basis of the internal orientation elements. The images from the laboratory field, the spatial test area and the chessboard field were used, and the obtained results amounted to 7.9, 9.9 and 11.5 mm, respectively. The conducted studies showed that in the case of very precise photogrammetric measurements performed by means of the Nikon EOS 6D camera equipped with a 50 mm lens, it is optimal to conduct calibration in a laboratory test field. The greatest RMSE errors were recorded for the control images with the elements of the internal camera orientation calculated on the basis of the chessboard area. The results of the experiments clearly show a relation between the accuracy of the Nikon EOS 6D camera calibrations and the percentage of the frame area filled with the test field. This explains why the weakest calibration results were obtained from the chessboard test field.

This paper presents the concepts of a probabilistic model for storm overflow discharges, in which arbitrary dynamics of the catchment urbanization were included in the assumed period covered by calculations. This model is composed of three components. The first constitutes the classification model for the forecast of storm overflow discharges, in which its operation was related to rainfall characteristics, catchment retention, as well as the degree of imperviousness. The second component is a synthetic precipitation generator, serving for the simulation of long-term observation series. The third component of the model includes the functions of dynamic changes in the methods of the catchment development. It allows for the simulation of changes in the extent of imperviousness of the catchment in the long-term perspective. This is an important advantage of the model, because it gives the possibility of forecasting (dynamic control) of catchment retention, accounting for the quantitative criteria and their potential changes in the long-term perspective in relation to the number of storm overflows. Analyses carried out in the research revealed that the empirical coefficients included in the logit model have a physical interpretation, which makes it possible to apply the obtained model to other catchments. The paper also shows the use of the prepared probabilistic model for rational catchment management, with respect to the forecasted number of storm overflow discharges in the long-term and short-term perspective. The model given in the work can be also applied to the design and monitoring of catchment retention in such a way that in the progressive climatic changes and urbanization of the catchment, the number of storm overflow discharges remains within the established range.

The increase in population and the growing demand for food that accompanies it drive the need to achieve sustainable agriculture. Technological progress and methodological novelties provide tools that may support the processes of improving the spatial structure of agricultural lands, as well as their management. One of the examples may be the application of photogrammetric and remote-sensing products to facilitate land consolidation. In the following paper, the systematised procedure of conduct is investigated to determine the moments at which these products could be adopted. In identifying the possibilities for implementing the abovementioned tools, we analyse the legal regulations governing the process and the literature on the subject, as well as some practical examples encountered in surveying practice. In addition, the usefulness of such geospatial products is tested on data gathered during an exemplary UAV flight. We then investigate the issues with implementing the abovementioned tools and assess their advantages and disadvantages in smart agriculture. The research proves that reliable elaboration of the consolidation project concept is critical for its correct realisation, while modern measurement methods providing efficient, up-to-date, factual data facilitate the procedures and support rational decision making. Moreover, they enable us to ensure the necessary accuracy of the data for the scope of the land use and avoid analysing a compilation of several cartographic materials concerning the surveyed object. In the present study, the RMSExyz mean square error at the control points for the orthomosaic, generated using the Matrice 210 RTK v2 professional flying platform, is 5.6 cm, while for the orthomosaic created from images from the amateur drone Mavic 2 Pro RMSExyz, it is 9.2 cm. The results obtained also indicate the usefulness of low-budget drones during the land consolidation process.

The 3D reconstruction of historical and cultural heritage monuments is a procedure recommended by the UNESCO World Heritage Institution since 1985. It is crucial when conserving monuments and creating digital twins. Current 3D reconstruction techniques using digital images and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data are considered as cost-effective and efficient methods for the production of high-quality digital 3D models. In the presented study, laser scanning and close-range photogrammetry techniques and images taken by a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were applied to quickly and completely acquire the point cloud and texture of a historic church in Poland. The aim of this study was to evaluate two options for integrating TLS and UAV data, using ground control points (GCP) measured by two independent techniques: tachymetry and laser scanning. The study shows that the 3D model created based on ground control points acquired by the laser scanning technique has a mean square error RMSEXYZ = 2.5 cm on the check points. The result obtained is not much larger than the second variant of data integration, for which RMSEXYZ = 1.7 cm. Thus, the TLS method was positively evaluated as a GCP measurement technique for the integration of UAV and TLS data and the creation of cartometric 3D models of religious buildings.

The main task of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is to reduce pollutants that adversely affect the receiving environment in which the effluent is discharged. The operation of a WWTP is a complex task due to the number of different processes that take place in its process facilities. In order to maintain the high efficiency of a WWTP, it is necessary to control the quality of the effluent at the outlet and monitor the processes taking place there. The main objective of the research presented in this study was to evaluate the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and multispectral images acquired with a Micasense Red-Edge MX camera to analyse the performance of an activated sludge bioreactor using the example of a municipal WWTP in Poland. Remote sensing analyses were carried out to check the relationships between the calculated spectral indices and the quality parameters in the bioreactor. The spectral indices assessed were the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), green normalised difference vegetation index (GNDVI), optimised soil adjusted vegetation index (OSAVI), and their derived indices, after substitution of the red or near-infrared channel with the red edge channel. In this study, the sensitivity of the NDVI and GNDVIRED-EDGE indexes to changes in the nutrient content (NUC) of the bioreactor was observed. The presented research may find application in the design of a new soft sensor for monitoring the operating conditions of wastewater treatment plants.

No abstract

The understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of farmland processes is essential to ensure the proper crop monitoring and early decision making needed to support efficient resource management in agriculture. By creating appropriate crop management strategies, one can increase harvest efficiency while reducing costs, waste, chemical spraying, and inhibiting the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on crop stress. Only reliable spatial information makes it possible to comprehend the influence of various factors on the environment. The main objective of the research presented in the paper was to assess the possibility of using maps of vegetation and soil indices, such as NDVI, SAVI, IRECI, CIred-edge, PSRI and HMSSI, calculated on the basis of images from the Sentinel-2 satellite, to qualitatively determine the increased amount of heavy metals in the soil in the areas of small agricultural plots around the Barania Góra nature reserve in Poland.The conducted pilot project shows that the spectral indices: NDVI, SAVI, IRECI, CIred-edge, PSRI, and HMSSI, calculated on the basis of images from Sentinel-2, have the potential to assess the content of nickel zinc, chromium and cobalt in the soil on agricultural plots. However, the confirmation of the obtained results requires continuation of the research.