NOAA SUMMER BRIDGE INTERNSHIP
June 2019-August 2019
What is it?
Our Project
The project we decided to work on during the summer was called "Terrain Mapping Using LiDAR Technology". In such, we desired to attach a LiDAR sensor to a DJI M100 drone, in order to obtain aerial footage and use it for the following objectives:
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Our project is to be used by emergency response teams on environments that have been severely affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, snow storms, flash floods and landslides.
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Obtain access to said information in a rapid and low-cost manner with the purpose of observing the changes produced in the environment with more precision.
In Depth Explanation
The NOAA Summer Bridge Internship, took place at NOAA-Center for Earth System Sciences & Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST) at UPRM and the City College of New York. During two months we took workshops regarding Remote Sensing, Matlab and GIS. After obtaining preparation in such areas, we began our projects. My project was called "Terrain Mapping Using LiDAR Technology" which I worked alongside my partner Sebastian Hernandez and our mentor Dr. Jonathan Muñoz.
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To complete our goals we decided to divide the project into to parts, the first part, which was worked by my colleague Sebastian Hernandez, was regarding the LiDAR sensor and how were we going to collect its data and make it functional it is was supposed to be controlled aerially. For such, my colleague and I ideated that we attached the sensor to a portable battery, which would make it independent of any outlets, and for the data recollection, my colleague programmed a raspberry pi zero in order collect that all the data acquired by the sensor.
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My job was to create a way that the LiDAR sensor could attach to the drone. The piece was to be attached to the bottom of the DJI M100 Drone, attached by two pair of screws. The sensor would attach to the adapter with the screw at the bottom of said sensor. The piece provides support on both ends of the sensor, proves an opening for the cables to pass through and additionally it has space for the raspberry pi to be attached to it.
What is it?
Images
Here I attach the poster which provides our methodology, results and future work.
View if the adapter attached to the drone
and the raspberry pi
View if the adapter attached to the drone
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Side view of the adapter attached to the drone and the raspberry pi
The Puerto Rico group and some of the United Stated with the program director Cesar Ortiz in City College of New York
The Puerto Rico group standing proud with our PR flag while in New York
All of the NOAA-EPP CREST SCHOLARS