SVY2202-Photogrammetry and Drone Mapping Assignment 3 Questions 2025-26 |  UniSQ

General instructions for assignments:

1. The assignment file(s) must be submitted by 11.55 pm on the due date using UniSQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).
2. The assignment must be submitted electronically as a portable document format (pdf) file via the Assignment submission link provided on the Course homepage (StudyDesk). Please use  the  file  naming  convention  “last  name_initial_AssignNo_SVY2202.pdf”,  e.g. “Smith_A_Assign3_SVY2202.pdf”.
3. UniSQ policies about assessments (including submission, extension, and penalties for late submission) can be found at this link. An excerpt regarding penalties for late submission is provided below: “Assessment Items given marked Grades and submitted after the published due date without an approved extension or submitted after the revised due date where an extension has been granted, will incur a penalty of 5% of the Mark awarded to the Student, per Calendar Day late. For example, if the Student receives 35 marks out of a possible 50 marks for an Assessment Item that is submitted three (3) Calendar Days late, 15% of the Student's mark (3 days x 5% per day x 35 marks) will be deducted (5.25 marks). UniSQ Page 2 of 10 Assessment Items submitted more than 10 Calendar Days after the published due date without an approved extension, or more than 10 Calendar Days after the revised due date where an extension has been granted, will receive a Mark of zero.”
4. Present your answers in a format that enhances readability and depicts a professionally done work. There will be mark deduction for poor presentation (refer to Marking Rubric for details).   5. Assignment answers must be written in your own words. Avoid copy-and-paste scheme as plagiarism is taken very seriously. Use correct reference citations by using the Harvard AGPS referencing  style.
6. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tool or technology (e.g. ChatGPT, Quillbot, Textero AI, Jasper AI, etc.) to answer any question (in part or in full) in this Assignment constitutes an academic misconduct. Any work flagged as suspicious will be subjected to a detailed check.   7. If you have questions/clarifications about the Assignment questions, please send them to the course Study Desk under the “Forums”, specifically to the “Assignment questions” thread.

About referencing 

1.  Citing  reference  is  required  for  any  ideas/concepts/information  obtained  from  external sources. Be aware that referencing is not about copying ‘word for word’ from a reference. It is about  obtaining  ideas/concepts/information  and  presenting  it  in  your  own  words  (i.e. paraphrasing) while acknowledging the source as a reference.
2. Listing the references at the end does not mean you have used them. The intext citation is critical whenever you use those references. If you are unsure about the method of in-text citation, please refer to the Harvard AGPS referencing guide in web link indicated above.
3. Do not put Web references (URLs) within the text. Instead, identify the author/owner of the Web site and cite it in-text while providing full details in the reference list.
4. Do not provide references after each question. A full reference list should be provided in alphabetical order at the end of the Assignment document.
5. References are not included in the word count. 

Question 1 (40 marks)

You are working with a commercially available LiDAR system, the Velodyne VLP-16, mounted on a drone. This system operates at a laser wavelength of 903 nm and has a typical beam divergence that creates a ground footprint of approximately 0.15 m2 when flown at an altitude of 60m. The system has a minimum reflectivity threshold of 12% for object detectability. Your task is to analyse the system's ability to detect objects with varying reflectivity under real-world conditions.

Specifications of the LiDAR system: 

• Laser wavelength: 903 nm 
• Beam footprint area: 0.15 m2 (at 60m altitude) 
• Minimum reflectivity threshold: 12%

Activity Tasks:

1.  Calculate the minimum detectable object size for an object with a reflectivity of 12%, based on the illuminated area of 0.15 m2. Provide your detailed calculations and reasoning (15 marks).

2.  Determine if the LiDAR system can detect the following objects, based on their reflectivity and dimensions. Justify your answers with calculations and reasoning (5 marks each): 

• A polished aluminum sheet with a reflectivity of 92% and dimensions of 1.5m x 2m 
• A patch of dry sand with a reflectivity of 10% and dimensions of 0.8m x 0.8m. 
• A painted brick wall with a reflectivity of 35% and dimensions of 1m x 1m. 
• A muddy path with a reflectivity of 7% and dimensions of 0.5m x 0.5m. 
• A dark rubber mat with a reflectivity of 12% and dimensions of 0.3m x 0.3m.

Question 2 (150 marks)

Task 1 (90 marks)

You are tasked with exploring three scenarios where Airborne LiDAR technology can be effectively employed: Each scenario introduces unique challenges and opportunities.

You are asked to weigh the pros and cons of LiDAR, choose between full waveform or discrete LiDAR data, and deliberate on aspects such as georeferencing, calibration, and other important factors relevant to each scenario.

Scenario 1: Forestry Management

Imagine you have been asked to join a forestry management team responsible for evaluating tree density, heights, and canopy health across an extensive forest area.

Scenario 2: Disaster Management

Envision that you have been tasked with being part of a disaster management team addressing a natural disaster, such as a flood or landslide. A swift terrain assessment and the identification of affected areas are crucial.

Scenario 3: Mining Operations

You are asked to contribute to a mining company's efforts to optimize operations and ensure safety within a large open-pit mine.  For each scenario, you are tasked with creating a comprehensive strategy for the application of Airborne LiDAR technology. Address the specific challenges and advantages associated with each use case. Consider the following aspects:

• Georeferencing 
• Calibration 
• Any other critical factors relevant to the scenario.

Task 2 (60 marks):

Now that you understand the three LiDAR applications, it's time to dive deeper into one of them based on your interests. Follow the steps below to complete the task: 

Step 1: Choose an Application Select either Forestry Management, Disaster Management, or Mining Operations based on your preference. 
Step 2: Access LiDAR Data: Visit the ELVIS platform, where you can find LiDAR datasets. Identify a location related to your chosen application. ELVIS provides access to a wide range of LiDAR datasets. 
Step 3: Download LAZ Data Once you have identified a suitable location, download the relevant LAZ file to your local computer. 
Step 4: QGIS and DTM Creation: Open QGIS software and use it to create a 3D model from the LAZ file you downloaded. Follow the steps outlined in the Module 2-Topic 1-Practice tutorial on working with LAZ files in QGIS. Provide screenshots of the final 3D model.

Question 3 (110 marks)

You are tasked with analysing data from a commercially available LiDAR system mounted on a drone. The specifications and survey parameters are based on real-world datasets obtained from a DJI Zenmuse L1 system. Your goal is to calculate various mission planning parameters related to point density, swath width, slant range, and overlap based on the following updated input values. 

Given Parameters: 

• Platform speed (v):  10 m/s 
• Scanning rate (fsc): 2400 Hz 
• Swath Width (θ):  70 degrees 
• Laser pulse rate (f pulse) : 240,000 pulses/sec 
• Flying altitude (H):  120m AGL 
• Terrain slope (i):  -7 degrees 
• Overlap factor (e):  50m

Tasks (steps 1-6 , 15 marks each and step 7, 20 marks):

1.Calculate the point density in the flight direction (∆X along).
2.  Approximate the point density across the flight direction (∆X across).
3.  Calculate the point density across the flight direction (∆X across) considering the flying altitude and terrain slope.
4.  Determine the minimum point density (dmin).
5.  Calculate the maximum slant range (Rmax).
6.  Determine the swath width (SW).
7.  Set the overlapping factor (OV) and determine the recommended overlap percentage for the survey.