SUR 4940C | Practicum in UAS Mapping
Class Number: 12123
Instructor Information
•Instructor: Eben Broadbent
•Department: School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida
Office Hours
Because this practicum runs as a full-day, intensive 10-day field/lab course, the instructor is effectively available in-person throughout each class day (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, May 11–22) for questions, debriefs, and individual consultations. In addition, formal office hours are held:
•Tuesdays, 2:00–5:00 PM (during class days; in-person at the office or by Canvas / Zoom on non-class Tuesdays)
•Daily wrap-up windows (typically 4:30–5:00 PM) during scheduled class days for quick questions and check-ins
Communication Preferences
•Course-related questions (assignments, deadlines, scheduling, content questions): Canvas messages are preferred — they keep all course correspondence in one place. UF email is also fine. Expect a response within 1 business day during the practicum.
•Urgent / day-of field logistics (running late, can’t make the van, equipment issue in the field): text or call the instructor’s mobile at 1-650-204-1051 for the fastest response.
•Technical issues with Canvas, UF computing accounts, or PC lab access: contact the UF Computing Help Desk at 352-392-HELP (4357) or visit helpdesk.ufl.edu.
Course Details
•Catalog Description: Provides hands-on experience with flight planning and safe deployment of small UASs (Unmanned Aerial Systems) and the subsequent processing of the imagery acquired on these flights.
•Pre- and Co-Requisites: Prereq: SUR 4501C
•Credit Hours: 3
Required and Recommended Textbooks
There are no required or recommended textbooks for this section. All instructional materials (manuals, software references, processing guides, manuscript template) will be provided through the Canvas course page.
Course Goals and Objectives
This three-credit course provides students with experience with, in the context of specific deliverable objectives, drone hardware and software, planning UAS mapping operations, data collection using drone systems, and the subsequent processing and analysis of the data acquired on these flights.
Expectations and Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have applied their existing and newly developed knowledge and skills in real-world UAS mapping operations to:
Class Number: 12123
Instructor Information
•Instructor: Eben Broadbent
•Department: School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida
Office Hours
Because this practicum runs as a full-day, intensive 10-day field/lab course, the instructor is effectively available in-person throughout each class day (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, May 11–22) for questions, debriefs, and individual consultations. In addition, formal office hours are held:
•Tuesdays, 2:00–5:00 PM (during class days; in-person at the office or by Canvas / Zoom on non-class Tuesdays)
•Daily wrap-up windows (typically 4:30–5:00 PM) during scheduled class days for quick questions and check-ins
Communication Preferences
•Course-related questions (assignments, deadlines, scheduling, content questions): Canvas messages are preferred — they keep all course correspondence in one place. UF email is also fine. Expect a response within 1 business day during the practicum.
•Urgent / day-of field logistics (running late, can’t make the van, equipment issue in the field): text or call the instructor’s mobile at 1-650-204-1051 for the fastest response.
•Technical issues with Canvas, UF computing accounts, or PC lab access: contact the UF Computing Help Desk at 352-392-HELP (4357) or visit helpdesk.ufl.edu.
Course Details
•Catalog Description: Provides hands-on experience with flight planning and safe deployment of small UASs (Unmanned Aerial Systems) and the subsequent processing of the imagery acquired on these flights.
•Pre- and Co-Requisites: Prereq: SUR 4501C
•Credit Hours: 3
Required and Recommended Textbooks
There are no required or recommended textbooks for this section. All instructional materials (manuals, software references, processing guides, manuscript template) will be provided through the Canvas course page.
Course Goals and Objectives
This three-credit course provides students with experience with, in the context of specific deliverable objectives, drone hardware and software, planning UAS mapping operations, data collection using drone systems, and the subsequent processing and analysis of the data acquired on these flights.
Expectations and Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have applied their existing and newly developed knowledge and skills in real-world UAS mapping operations to:
- •Operate UAS hardware safely in manual and automated flight modes across a range of platforms (e.g., ANAFI USA GOV, Mavic 3 Pro, GatorEye XTR)
- •Plan UAS missions for both photogrammetric and lidar data collection, including flight-line design, altitude/overlap selection, and site-specific safety considerations
- •Plan field operations for establishing georeferencing control, including ground control point (GCP) placement strategy
- •Compute coordinates of GCPs and checkpoints using differential GNSS and base station workflows for georeferencing UAS datasets
- •Acquire and process high-resolution aerial imagery and lidar data from UAS, including photogrammetric processing in Pix4D and lidar point-cloud workflows
- •Produce common UAS deliverables, including orthophotos, digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs), and lidar-derived structural products
- •Conduct multi-temporal analyses of DEM/DSM and lidar datasets to quantify change (e.g., erosion/accumulation, vegetation removal, post-fire structural recovery)
- •Integrate UAS-derived measurements with field data (e.g., DBH, tree height, canopy density) to calibrate and validate remote sensing products
- •Apply AI-based and machine-vision tools (e.g., species identification) in conjunction with UAS imagery to support ecological applications
- •Analyze the spatial accuracy and quality of UAS deliverables, including error budgets and ground-truth comparison
- •Apply UAS data to address specific applications in forest ecology, hydrology and erosion, coastal change, fire ecology, and forest management
- •Communicate UAS workflows and results effectively through written reports, posters, and oral presentations to scientific and professional audiences
