Red Edge Multispectral UAS Data

Introduction

This week we look at the Data collected from a Red Edge Sensor that was attached to a UAS platform. The Red Edge Sensor collects data in five distinct bands. Your able to form a composite image using these bands to form one image. These bands can help determine vegetation health. This can be implemented in farming to better place irrigation systems. It can also be implemented in mining to monitor reclamation of vegetation. The Rededge shoots in blue, gree, red, RedEdge, and near infrared bands. The camera has a resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels.

Methods.

The data collected from the RedEdge sensor must first be processed using pix4D. Your processioning setting should look like this.

Next you will open up ArcMap and create a compositie image combing all five bands using the composite band tool. Make sure you add the bands in the correct order; blue, green, red, RedEdge, and NIR.

After you run the tool open up the properties for the new layer. Here you will edit the symbology to look like this.

Here you can play with the bands to show different forms of the image.
By places selecting 3, 2, 1 you will get a standard RGB composite image.

When you select bands 4,3,2 you will get a False RE image.

And then when you order the bands 5,3,2 you will get a False IR image.

Next we will create a permeable and impermeable surface map using Arcmap Pro. You will follow the steps in the ArcGISpro Tutorial.  Here This will allow you to create a map that looks as follows.

Discussion

The RedEdge sensor is a highly useful when installed on a UAS platform. The False IR and False RE are great for determining the health of vegetation. The areas that are darker red give off more radiation showing healthier vegetation. The False IR is more bright and saturated which would be helpful when looking at large areas. The False RE image seems to show more detail which could be better for looking at smaller areas. These images have practical use in agricultural and mine remediation projects. The impervious map clearly outlines areas that water would not be able to penetrate, roads, roofs. This could help implemented the construction of a drainage system. The drainage system could be constructed more efficiently after analyzing the area with a RedEdge sensor.