{"id":11396,"date":"2020-01-31T09:15:11","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T09:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?post_type=research_project&#038;p=11396"},"modified":"2024-02-07T08:31:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T08:31:12","slug":"drone-research","status":"publish","type":"research_project","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Drone research"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Drone research<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Research &mdash; Geodesy and Earth observation<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Drone%20research&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Drone%20research&#038;body=BGS%20use%20drones%20to%20gain%20a%20perspective%20of%20the%20Earth%20that%20is%20simply%20not%20possible%20with%20instruments%20that%20are%20based%20on%20the%20ground.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/drone-research\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>We have been developing and using drones at the BGS since the mid-1980s. Drones (often called unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) provide us with a novel way to capture data; they help us to gain a perspective of the Earth that is simply not possible with instruments that are based on the ground. Compared with conventional aircraft, they can also be a cost-efficient and flexible way to collect airborne data. We have trained drone pilots that are accredited by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caa.co.uk\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Civil Aviation Authority<\/a> and insured to undertake commercial operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We use commercially available drones but we also lead research developing new hardware and software systems. We regularly fly drones in the UK and overseas (e.g. as far afield as Mexico and China). We have a selection of rotary (multi-rotor) and fixed-wing (airplane) drones and a range of sensors including high-resolution cameras, thermal and multispectral sensors, plus novel gas instruments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#projects\">Our projects<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#gas\">Gas monitoring with drones<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#3dmodels\">Building 3D models with drones<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Mexico.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rotary drone ready for take-off in Mexico. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Mexico-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Rotary drone ready for take-off in Mexico\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Rotary drone ready for take-off in Mexico. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Mexico.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rotary drone ready for take-off in Mexico. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_flight_checks.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Pre-flight checks of the BGS gas sensor drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_flight_checks-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Pre-flight checks of the BGS gas sensor drone\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Pre-flight checks of the BGS gas sensor drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_flight_checks.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Pre-flight checks of the BGS gas sensor drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rotary drone used to make 3D models of the Hollin Hill landslide observatory in Yorkshire (2019). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Rotary drone used to make 3D models of the Hollin Hill landslide observatory in Yorkshire (2019)\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Rotary drone used to make 3D models of the Hollin Hill landslide observatory in Yorkshire (2019). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rotary drone used to make 3D models of the Hollin Hill landslide observatory in Yorkshire (2019). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_rapid_response.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rapid response drone flight to build a 3D model of a sinkhole behind a terrace of houses in Ripon, Yorkshire. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_rapid_response-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Rapid Response drone flight to build a 3D model of a sinkhole behind a terrace of houses in Ripon, Yorkshire.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Rapid response drone flight to build a 3D model of a sinkhole behind a terrace of houses in Ripon, Yorkshire. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_rapid_response.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Rapid response drone flight to build a 3D model of a sinkhole behind a terrace of houses in Ripon, Yorkshire. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_81925\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"projects\">Our projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are developing cutting-edge drone technology in a selection of research projects including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Developing world-leading <a href=\"#gas\">prototype greenhouse-gas detection drones<\/a> along with software to model the source of emissions. Co-funding from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/innovate-uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Innovate UK<\/a>, the BGS Innovation Fund and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.era.ac.uk\/facilities-database\/geo-energy-test-bed-gtb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ERA&nbsp;GTB<\/a> is enabling us to work with partners such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.questuav.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">QuestUAV&nbsp;Ltd<\/a> and trial results at observatories in the UK and overseas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Undertaking research to capture high-resolution, overlapping photos to build 3D models of landforms such as <a href=\"#3dmodels\">landslides and sinkholes<\/a> to understand how they change over time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leading the drone task in the NERC Natural Flood Management research project <a href=\"https:\/\/landwise-nfm.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Landwise<\/a> using multispectral data to identify how vegetation and soil moisture vary and affect flooding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/764531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">H2020 SECURe<\/a> project, we are leading the work package focused on the development and application of drones to advance the ability to monitor gas detection at carbon sequestration and shale gas sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For the H2020 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gemex-h2020.eu\/index.php?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GEMex<\/a> project, we are collecting and developing thermal data from drones to characterise the geothermal resource at the Los Humeros site in Mexico.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are leading a project funded by the UK Government department <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs\" target=\"_blank\">Defra<\/a> to assess the feasibility of drones to detect mine-waste contamination using field sites in Wales and England.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gas\"><strong>Gas monitoring with drones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 2016 and 2017, the BGS led a project co-funded by an Innovate UK Energy Catalyst grant to examine the technical feasibility of detecting gas using drones. We developed a prototype, cost-effective, small drone gas-detection system for trained operators to take to sites for rapid monitoring. The aim was to fill the gap between time-consuming surface monitoring and costly, conventionally piloted aircraft to identify areas of leaks or fugitive emissions that can then be investigated further and rectified where necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_launch.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The fixed-wing gas-detection drone is launched using a bungee system. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_launch-960x523.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Fixed wing gas detection drone\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The fixed-wing gas-detection drone is launched using a bungee system. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_launch.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The fixed-wing gas-detection drone is launched using a bungee system. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_pilot.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;BGS pilot flying the drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_pilot-960x655.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"BGS drone pilot\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>BGS pilot flying the drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_pilot.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;BGS pilot flying the drone. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_recovery.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Recovering the drone after a successful landing. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_recovery-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Recovering the drone after landing\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Recovering the drone after a successful landing. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_recovery.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Recovering the drone after a successful landing. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_31346\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<p>The original methane (CH<sub>4<\/sub>)-detecting prototype was co-developed with QuestUAV Ltd using a custom-designed, fixed-wing system. The first test flights took place in 2017, where we successfully detected and quantified CH<sub>4<\/sub> under a controlled release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More recently in 2018 and 2019, a BGS\/NERC Innovation award was used to also develop a carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) drone system using an aircraft and sensor obtained with an ERA&nbsp;GTB grant. The prototype gas-detector plane has been demonstrated at various shows including the Commercial UAV Show (2016), Rushlight (2017) and Innovate (2017 and 2019). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the current H2020 SECURe project, we are leading the work package focused on the development and application of drones to advance monitoring technologies for gas detection at carbon sequestration and shale gas sites. Our research is also being used at the ERA&nbsp;GTB Sutton Bonington site to evaluate it as a new technology for shallow carbon-sequestration monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading 3dmodels\" id=\"3dmodels\"><strong>Building 3D models with drones<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  id=\"video-6419-block_c10d03a6a6cbec55d3e7ce6267c4abb6\" class=\"video-wrap  \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"position-relative\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i3.ytimg.com\/vi\/MRa9OByuC4s\/hqdefault.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/video.svg\" class=\"video-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Animation of the Geological Walkway at the BGS Keyworth site made from drone photography. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"into-video\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe class=\"video-section\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MRa9OByuC4s?enablejsapi=1&#038;version=3&#038;playerapiid=ytplayer&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<p>Using high-resolution cameras on drones, we can take overlapping photographs and employ photogrammetry or structure-from-motion (SFM) software to build 3D models. The models on their own can tell us about the form and genesis of a geological feature (such as a sinkhole) while a time-series of models built over time can show us how a feature is developing (e.g. how a landslide is moving) and allow us to monitor how it might affect the environment, such as nearby infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill2.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Left: drone orthophotograph of a portion of the Hollin Hill landslide. Note the sheep for scale. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Right: 3D model of the Hollin Hill landslide in shaded relief form. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_64819\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"3D model of Hollin Hill landslide\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill2-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Left: drone orthophotograph of a portion of the Hollin Hill landslide. Note the sheep for scale. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<p>Right: 3D model of the Hollin Hill landslide in shaded relief form. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Geodesy_drone_Hollin_Hill2.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Left: drone orthophotograph of a portion of the Hollin Hill landslide. Note the sheep for scale. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Right: 3D model of the Hollin Hill landslide in shaded relief form. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_64819\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>We can also join the drone photography into map-corrected mosaics (orthophotographs) that have higher spatial resolution than conventional aerial photography.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"cta-section  sky-background-d \">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row md-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Get in touch<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<div>For more information please contact Kay Smith<\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"btn-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/contact-the-person\/?employee=kay-smith\"  class=\"button primary-background button btn-icon-arrow-right-white before \">Contact<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-2207-block_ad8848e0552af03c176d8f916808bce2\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/feature_ESA_satellite-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"ESA satellite\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/feature_ESA_satellite.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/\">Geodesy and Earth Observation<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We develop and use innovative Earth observation (EO) techniques to characterise and monitor Earth processes that impact lives and livelihoods. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/insar-research\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/feature_Geodesy_insar-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Geodesy and earth observation InSAR\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/feature_Geodesy_insar.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/insar-research\/\">InSAR research<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Geodesy and Earth Observation scientists have a long history of working with InSAR data. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geology-projects\/geodesy\/insar-research\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BGS use drones to gain a perspective of the Earth that is simply not possible with instruments that are based on the ground.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11528,"parent":9249,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"17592,17424,16523,17122,9674,16555","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"tags":[],"region":[],"topic":[],"purpose":[],"area":[],"challenge":[],"challenge_topic":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - 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