While the Swift Run field site is an ideal area for James Spinymussel detection, it is a river nonetheless and is therefore susceptible to disturbance. The overall goal of our project is to determine areas of the site that are less susceptible to the adverse effects of disturbance, mainly weather related or anthropogenic disturbances. These less sensitive areas would be ideal spots for translocation of micropopulations of the James Spinymussel in an effort to aid reproduction as well as establish new, stable communities.
Ideally, we would map the same field site multiple times over the course of the semester. However, having limited time, we hope to establish an ongoing project to eventually meet our goal. We will create several georeferenced 3D-model maps of the field site, using Agisoft PhotoScan Professional Software, each one showing the photomosaic captured from an individual outing. We will then overlay each of the maps using ArcGIS software, locate the areas less sensitive to disturbance, and create virtual boundaries around those areas. Determination of sensitivity will be based upon the degree of change over time, which may include shape, depth, or sediment content. This project would be applicable to a James Spinymussel translocation plan because it would minimize the risk of decimation of the new population by environmental changes and disturbances.
Mindmapping the plan for the weeks to come.
Our plan includes a few things that we will be continually working on throughout the end of the semester. These include, but are not limited to: documentation, blog posts, outside research, collaboration, and flight approval. Until we get flight approval, we also plant to familiarize ourselves with the Agisoft program. For the final six weeks of the semester our plan goes as follows:
Week 1:
- gather all materials: camera (Sony AS200V Action Cam) from X-Lab
- 3D print extra supplies (gimbal for camera, supports for landing)
- Finalize drone model sketch (with attachments)
Week 2:
- practice flying
- software testing
Week 3:
- Fly the drone at Swift Run
- capture all photographic data for first map
- Gather accurate GPS data for the photos
Week 4:
- Load photography into Agisoft
- Analyze the map
Week 5:
- Prepare presentation
- Develop full story of our collaboration
- Create exhibition design
- Create a Virtual Reality video
Week 6:
- Finalize presentation and exhibition