Objective: The Defense Science Board has estimated that there are 1,400 sites suspected of containing unexploded ordnance (UXO) that comprise approximately 10 million acres. Typical sites encompass thousands of acres, with many exceeding 10,000 acres. A comprehensive wide area assessment program can have an immediate impact on the UXO remediation problem. By some estimates, up to 80% of the 10 million acres are, in fact, free of UXO. A technology that can accurately delineate the areas on each site that are and, more importantly, are not contaminated would lead to an immediate reduction by 80% of the area that must be carefully examined and cleaned. The ESTCP Wide Area Assessment (WAA) Program is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of various technologies, either alone or in combination, as tools for WAA at Department of Defense sites. This project will utilize Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and high-resolution orthophotography to (1) identify and classify UXO/Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC)-related features on the ground surface (e.g., craters, burial trenches, vehicle tracks, target debris) and (2) identify and delineate boundaries of munitions response sites. Technology Description: Investigators will perform a series of LiDAR and orthophotography flights, with data collected at different densities, and then apply the individual and combined data sets to a known set of targets. LiDAR technology utilizes the time of return for a laser pulse to be reflected back to the sensor to determine surface elevation of the ground, buildings, or vegetation. Airborne digital cameras have been successfully integrated with LiDAR sensors. Individual digital images are mosaiced and color balanced, and the resulting composite images are orthorectified using the LiDAR data to accurately locate each photograph pixel as well as to eliminate distortion. LiDAR and orthophotography coverage will include 100% of the approximately 5,000 acre demonstration site, Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Expected Benefits: LiDAR and high-resolution orthophotography can be used effectively to collect data for use in augmenting conceptual site models and to perform footprint reduction with consequent cost savings. This demonstration represents one of the first systematic explorations of the effects of increased data density on success at feature detection related to UXO/MEC contamination. Quantifiable results of this type will be of significant benefit to ongoing WAA efforts seeking to implement these technologies in a cost-effective manner. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2007) Principal Investigator:
Mr. Thomas Tomczyk
URS Corporation
1501 4th Avenue, Suite 1400
Seattle, WA 98101
Telephone: (206) 438-2137
Fax: (206) 438-2699
E-mail: thomas_tomczyk@urscorp.com
DoD Liaison:
Dr. Herb Nelson
Naval Research Laboratory
Chemistry Division, Code 6110
4555 Overlook Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20375-5342
Telephone: (202) 767-3686
Fax: (202) 404-8119
E-mail: herb.nelson@nrl.navy.mil |
