The q-rung fuzzy LOPCOW-VIKOR model to assess the role of unmanned aerial vehicles for precision agriculture realization in the Agri-Food 4.0 era

Smart agriculture is gaining a lot of attention recently, owing to technological advancement and promotion of sustainable habits. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play a crucial role in smart agriculture by aiding in different phases of agriculture. The contribution of UAVs to sustainable and precision agriculture is a critical and challenging issue to be taken into account, particularly for smallholder farmers in order to save time and money, and improve their agricultural skills. Thence, this study targets to propose an integrated group decision-making framework to determine the best agricultural UAV. Previous studies on UAV evaluation, (i) could not model uncertainty effectively, (ii) weights of experts are not methodically determined; (iii) importance of experts and criteria types are not considered during criteria weight calculation, and (iv) personalized ranking of UAVs is lacking along with consideration to dual weight entities. Herein, nine critical selection criteria are identified, drawing upon the relevant literature and experts' opinions, and five extant UAVs are considered for evaluation. To circumvent the gaps, in this work, a new integrated framework is developed considering q-rung orthopair fuzzy numbers (q-ROFNs) for apt UAV selection. Specifically, methodical estimation of experts' weights is achieved by presenting the regret measure. Further, weighted logarithmic percentage change-driven objective weighting (LOPCOW) technique is formulated for criteria weight calculation, and an algorithm for personalized ranking of UAVs is presented with visekriterijumska optimizacija i kompromisno resenje (VIKOR) approach combined with Copeland strategy. The findings show that the foremost criteria in agricultural UAV selection are "camera," "power system," and "radar system," respectively. Further, it is inferred that the most promising UAV is the DJ AGRAS T30. Since the applicability of UAV in agriculture will get inevitable, the developed framework can be an effective decision support system for farmers, managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

An Optimum Deployment Algorithm of Camera Networks for Open-Pit Mine Slope Monitoring

With the growth in demand for mineral resources and the increase in open-pit mine safety and production accidents, the intelligent monitoring of open-pit mine safety and production is becoming more and more important. In this paper, we elaborate on the idea of combining the technologies of photogrammetry and camera sensor networks to make full use of open-pit mine video camera resources. We propose the Optimum Camera Deployment algorithm for open-pit mine slope monitoring (OCD4M) to meet the requirements of a high overlap of photogrammetry and full coverage of monitoring. The OCD4M algorithm is validated and analyzed with the simulated conditions of quantity, view angle, and focal length of cameras, at different monitoring distances. To demonstrate the availability and effectiveness of the algorithm, we conducted field tests and developed the mine safety monitoring prototype system which can alert people to slope collapse risks. The simulation’s experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively calculate the optimum quantity of cameras and corresponding coordinates with an accuracy of 30 cm at 500 m (for a given camera). Additionally, the field tests show that the algorithm can effectively guide the deployment of mine cameras and carry out 3D inspection tasks.

Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Mining from Exploration to Reclamation: A Review

Over the past decade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used in the mining industry for various applications from mineral exploration to mine reclamation. This study aims to review academic papers on the applications of UAVs in mining by classifying the mining process into three phases: exploration, exploitation, and reclamation. Systematic reviews were performed to summarize the results of 65 articles (June 2010 to May 2020) and outline the research trend for applying UAVs in mining. This study found that UAVs are used at mining sites for geological and structural analysis via remote sensing, aerial geophysical survey, topographic surveying, rock slope analysis, working environment analysis, underground surveying, and monitoring of soil, water, ecological restoration, and ground subsidence. This study contributes to the classification of current UAV applications during the mining process as well as the identification of prevalent UAV types, data acquired by sensors, scales of targeted areas, and styles of flying control for the applications of UAVs in mining.

A Comprehensive Review of Applications of Drone Technology in the Mining Industry

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of drone technology and its applications in the mining industry. The mining industry has shown increased interest in the use of drones for routine operations. These applications include 3D mapping of the mine environment, ore control, rock discontinuities mapping, postblast rock fragmentation measurements, and tailing stability monitoring, to name a few. The article offers a review of drone types, specifications, and applications of commercially available drones for mining applications. Finally, the research needs for the design and implementation of drones for underground mining applications are discussed.

Sustainable Application of Hybrid Point Cloud and BIM Method for Tracking Construction Progress

Compared to the past, the complexity of construction-project progress has increased as the size of structures has become larger and taller. This has resulted in many unexpected problems with an increasing frequency of occurrence, such as various uncertainties and risk factors. Recently, research was conducted to solve the problem via integration with data-collection automation tools of construction-project-progress measurement. Most of the methods used spatial sensing technology. Thus, this study performed a review of the representative technologies applied to construction-project-progress data collection and identified the unique characteristics of each technology. The basic principle of the progress proposed in this study is its execution through the point cloud and the attributes of BIM, which were studied in five stages: (1) Acquisition of construction completion data using a point cloud, (2) production of a completed 3D model, (3) interworking of an as-planned BIM model and as-built model, (4) construction progress tracking via overlap of two 3D models, and (5) verification by comparison with actual data. This has confirmed that the technical limitations of the construction progress tracking through the point cloud do not exist, and that a fairly high degree of progress data which contains efficiency and accuracy can be collected.

Accuracy Analysis of a 3D Model of Excavation, Created from Images Acquired with an Action Camera from Low Altitudes

In the last few years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with compact digital cameras, have become a cheap and efficient alternative to classic aerial photogrammetry and close-range photogrammetry. Low-altitude photogrammetry has great potential not only in the development of orthophoto maps but is also increasingly used in surveying and rapid mapping. This paper presents a practical aspect of the application of the custom homemade low-cost UAV, equipped with an action camera, to obtain images from low altitudes and develop a digital elevation model of the excavation. The conducted analyses examine the possibilities of using low-cost UAVs to deliver useful photogrammetric products. The experiments were carried out on a closed excavation in the town of Mince (north-eastern Poland). The flight over the examined area was carried out autonomously. A photogrammetric network was designed, and the reference areas in the mine were measured using the Global Navigation Satellite System-Real Time Kinematic (GNSS-RTK) method to perform accuracy analyses of the excavation 3D model. Representation of the created numerical terrain model was a dense point cloud. The average height difference between the generated dense point cloud and the reference model was within the range of 0.01–0.13 m. The difference between the volume of the excavation measured by the GNSS kinematic method and the volume measured on the basis of a dense point cloud was less than 1%. The obtained results show that the application of the low-cost UAV equipped with an action camera with a wide-angle lens, allows for obtaining high-accuracy images comparable to classic, compact digital cameras.

New Perspectives for UAV-Based Modelling the Roman Gold Mining Infrastructure in NW Spain

This contribution discusses the potential of UAV-assisted (unmanned aerial vehicles) photogrammetry for the study and preservation of mining heritage sites using the example of Roman gold mining infrastructure in northwestern Spain. The study area represents the largest gold area in Roman times and comprises 7 mining elements of interest that characterize the most representative examples of such ancient works. UAV technology provides a non-invasive procedure valuable for the acquisition of digital information in remote, difficult to access areas or under the risk of destruction. The proposed approach is a cost-effective, robust and rapid method for image processing in remote areas were no traditional surveying technologies are available. It is based on a combination of data provided by aerial orthoimage and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to improve the accuracy of UAV derived data. The results provide high-resolution orthomosaic, DEMs and 3D textured models that aim for the documentation of ancient mining scenarios, providing high-resolution digital information that improves the identification, description and interpretation of mining elements such as the hydraulic infrastructure, the presence of open-cast mines which exemplifies the different exploitation methods, and settlements. However, beyond the scientific and technical information provided by the data, the 3D documentation of ancient mining scenarios is a powerful tool for an effective and wider public diffusion ensuring the visualization, preservation and awareness over the importance and conservation of world mining heritage sites.