Course Syllabus
Course: GEO 2846
Division: Natural Science and Math
Department: Geology
Title: Drone Applications
Semester Approved: Fall 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
End Semester: Summer 2028
Catalog Description: Un-manned Aerial Systems (UAS, drones) offer technological advantages and opportunities in many fields such as forestry, range science, mineral extraction, real estate, geology, commercialization, energy production, and agriculture. This course explores techniques in this broad range of areas and provides hands-on industry style experience to students. This course is the second course in a series (following GEO 2845).
Note: This course is cross-listed as DRON 2846.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 1; Lab: 1
Prerequisites: Completed or registered for GEO 2845 or instructor approval
Justification: UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems or Drone) technology is utilized in a wide variety of careers and applications. Many of these cutting-edge technological applications require hands on training and experience to generate 3D models, map vegetation, geologic and engineering applications, or to generate compelling and interesting video for real estate or film. This course will allow students to experience a wide variety of these techniques and produce a professional end product in a chosen technique. This course expands on the basic introduction to drones and regulations to include detailed coverage of a wide range of applications (encompassing a wide variety of fields, from arts to real estate to science fields).
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will gain a general understanding of multiple contexts for drone application such as real estate, cinematography, mapping and ag. This understanding will be assessed through weekly homework assignments.
The students will choose two of the topics related to their interests to develop a deeper understanding and propose projects in these areas. The students will then develop and execute a flight and data plan and generate a professional report for their product as if delivering on an actual job. Projects will be evaluated in the interim reports and proposals and the final report.
Content:
This course will cover the following possible applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems:
Digital Mapping and Orthomosaic generation
LiDAR
Aerial Cinematography
Multi-spectral remote sensing
Real-Estate photography
3D point cloud generation
Drone Delivery
Agricultural weed and fertilizer application
Geologic or engineering applications
Thermal Imagery and mapping
360 video applications and production
Scientific Sensor Payloads and applications
Other topics as the field develops.
The course draws on the diverse interests of students to highlight various contexts in which these skills can be applied, helping students reflect on the material from many different vantage points as well as considering customer and client needs. After an overview of a broad group of topics, students will choose their area of specialization to focus on for the final project. Specialization areas will be available for projects based on available equipment.
Key Performance Indicators:
Reports and Projects 50 to 80%
Worksheets or weekly assignments 20 to 50%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Materials will be generated in house and provided by the instructor.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course utilizes hand-on learning techniques to give the students real-world experience in more advanced UAS operations and professional applications.
Training courses such as this are highly individualized and seek to meet the needs and interests through hands on learning projects and assignments topics chosen by the interests of the individual students.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Online
Hybrid
Maximum Class Size: 16
Optimum Class Size: 8
