FAA Part 107 Cohort Training | Week 2, Day 5: Advanced GIS & Watershed Mapping

Target Audience: Veteran Cohort (Hillside Remediation & Agricultural Missions) Total Time: 4.5 Hours (2.5 hr photogrammetry & GIS pipeline, 2 hr orthomosaic data processing lab)

I. Core Lecture Modules

Module 1: Photogrammetry & Orthomosaic Stitching Pipelines (75 Mins)

  • From Raw Imagery to 3D Models: Processing thousands of overlapping nadir and oblique images using photogrammetry software (e.g., WebODM, Pix4D, or Agisoft Metashape).
  • Ground Control Points (GCPs): Utilizing high-accuracy GPS/RTK ground markers to georeference maps down to centimeter-level accuracy for repeatable multi-temporal watershed comparisons.
  • Digital Elevation Models (DEM) & DSM: Generating Digital Surface Models (DSM) and Digital Terrain Models (DTM) to analyze water flow paths, slope gradients, and erosion-prone gullies on burned hillsides.

Module 2: Watershed Hydrology & Runoff Modeling (75 Mins)

  • Flow Accumulation & Direction: Utilizing GIS software to map how water drains across post-wildfire terrain during heavy precipitation events.
  • Identifying Vulnerable Zones: Pinpointing high-risk debris flow channels, soil slumping areas, and sediment transport vectors threatening local infrastructure.
  • Targeted Seeding Prescriptions: Exporting custom vector shapefiles directly from GIS maps into agricultural drone controllers for variable-rate seed and mulch deployment.

Module 3: Post-Processing Quality Control & Client Deliverables (45 Mins)

  • Data Hygiene & Storage: Managing large geotiff datasets, flight logs, and metadata securely across local drives and cloud archives.
  • Reporting for Land Stewards: Packaging analytics into actionable reports for conservation districts, forestry departments, and land managers.

II. End-of-Day Diagnostic Pretest

Question 1: Ground Control Points (GCPs)

Why are Ground Control Points (GCPs) measured with high-accuracy RTK/GNSS equipment integrated into a photogrammetry flight?

A) To keep the drone legally compliant with FAA Part 107 visual line of sight limits.

B) To anchor the orthomosaic and digital elevation model to precise real-world coordinates, ensuring centimeter-level absolute spatial accuracy over time. (Correct)

C) To automatically adjust the drone’s motor speed during heavy crosswinds.

Question 2: Digital Elevation Models (DEM)

When planning post-fire watershed restoration, what is the primary operational difference between a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and a Digital Terrain Model (DTM)?

A) A DSM captures the elevation of everything on the surface (trees, structures, canopy), while a DTM strips away vegetation to reveal the bare earth ground topography underneath. (Correct)

B) A DSM is used exclusively for night flights, while a DTM is used for daytime mapping.

C) A DTM calculates battery consumption rates, whereas a DSM measures wind speed.

Question 3: Variable-Rate Prescriptions

How are processed GIS shapefiles utilized when transitioning from data analysis to live drone seeding operations?

A) They are uploaded to FAA DroneZone to satisfy Remote ID regulations.

B) They are loaded into the agricultural ground station software to execute variable-rate spreading, dropping heavier seed concentrations over high-erosion burn scars and less over stable areas. (Correct)

C) They serve as a backup checklist for manual pre-flight mechanical inspections.

FAA Licensing Training L6 Back To Training Hub