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AEROCam Overview 
AEROCam Defined
The University of North Dakota's Airborne Environmental Research Observational Camera (AEROCam), is an airborne multispectral digital imaging system capable of acquiring data in visible and near infrared bands. AEROCam was developed through a unique partnership with several UND departments, including the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium (UMAC), the School of Engineering & Mines, and the flight operations at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Imagery applications range anywhere from vegetative analysis for precision agriculture and natural resource management, to rapid response for disaster (e.g., flood and forest fire) assessment -- the possibilities are endless.AEROCam Development History
In 2001, the Center for People & Environment, at the University of North Dakota's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, developed an airborne digital imaging system known as AEROCam. Working cooperatively with the School of Engineering and Mines (SEM), the Center for People & Environment designed a camera pod that could be easily installed and removed from an aircraft in order for it to be utilized for flight training during the off season. Students and faculty in the Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments of the SEM were responsible for the building and testing of AEROCam, which had to meet the strict guidelines of the FAA in order to become operational. Once installed, the aircraft is placed in the "Restricted" category and is solely utilized for airborne imagery collection.System Specifications and Capabilities AEROCam is flown out of Grand Forks, North Dakota on a University of North Dakota aircraft. The imaging system is comprised of a Redlake MS4100 area-scan multi-spectral digital camera that features a 1920 x 1080 CCD array (7.4-micron pixels), with 8-bit quantization. When operated at 6,000 ft above ground level, images have a ground sample distance of one meter with a horizontal field of just over one mile. Ground sample distances within the range of .25 to 2 meters can also be accommodated depending on user requirements and mean elevation of the site. AEROCam has the capability of providing near real-time data with data commonly reaching the end user after only a few days from its collection date. Images are delivered in TIFF format along with tabular flight, camera, and GIS data with the approximate GPS center of each scene. Customers that would like AEROCam images of a specific site should submit a "Data Request Form" from the main AEROCam page. Mechanical System AEROCam consists of two major components; the camera assembly and the equipment rack. The camera assembly is designed to be anchored to the floor of the baggage compartment of a Piper Arrow. Equipment Rack
Camera Assembly
With the baggage door removed, the camera assembly's base structure is bolted to the aircraft's framework using the baggage tie down mounts in the baggage compartment (the baggage tie-downs are removed prior to installation). The camera pod structure slides into the base structure and extends out away from the fuselage and downward behind the right wing. A GPS antenna mast, which is part of the camera pod structure, extends upward along the fuselage and provides a mounting base for the DGPS antenna.
Equipment Rack
With the rear seats removed, the "Equipment Rack" installs into the seat floor mounts and contains the DGPS receiver, A/C Inverter, and "Flight Computer". A laptop is placed on the front passenger seat and is used to control the "Flight Computer" through a crossover cable. Software is used to guide the pilot to the various sites and is capable of plotting flight lines, which allows the pilot to achieve the proper overlap between adjacent images if more than one flight line is required.UND Operations Operational Process
The Center for People and Environment at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks is responsible for the everyday operations while AEROCam is in operation. Request forms are submitted in the spring by a broad range of applicants throughout the Northern Great Plains region. Using requested image collection dates from the request forms, an itinerary is drawn up and AEROCam is sent out to collect the images. AEROCam, under normal operations, is a single pilot operation, but can be operated with another crew member to ease the workload of the pilot. Once the images are acquired, they are processed for delivery and sent to the applicant, which normally takes place within a few days of the images being acquired.Thank You to UND Aerospace
The aircraft is operated under the Policies and Procedures of UND Aerospace who is also involved in the dispatching and maintenance requirements of the aircraft. Those involved with the AEROCam Project would like to thank UND Aerospace for their assistance and cooperation in the operation of AEROCam and their help in making it all possible. We would also like to thank Rob Clausen and Morgan Stroh for their support throughout the past season. |