Hi guys!
I need some help for a project I'm starting. I know most of my questions might be answered among the pile of comments on many of the forums already opened here.
A year ago I started working on detecting and calculating the total area of cloud forests in Latin America. At first I thought that satellite imagery was the most suitable material you'd need to calculate total area, and identify cloud forests with not much hassle. I ended up realizing it isn't that easy.
High resolution satellites don't orbit around the globe often enough to avoid bad weather and cloudiness. It happen that my subject where those forests that are particularly submerged in clouds for most of the year; so satellite imagery is not really an option here. At least not if you don't have the economic muscle to re-program satellites and pay for the most sophisticated sensors like worldview 2, and so on.
Then It came to my mind the idea, which I've noticed is not new at all, of equipping a small aircraft with a high res camera (I'm not talking here about a Canon), and flight high enough during clear days to take pictures of those forests which mainly occur on atop the summits of mountain chains near the sea, or with particular mass effects.
Many plant species in the cloud forests can be recognized through imagery due to the differences in canopy with other species; so in theory, you could photograph the area you are studying and been able later on to differentiate type of forests based on species composition.
The question is being eating my mind is: What type of fuselage and which payload I'd need!
Having a look in the internet I found this: http://www.fpvflying.com/products/Mugin-3m-UAV-platform-%28TT%252dtail%29.html
But I don't know whether these people are reliable; and moreover, to be able to get government funding I cannot import the whole plane already done; it needs to be fabricated at home. So in theory, I could build it, or something similar to that, but I have no drawings, plans or design.
The second question, regarding payload and also flying time.Well, I would need to carry at least 8 Kg of equipment, you have one example of such equipment here: http://www.igi.eu/single-digicam.html which is approximately 4.6 Kg.
I think I will leave it here, and I would post more questions if anyone wants to help.
Thank you very much in advance for all the help!
Replies
There are platforms that can carry the load but they cost a thick chunk of money. Have a look at the Elimco E-300 that can fly for 3 hours with an NVIR setup. Not cheap though.