Real-time Remotely Sensed Topography and Bathymetry using Visible and LWIR Imagery Acquired from Small UAVs

Warfighters responsible for planning and conducting A2/AD entry operations need up-to-date, high-quality information within dynamic littoral zones. We plan to develop an easily deployable day-night measurement capability to measure bathymetry, topography, currents and water surface temperature in near real-time from sensors and computing capabilities housed within a small rotary UAS. For decades it has been known that nearshore bathymetry can be estimated using gravity wave dispersion relationships derived from a time series of remotely sensed imagery, but the current implementation does not easily provide the long dwell time needed for day and night operation. Our approach integrates the cBathy gravity wave dispersion algorithm with direct georeferenced thermal and visible imagery to produce robust nearshore bathymetry with a well-understood error estimate. Direct georeferencing will eliminate or greatly reduce the need for ground control points and calibrated low-cost thermal imaging cameras will enable bathymetry and surface temperature measurements day and night. Structure from Motion techniques using both visible and thermal imagery will generate topographic subaerial dense point clouds with RGB and temperature map overlays. Small low power computing components will enable on-board real-time processing so information can be transmitted to ground personnel in near real-time.