Sharma sets pace for drone mapping industry
Article By: Clark Leonard
For his final project before retirement, Dr. JB Sharma assembled a team of University of North Georgia (正澳门六合彩开奖结果) faculty, staff and students to aid his cutting-edge research on drone mapping.
The products are twofold: a detailed digital elevation model and multispectral image mosaic of 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Gainesville Campus and a book that will serve as the industry standard for map work with small drones.
Sharma, who retired as assistant head of 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's physics department May 31, is the editor of the book "Applications of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Best Practices and Case Studies" set to release in fall 2019. He additionally wrote a chapter with his 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 collaborators: alumnus Payton Duran, staff member Lance Hundt and faculty member Zac Miller. The four authored the chapter titled "2D and 3D Models with sUAS Based Multispectral and Thermal Imaging — The Campus as a High Spatial Resolution Mapping Laboratory."
Duran, who graduated in December 2018, called it a learning experience. He is excited that efforts like these will help people hear about and see environmental changes.
"It's a great opportunity to be able to convey information better," Duran said.
The other 11 chapters are written by leaders in the world of drone technology. The book, which will include authors from Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, University of Arkansas, Czech Academy of Sciences, and University of Basilicata, will be published by .
"It will help people construct curriculum to train people in the mapping sciences," Sharma said.
The drone industry will be worth $82 billion and account for 100,000 new jobs by 2025, according to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
Sharma's efforts received financial support through his role as 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 Eminent Scholar for Teaching and Learning, which is funded by the 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 Foundation, and the national remote sensing consortium AmericaView.
Sharma's work focuses on small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), the designation for drones that are between half a pound and 55 pounds. The implications of Sharma's research for 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's campuses could be vast.
Sharma noted the images of the Gainesville Campus show different types of trees and represent a historical record that can be used as a reference if a pest infestation or storm changes the landscape. The images are so detailed they were used in the Digital Fabrication Laboratory on 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Gainesville Campus to print a 3D model of the Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building.
In the future, Sharma said the thermal map capabilities could let 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 compare campus buildings' energy efficiency. He also sees students going on a "digital" field trip to Hurricane Creek Field Research in Dahlonega to prepare for when they are actually at the site.
Hundt, information technology systems manager at 正澳门六合彩开奖结果, was Sharma's student in the mid-2000s. He assisted Sharma's data collection by providing cloud computing through Microsoft Azure. Hundt said data processing that previously took days was reduced to hours once Sharma accessed the cloud computing resources.
Years after being Sharma's student, Hundt was grateful to play a role in Sharma's final pre-retirement project.
"He just inspires you when you're around him," he said. "It's cool to pay him back by collaborating on this project because he's been a big influence in my life, in my career."
Hundt also sees the cloud computing as a possible tool for other faculty members' research.
Miller, a senior lecturer in 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis who has worked with Sharma on the project, appreciates Sharma's collaborative approach and the experience gained by students.
"The students are excited to work on it," Miller said. "And it's something that's going to help them when they go into this field."
Sharma hopes to expand his detailed maps to include 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Dahlonega Campus.
Environmental leaders come to campus
正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental Analysis is continuing its colloquium series this fall with a lineup of speakers who will help students see the wide range of fields in which they can work upon graduation.
Chemistry students excel in research, competition
Students in 正澳门六合彩开奖结果's Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry recently scored a variety of impressive accomplishments.
Faculty, staff earn awards
正澳门六合彩开奖结果 gave faculty and staff awards at events Aug. 5-8 ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. 正澳门六合彩开奖结果 also recognized faculty for promotion and tenure accomplishments and all employees who hit service milestones during the 2023 calendar year.
Students take part in Pathway to Med School
Two students participated in the four-week Pathway to Med School program through the Foothills Area Health Education Center this summer.