AA Landscape Urbanism  |  Spring 2017  |  Rhetorics of Mapping Workshop

Instructors: Gustavo Romanillos, Eduardo Rico, Tom Smith, Jeremy Wood, Cindy Regalado
Equipment: DJI Mavic Pro (Drone), Viewranger (GPS)
Project Team: MSc/MArch 2017
My work: GPS Data Surveying, Digital Capture, Video Production, Cartographic Compilation

Showcased in AA Project Review 2017

This workshop aims to bring out the importance of data gathering and creating valuable information obtainable to all. There are multiple sites in the UK, and in many parts of the world which are rendered inaccessible due to non-availability of basic cartographic data. We investigated the techniques of photogrammetry and aerial drone mapping to produce a comprehensive dataset for Hooke Park.

In the spring of 2017, we explored the stunning 150 ha of the AA’s woodland site in Dorset, SW England and captured 2270 aerial photos over the period of 7 days with the DJI Mavic Pro  in 18 planned drone flights to bring together the digital data to life. Each photo was set through rigorous digital analysis in Agisoft, to identify the ground terrain, textures, and networks, by converting them into geolocated dense point clouds
and meshes. Students explored on foot the Hooke Park campus, to digitalize the multitudes of tracks, paths and networks which are the spine of the site.

With the help of ArcGIS and its Ecognition plugin, tree species and cover were identified, exported to Rhino and Grasshopper to create this panel. It fabricates the intrinsic layers together to accentuate the dynamics of a complex and ever-transforming landform.

Explore the full graphics and video production here.