Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Centre

New innovations in unmanned and remote sensing technology allow for targeted data collection in areas that are hazardous to access or expensive to monitor on a routine basis. Even if you have used remotely piloted sensing systems in the past, new advancements in sensor and platform technologies allow for new data collection opportunities, such as drone-mounted and RPAS-mounted sonar, which can be used to for bathymetric inspections of hard-to-reach waterways. 

Whether your asset is a bridge, a road, a new building, or a dam, the URSIC applied research team can help organizations test numerous innovative approaches for remote inspection on land, over water, and in the air, and support the development of high-resolution data visualization models.

The use cases for remote sensing are extensive: the technology can be used to develop high-resolution LiDAR models of critical manufacturing assets for engineering applications, undertake remote and autonomous monitoring of hazardous environments, and test innovative solutions to product delivery.

However, it can be difficult to know which technology works best for your organization, what platforms to invest in, and how to build your remote sensing team. It is also important to understand and comply with the legislation, certifications, and regulations that govern remotely-piloted aircraft system flights.
 

With applied research, the experts at URSIC can help you explore multiple unmanned and remote sensing technologies, while ensuring operations comply with all Transport Canada and NavCan regulations. 

The range and flexibility of remotely piloted aircraft systems can help quickly detect threats, support remote monitoring of large geographic areas, ensure security of critical assets, and collect real-time footage. Remote sensing technology can also be used by organizations to prevent unauthorized threats and incursions by humans, or other remotely piloted aircraft systems.
 

URSIC can partner with law enforcement or corporate security teams to validate use of the technology in multiple cases, such as remote monitoring of critical infrastructure in isolated locations, crowd monitoring at live events, or the detection of evidence or forensic remains. 

When using traditional surveying methods, mapping can be a time-consuming, expensive process. Unmanned and remote sensing technology can be used to conduct aerial and bathymetric surveys, making it easier and more cost-effective to collect data on a regular basis. Specialized technologies, such as RGB photography for photogrammetry, multispectral, thermal, and LiDAR sensors also allow for the quick collection of highly-accurate data. 

Leveraging URSIC’s expertise and extensive equipment listing in this field, URSIC can help companies generate large data sets, which offer unparalleled opportunities for industry to rapidly address challenges, including long-range inspection, resource mapping, and rapid response maintenance. 

URSIC can advise its partners on regulatory compliance, providing procedure audit and review services. The centre also supports applications for Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) TO Transport Canada, the government agency responsible for regulating aviation in Canada. Additionally, the centre helps partners implement standardized competency training and testing for pilots in accordance with the National Institute of Standards in Technology (NIST). 

URSIC’s assets include a wide range of industry-leading unmanned and remotely-piloted aircraft systems, offering a wide range of capabilities to serve most industry-use cases, including visual line-of-sight (VLOS), and beyond visual line-of-sight operations (BVLOS). URSIC also has access to a national network of applied research partners and can source additional platforms as needed.

Scanning equipment used by the URSIC team include:

• DJI Matrice M600, M300, M210
• DJI Agras T10
• Skydio 2+
• DJI Mavic 2 (Enterprise & Zoom), Mavic Pro
• DJI Phantom 4 Pro v2, Phantom 4 Pro
• DJI FPV
• Parrot Anafi
• DJI Mini, Mini 2
• Blue Vigil Tether
• Parachute Recovery Systems: M300, M600
• Full suite of micro drones for training

We also offer remotely-controlled terrestrial systems, such as terrestrial photogrammetry rovers.

Terrestrial laser scanning and airborne LiDAR allow for the detailed and accurate collection of data points from an area being scanned or mapped. Aerial and terrestrial LiDAR systems are used in conjunction with URSIC’s suite of RPAS and rovers. 

Aircraft systems (RPAS) equipment include:

• Emesent Hovermap (SLAM)
• Phoenix LiDAR Scout 32E
• Leica P20 and Leica BLK 360
• Pix4D viDoc (SLAM)

Sonar mapping allows us to create detailed elevation and terrain mapping of underwater environments. Our remotely-operated SONAR equipment include UgCS Echo Sounder, a drone-mounted sonar system, coupled with Hydromagic processing software. 

Unmanned and remote sensing platforms can facilitate the collection of data to support the development of 2D and 3D models as well as digital twins. The technology provides a cost-effective and efficient way to collect photogrammetric data in lieu of surveys collected from manned-aviation. 

Aerial optics equipment include:

• Zenmuse H20T
• Zenmuse P1
• Zenmuse XT2
• Zenmuse Z30

Terrestrial optics equipment include:

• Ricoh Theta Z1
• Matterport
• GoPro
• DSLR Cameras

To process the data collected from remote-sensing missions, URSIC's team has access to a wide range of software to view, collect, and analyze data for applied research projects. 

Here are some examples of the software we use: 

• Adobe (Full Suite)
• Autodesk (Full Suite)
• Bentley Micro Station
• DJI Terra
• Leica Cyclone
• Pix4D
• Reality Capture
• TerraSolid
• UgCS Client