Open Source Software - QGIS

In the earlier classes, we have mostly focused on ArcGIS to process UAS data. For this lab we have instead used a popular open-based software - QGIS - to calculate the volume of piles. The descriptions of the processes will not be posted as we normally do - methods, discussion, and conclusion - but rather as captions below the images.

Figure 1: The class started by adding the Litchfield imagery and DSM to QGIS.

Figure 2: Go to the properties and check out the image's coordinate system, which in this case has EPSG 32615.

Figure 3: Create a hillshade.

Figure 4: The hillshade result.

Figure 5: Set the hillshade layer in between 70 and 75 percent transparency.

Figure 6: Create a new shapefile and use the same coordinate system (EPSG: 32615)

Figure 7: Choose pile and turn on the digitizing toolbar. Then create a polygon.

Figure 8: Clip the raster (the pile).

Figure 9: The clipped raster.

Figure 10: Determine the base level (by identifying the elevation on the black outside of the pile) and open the Saga Raster volume tool.

Figure 11: Choose the pile DSM as input and add the base level that was found, in this case, average 234 meters around the pile.

Figure 12: The result of raster volume process will be posted in the view log panel.