Launching an unmanned aerial vehicle remote sensing data carrier: concept, key components and prospects

Abstract

ABSTRACT Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) based remote sensing is an emerging and important data source. Recently, the use of UAVs for remote sensing applications has been rapidly growing owing to their greater availability and the miniaturization of sensors. UAVs are surpassing satellites and aircraft in remote sensing data supply for many local requirements. In comparison with satellite remote sensing data, most UAV remote sensing data is characterized by high resolution, small coverage area, and heterogeneous multi-sources. However, UAVs lack a unified space–time framework and standardized data process. This paper describes a UAV remote sensing data carrier that can be used as an e-commerce platform for data sharing among registered members and a mission planner for new data acquisition. To the best of our knowledge, the data carriers described herein, are the first of their kind. Through seamless docking with UAVs, the data carrier will form a national UAV network, capable of dynamically obtaining very-high-resolution UAV remote sensing images. In practice, a pilot retrieval system of UAV meta data has been developed to provide a catalogue of data product services.