Using LiDAR for Precise Vegetation Management

Transcription

1 Using LiDAR for Precise Vegetation Management Quantum Spatial is a proven partner to airport planners, engineers, facility managers, and contractors whose objective is to build, expand, and make improvements while meeting FAA regulatory and safety requirements. We have more than three decades of experience providing industry-leading geospatial services to hundreds of airports and airfields around the world. Our software engineers have developed a proprietary platform to expedite vegetation management using aerial LiDAR surveys, a high accuracy solution to identify specific trees impacting the airspace. Aerial LiDAR surveys designed for airport vegetation management commonly emit laser energy within a range of 1 2 million pulses per second yielding a minimum of 12 points per square meter and up to 4 separate elevation measurements through vegetation canopy per point. LiDAR data offer remarkably dense elevation measurements at very high accuracy ensuring critical vertical obstructions in the airspace are properly identified, evaluated, and reported. 1

2 The QSI analytical process comparing LiDAR data with aviation surfaces to classify obstructions shown in red and near surface vegetation shown in yellow. The Quantum Spatial Difference Detailed Visual Display of Vegetation Obstructions Traditional aerial photogrammetric mapping is required for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reporting, but the data and information compiled are constrained by image resolution, photointerpretation, and the potential vegetation obstructions to the airspace. Seeking more detailed information to support vegetation management than the traditional survey methodologies required by the FAA could deliver, Mead & Hunt consulted Quantum Spatial, Inc. (QSI) for LiDAR survey and analytical support. LiDAR enables collection of richer data, that combined with QSI analytical capabilities, provides a more comprehensive view of the surrounding geography and vegetation obstructions. Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is a city owned, public-use airport located about two miles outside of downtown Mount Pleasant, MI. Mead & Hunt worked with the airport to develop its airport layout plan (ALP), a critical tool that identifies the location and nature of existing and proposed airport facilities and structures, as well as non-aviation areas and surrounding geography, which included many densely wooded areas. A nearby racetrack property included 20 heavily wooded acres. Our initial ALP survey methodology wasn t able to tell us if that entire property posed risks to Mount Pleasant s runway operations, or if there were only certain trees that needed to be cut, said Stephanie Ward, Mead & Hunt s Quantum Spatial, Inc. (QSI) is a proven partner to airport planners, engineers, facility managers, and contractors whose objective is to build, expand, and make improvements while meeting FAA regulatory and safety requirements. We have more than three decades of experience providing industry-leading geospatial services to hundreds of airports and airfields around the world. 2

3 manager of Aviation Planning. Knowing exactly which trees were problematic was critical because the FAA is getting stricter about enforcement of airspace, requiring airports to clear and maintain their approach surfaces and often with limited time to respond. Ward noted that one of the most challenging and time-consuming parts of Mead & Hunt s job is specifically identifying where trees in question are located. Once the general area is noted, individuals must go into those areas to personally assess the vegetation. In many of the cases, the trees are on private property, so access may be limited. The airport needs to convince the landowners to allow them on the land to do inspections, and provide evidence about which trees need to be removed or trimmed. The airport also may need to initiate a lengthy process to obtain an easement to address vegetation management themselves. We find the LiDAR surveys from QSI invaluable, Ward concluded. Not only are we identifying and addressing current vegetation issues, we can use the data to be more proactive in managing trees within the flight paths to ensure they never pose a problem. Knowing exactly which trees were problematic was critical because the FAA is getting stricter about enforcement of airspace, requiring airports to clear and maintain their approach surfaces and often with limited time to respond. Stephanie Ward, Aviation Planning Manager, Mead & Hunt Mead & Hunt is working on many other airport vegetation management projects with QSI, including a LiDAR survey that extends 7,000 feet off the ends of another airport s runway to map property lines for both the airport and surrounding public and private land. The accurate identification, mapping, and reporting of trees, buildings, and terrain features penetrating obstruction identification surfaces using QSI proprietary software. QSI s experience includes photogrammetry services for over 575 airport mapping projects in accordance to FAA AC 150/ , -17, and -18 guidelines. These projects have ranged from small one-runway airports to some of the largest airports in the country. Quantum Spatial continually improves our efficiency by adapting and automating our tools and procedures to meet the FAA and other airport-specific requirements. 3

4 Irrefutable Evidence for Vegetation Management How to use the data Garver, an employee-owned multi-disciplined engineering, planning, architectural, and environmental services firm, has also teamed with QSI on multiple aviation projects. One of the most significant programs is the statewide vegetation management program at all of the General Aviation Airports in Kentucky. This program was implemented because of the obstruction issues plaguing most of the airports and airfields throughout the state. This program is utilizing LiDAR data because this technology helps with the identification of current vegetation issues and where future problems can exist along an airport or airfields approach. Garver is teaming with QSI because, as the firm s East Region Director of Aviation, Ryan Sisemore noted, From my perspective, QSI has an advantage with the product they ve developed. He further added that what QSI is able to do is merge all of the LiDAR data and organize it in such a way that it is efficient and cost-effective, user friendly, and brings it all home in one package. From my perspective, QSI has an advantage with the product they ve developed. Ryan Sisemore, PE, ENV SP East Region Director of Aviation, Garver The QSI vegetation management platform reports key details for each obstruction to include location, height, and aviation surfaces penetrated along with the number of obstructions per land parcel. Learn more about QSI s vegetation management solutions by reaching out to our avaiation sales team or us at transportation@quantumspatial.com. Robert Vander Meer Doug Fuller Paul Bishop (920) (920) (859)

5 T519 T499 Planview Of Obstructions T493 T632 T526 T495 T653 T488 T584 T431 T607 T478 T451 T722 T536 T453 T735 T487 T520 T501 T657 T684 T498 T505 T503 T509 T568 T496 T567 T651 T450 T452 T690 T808 T663 T571 T504 T540 T477 T460 T456 T467 T749 T1065 T1090 T1088 T1049 T1083 T1038 T857 T455 T1045 T806 T1058 T1040 T461 T1043 T1055 T1032 T1051 T1070 T1052 View of obstructions from a QSI Obstruction Analysis Report Parcel of Interest Other Parcels Potential Obstruction (< 0') Small Surface Obstruction (0.01') Mid Surface Obstruction (25') Large Surface Obstruction (> 50') Leading Garver s team for the Kentucky vegetation management program is Mark Upchurch. Mark is Garver s business team leader and worked with QSI for over 2 years on the Kentucky program report that QSI produced for the State which will provide guidance for obstruction removal. The report will be presented to airports to show obstructions and identify potential vegetation issues Images are for display purposes only and should not be used for any decision making purposes. T816 T1046 T1027 T1081 T1033 T1036 T1030 T1029 T1041 T1010 T1103 T1107 T1098 T1080 T1082 T1017 T1014 T800 T1050 T1047 T1087 T1128 T1097 T1054 T1072 T1053 that airports can use to identify parcels in question. As Mark noted, the more obstructions an airport has, the greater minimums become and the less accessible the airport is. Vegetation management is important because airport managers want their airports to be all weather, optimizing accessibility and making the business more robust. T1067 Additionally, as Mark concluded, QSI s obstruction reports were able to document that in some cases, obstructions were more prevalent than N originally anticipated at ft airports in Kentucky which would impact the m utilization of an airfield. T1048 Quantum Spatial, Inc. T1093 T1078 T1063 Scale 1:2,202 T1115 T1159 T1096 T1059 T1062 T1060 T in = ft 523 Wellington Way Suite 375 Lexington, Kentucky Vegetation management is important because airport managers want their airports to be all weather optimizing accessibility and making the business more robust. Mark Upchurch Business Team Leader, Garver QSI s extensive experience providing mapping and obstruction surveys under the current FAA guidelines has allowed us the opportunity to work closely with the FAA and National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and understand the durations and requirements associated with the numerous types of airport projects that are covered by these guidelines. In fact, QSI was the first firm in the United States to complete an NGS approved project under FAA AC 150/ B guidelines. 5

6 The LiDAR surveys from QSI are invaluable. Not only are we identifying and addressing current vegetation issues, we can use the data to be more proactive in managing trees within the flight paths to ensure they never pose a problem. - Stephanie Ward, Aviation Planning Manager, Mead & Hunt quantumspatial.com/our-solutions/aviation