Boyne Viaduct Bridge Aerial Survey

Date: July 6th, 2016
Location: Boyne Viaduct Bridge
Completed by： Jonathan Byrne, Siyuan Chen

---

Background

Boyne Viaduct Bridge is located in Drogheda, about 50 km north of Dublin city center. The viaduct is 30 meters high, comprises twelve stone arches on the south side, and a further three arches on the north. It was designed by the Irish civil engineer Sir John Benjamin Macneill, constructed in 1855, and refurbished in 2015.

Google Map

In the early morning, Jonathan and I inspected the south side with two flights.

Aerial Images

                   

3D Reconstruction

3D reconstruction process was based on 287 aerial images and 321 ground images. Python Based platform VisualSFM[1], Commercial platform PhotoScanPro[2],  and open source platform Meshlab[3].

Aerial Video

In the last, let us enjoy a short aerial video.

                             

Contact

Siyuan Chen
School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
University College Dublin, Ireland
siyuan.chen@ucd.ie

[1] VisualSFM was created by Changchang Wu at the University of Washington Seattle.

[2] PhotoScanPro, developed by Agisoft, is a stand-alone software product that performs photogrammetric processing of digital images and generates 3D spatial data.

[3] MeshLab is an open source, portable, and extensible system for the processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes.

New Drone Test

In last month, I started to build a new DIY drone. Some details will be attached below.

---

Drone Building

This drone we using an old Tarot 650 carbon fiber frame, 4 x kv800 rotors，4 x 12-inch propellers (4 x 15-inch propellers), 4 x 30-A ESCs, Pixhawk flight controller with 3DR GPS module, Turnigy 9xr pro radio controller with FrySKY XJT module, X8R SBUS receiver, and 3DR telemeter.

Drone Setting

APM Planner was used fro flight controller setting. RC was programmed by eepskye. 

After basic setting and sensors calibration, I went out for several times flight test. Here I can write a book named 'Drone accidents'. The first time, before took off, one propeller was loose and shoot off. The second time, it spinning on the ground and flipped over. The third time, it can take off, but direct crashed on a tree (One leg was gone). The fourth time crashed on a wall (Another leg was gone). The fifth time.....  (Sorry, too many times, it is hard to recall all of them.)

Every accident made the drone settings improved a little but made the physical structure damaged a lot. I do not want it to be totally destroyed before the successfully take off. So, after several days' hard repairing, I designed a few indoor test methods. 

                   

Indoor Test

Four pipes were mounted on each arm to keep a safe distance for propellers. Steel core cord went through those pipes to restrict drone’s movement. In the video, you can see the drone flight just like an angry wasp. It was lucky I bought strong enough cords.

PID Tuning

To adjust the PID parameters for flight control. Two tables were used to fix the vertical movement of the drone. After several times test, with the help from Even, the PID curves are looks much better.

                                 

Outdoor Test

After got a satisfied setting, we did an outdoor test. Finally, it successfully took off and followed with a safe landing.   : D

Contact

Siyuan Chen
School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
University College Dublin, Ireland
siyuan.chen@ucd.ie

Events in past few months

In last three months, lots of exciting things happened in Ireland about drones. Here, I will make a short record for those activities.

---

Drone Explore Ireland

From April 1st to 3rd, Drone Explore Ireland was holding in Dublin RDS. It was a carnival for drone lover. Different companies brought their most advanced products to the exhibition. Such as UAV platforms, camera, and sensors. Besides some manufacturing companies, aerial service companies also attracted people. Aerial survey, filmmaking, on-site inspection, and rescue are hot topics.

Other than products exhibition, I also enjoyed the drone racing and presentation parts. The officer from IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) made a presentation on new restriction about UAV application and registration in Ireland. Our postdoctoral researcher Jonathan Byrne introduced the current achievements from UCD urban modeling group. 

                   

My Secondment in Arup

I started my secondment in Arup from April. In the following month, I made a presentation topic on UAV application. Almost 40 people  attended from Dublin branch and others were joined by Skype from other cities.
                               
                             

Aerial Survey for Boland's Mills

Boland's Mill is located on the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, Ireland on Ringsend Road between the inner basin of Grand Canal Dock and Barrow Street. It is currently undergoing a €150 million reconstruction to become Boland's Quay, accommodating new residences, commercial, retail, and civic spaces. [1, 2]

Before the structures are torn down, UCD urban modelling group cooperated with Arup made an aerial survey to 3D reconstruct the historical building. 

                                       
                        

3D Model [3]

[1] http://www.irishtimes.com/business/construction/green-light-for-150m-boland-s-mill-development-1.2271477
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boland%27s_Mill
[3] Made by Jonathan Byrne from UCD urban modelling group.
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKa4S5-qBsQ

Contact

Siyuan Chen
School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
University College Dublin, Ireland
siyuan.chen@ucd.ie