Tethered and aerial photography research
Mark Mulligan, King's
Spatial modelling requires spatially varying data. For small
scale (large area) studies satellite remote sensing can often
provide the data required but for large scale (small area) studies
even the highest resolution satellite remote sesning is generally
too coarse in detail to provide the level of detail required.
We have used airborne platforms and ground tethered platforms
flying digital cameras to achieve much greater spatial detail
in order to provide the information required for detailed spatial
- Airborne photography
- We have employed a number of platforms from small fixed wing
aircraft to helicopters for the collection ofaerial photography
and videography in studies of mammal population counts, tree
diversity, land use change and impacts
of the oil industry.
- Ground-tethered photography
- We have developed novel helium balloon and model helicopter-based
techniques for carrying cameras above landscapes and canopies
to provide spatial data on land surface properties.
Applications have included studies of tree
diversity, mammal population counts, studies of land cover
change, hydrology and others.
Assessment of tree diversity from high resolution aerial
photography in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Population counts of chiguiros (capybara) in the Colombian
Accessed times since November 2006