BlackMesa2022_Products_Metadata.txt

Project Name: Black Mesa Skydio 2+ Tests
Project Location: Oklahoma, US
Project Dates: 26-27 October 2022

Black Mesa Skydio Tests evaluated the utility of the Skydio 2+, an entry-level RBG drone, for applications in data documentation for archaeology and related field-based sciences. The Skydio 2+ has the built-in capability for object avoidance (greater than 1.27 cm) and autonomous flight planning of a user-defined volumetric study area. The project focused on testing the Skydio 2+ for basic photogrammetric documentation in remote, vegetated, and GPS-denied environments, using documentation scenarios carried out in Black Mesa, Oklahoma. 

The Black Mesa case study focused on a set of remote rock art sites situated around Black Mesa, located in the far western edge of the panhandle of Oklahoma. The goals of the test flights were to: 1) explore hazardously located, hard-to-document features where sUAS photogrammetry would be challenging, if not impossible; 2) attempt sUAS photogrammetry where handheld photographs would be too time-intensive to be deployed, and/or the overall context would be lost; and 3) to create and execute mission plans in the field without additional data or prior knowledge of the areas. We designed flights and built models of petroglyphs (carved rock art) that are located on freestanding boulders, along cliff faces, and within shallow caves, to explore a variety of scenarios and environments. We also captured an archaeological site that was located on a distant, hard-to access cliff promontory to explore the capabilities for a more remote launch site, with both flight planning and data acquisition conducted from a distance.

The Black Mesa case study used the Skydio 2+, with a Sony IMX577 1/2.3” 12.3MP CMOS camera and 3.7 mm lens. Flight planning was conducted using 3D Scan. All flights used 80% overlap, 70% sidelap, and the 3D Capture Scan Mode for their settings. Flights took place on October 26-27, 2022 between the morning and early evening, during light-to-moderate (<20 mph) wind conditions in which flying is feasible. Between five and seven pillars were set for each flight, with flight times ranging from 10-16 minutes in length. Imagery was processed using Agisoft Metashape Professional 1.8.0. Parameters for the depth map generation included selecting a high-quality model with a mild filtering mode, and 16 set for the max number of neighbors. The sparse point cloud was cleaned up and reprocessed to remove extraneous points before building the dense point cloud.

This upload contains images and videos associated with the four scenarios that were tested at Black Mesa, known as Boulder, Apple 3, Apple 4, and Whitten. As follows:
	Boulder
		The primary object of interest was a boulder, approximately 5.5 m in diameter and 3.2 m in height that contained petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are located close to the ground on one side. The objective of this scenario was to test the ability of 3D Scan to flight plan around an object of interest, capturing it on all sides.
	Apple 3
		The primary object of interest was a cliff wall, where rock art panels are located along a long sandstone bluff. At Apple 3, panels were set among uneven surfaces, including behind overhangs and in small shelters. The objective of this scenario was to test data collection in a vertical, GPS-limited environment, with some overhangs and small shelters. This test scenario was adjacent to Apple 4. 
	Apple 4
		The primary object of interest was a cliff wall, where rock art panels are located along a long sandstone bluff. At Apple 4, a small cave sat up along the cliff wall, and was bounded by vegetation.  adjacent areas along the bluff, panels were set among uneven surfaces, including behind overhangs and in small shelters. This objective of this scenario was to test Skydio's ability for obstacle avoidance, both of the surrounding vegetation and the cliff and cave walls, as well as to document the cave, including the floor and ceiling. This test scenario was adjacent to Apple 3.
	Whitten
		The primary object of interest was a signal fire stone ring on located on the lip of a rock cliff. The objective of this scenario was to test the capability of the Skydio 2+ to determine and execute a flight plan remotely from the launch site and pilot, and document both the top of the ledge and the surrounding vertical outcropping.

Images and videos are stored in separate folders. There are 12 images (.jpg), 1 powerpoint (.pptx) and 4 videos (.mov) associated with this download, in addition to metadata and index files.