Based on a mission from the city of Kaga, the training captured data to investigate the local problem of insect damage to pine trees in the windbreak forest.
December 13th, 2024
By Kazuaki Fujii, Japan Flying Labs
The objective of this training camp was for each individual to discover their own abilities. While it’s essential to decide on the team composition for our operations during disaster response, it is equally important for each participant to understand their personal skill level. This self-awareness enables us to create an efficient and effective team structure with limited personnel, allowing for a well-planned mission. This awareness is also crucial for team leaders forming teams during disasters, as understanding each person's capabilities strengthens the organization. It enables flexible consensus-building when tasks exceed certain capabilities or if someone needs a substitute.
While photogrammetry practice is typically limited to training purposes, this time we’ve been given a mission by the city of Kaga. Based on the cooperation of the city and with the elementary school’s sports ground as a base, the training captured data to investigate a local problem: pine trees in the windbreak forest affected by insect damage. This data will be used to explore solutions.
The drones deployed from Japan Flying Labs and DroneBird included AeroROBO Wing (VTOL) from AeroSense, and eBeeX and eBeeGeo (fixed-wing drones) from senseFly. Additionally, personally owned DJI Phantom 4 and Sony Airpeak S1 drones were used to document the training, with smaller missions tailored to individual skill levels and objectives.
On the first day, we began with an introduction to the handling and precautions for VTOL drones, especially for members who had not encountered them before. We displayed screens from the specialized software used for planning, calibrating the device to show the intricacies of handling sensitive sensors, observing aircraft response, checking for errors on the screen, and verifying the complete attachment of the unique right and left wings. We also covered challenges like attaching and detaching propellers for multicopter takeoff. This session aimed to build initial understanding for members aspiring to become technical drone operators.
The actual shooting mission required capturing a 5 km coastal stretch at a width of 200 meters. Fixed-wing eBeeX was chosen for this, given the challenges of operating VTOL aircraft in urban areas with Japan’s terrain. With its ability to fly for nearly 90 minutes once airborne, eBeeX is a core asset for Japan Flying Labs and DroneBird’s activities. Members who usually operate multicopters observed fixed-wing operation firsthand, which will help them explain the process in detail if asked by civilians during future monitoring, fostering trust and reassurance in disaster areas.
The plan involved about 20 round trips along the 5 km route, estimating around 10% of the flight might be out of sight. This included training on building radio towers and setting up for flights out of visual range, as well as adjusting for weather, wind direction, and landing angle. During takeoff, less experienced members practiced flight control under the guidance of more experienced members.
After the day’s sessions, we reviewed the photos over a BBQ and held a Zoom call with members who couldn’t attend, exchanging ideas, discussing challenges, and introducing the equipment and environment used in the training camp.
On the second day, Kaga City provided a meeting room where we explained the process of orthophoto creation, the GNSS knowledge required for drone operators, and how to upload orthophotos to Open Aerial Map. All initial missions were completed, and individual and team goals were achieved. Details of the activities were shared on social media, and the orthophoto data obtained was also provided to Kaga City as open data, marking the end of this mission.
