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Environmental GIS, Aerial Mapping and Aerial Imaging Services
Environmental GIS, Aerial Mapping, and Aerial Imaging Provide Insight Into Site Conditions. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a toolset that allows for the digital representation of real-world features and the analysis of trends and patterns within that data. In layman’s terms: computerized cartography. At its simplest level, GIS allows for the quick and efficient creation of drawings for aiding visualization of site features. Features can include points (e.g., Boreholes, Monitoring wells, etc), lines (e.g., Roads, Transects, etc), polygons (e.g., Site boundaries, Areas of concern, etc), and surfaces (e.g., Elevation models, Chemical interpolation, etc). During spatial analysis for environmental projects, the overlaying and combining of features can provide insight into spatial trends or other natural phenomena.
The importance of understanding the spatial aspects of any site is crucial to a successful remediation. Whether consolidating and visualizing historical site data, verifying impinging features like streams and conserved lands or creating an adaptive sample design, GIS tools can make a dramatic difference in environmental operating practices.
At AEL, we use industry standard GIS tools like ESRI ArcGIS 10.1 with additional Spatial Analyst module and SADA 5.0, a specially designed program for Environmental Spatial Analysis and Decision Support. These programs allow for complete control of the data analysis process, from initial data input and creation through visualization and advanced methods. We use a combination of publically and privately available GIS data, in addition to creating our own using both historical site records and on-site GPS surveys.
An additional input to our GIS solution is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to collect both high resolution imagery and create digital elevation models (DEMs). This imagery, with a pixel size as fine as 5 cm, provides the most clear, up-to-date visual survey of a size possible. The imagery can be used to better delineate site boundaries, view change to the site over time, or simply provide a highly intuitive backdrop to site drawings for easier visualization. Additionally, by incorporating high overlap between successive images, photogrammetric techniques can be used to obtain DEMs with 1m point spacing…providing a much higher level of detail than a traditional environmental survey. These elevation models can be used to estimate volumes in a landfill, highlight slopes exceeding a Certificate of Approval, or even calculate drainage patterns for larger sites!