Remote sensing has been demonstrated an important tool in agricultural and natural resource management and research applications, however there are limitations that exist with traditional platforms (i.e., hand held sensors, linear moves, vehicle mounted, airplanes, remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites). Rapid technological advances in electronics, computers, software applications, and the aerospace industry have dramatically reduced the cost and increased the availability of remote sensing technologies.Remote sensing imagery vary in spectral, spatial, and temporal resolutions and are available from numerous providers. Appendix A presented results of a test project that acquired high-resolution aerial photography with a RPV to map the boundary of a 0.42 km2 fire area. The project mapped the boundaries of the fire area from a mosaic of the aerial images collected and compared this with ground-based measurements. The project achieved a 92.4% correlation between the aerial assessment and the ground truth data.Appendix B used multi-objective analysis to quantitatively assess the tradeoffs between different sensor platform attributes to identify the best overall technology. Experts were surveyed to identify the best overall technology at three different pixel sizes.Appendix C evaluated the positional accuracy of a relatively low cost UAV designed for high resolution remote sensing of small areas in order to determine the positional accuracy of sensor readings. The study evaluated the accuracy and uncertainty of a UAV flight route with respect to the programmed waypoints and of the UAV's GPS position, respectively. In addition, the potential displacement of sensor data was evaluated based on (1) GPS measurements on board the aircraft and (2) the autopilot's circuit board with 3-axis gyros and accelerometers (i.e., roll, pitch, and yaw). The accuracies were estimated based on a 95% confidence interval or similar methods. The accuracy achieved in the second and third manuscripts demonstrates that reasonably priced, high resolution remote sensing via RPVs and UAVs is practical for agriculture and natural resource professionals.

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Thesis--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.148-150).

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2008. / Thesis Advisor(s): Wirtz, James J. "December 2008." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 30, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-108). Also available in print.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.72-74).

Thesis (M. S.)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Vela, Patricio; Committee Member: Collins, Thomas; Committee Member: Howard, Ayanna

Thesis (M.M.A.S.)--School of Advanced Airpower Studies, 1995. / Subject: An analysis of whether Special Operations Forces should use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications and re-supply capability deficiencies. Cover page date: June 1995. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-84).

The European project BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic UnderStanding) focuses on aerosol-cloud interactions. Vertical wind velocities near cloud base, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra, are the two most important input parameters for aerosol-cloud parcel models in determining cloud microphysical and optical properties. Therefore, the present study focuses on the instrumental development for vertical wind measurements to improve aerosol-cloud closure studies. Enhancements in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) have demonstrated their potential as tools in atmospheric research to study the boundary layer dynamics, aerosols and clouds. However, as a relatively new tool for atmospheric research, RPA require instrumental development and validation to address current observational needs. A 5-hole probe is implemented on a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) platform, with an inertial navigation system (INS) to obtain atmospheric wind vectors. The 5- hole probe is first calibrated in a wind tunnel (at Météo-France, Toulouse, France), and an error analysis is conducted on the vertical wind measurement. Atmospheric wind vectors obtained from RPA flights are compared with wind vectors determined from sonic anemometers located at different levels on a 60 m meteorological mast (Centre de Recherches Atmosphériques, Lannemezan, France). Good agreements between vertical wind velocity probability density functions are obtained. The power spectral density of the three wind components follow the -5/3 line for the established regime of turbulence (Kolmogorov law). Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) values calculated from the RPA are somewhat higher than TKE compared to the sonic anemometer; however, the results agree with those reported in other experiments that compare RPA platforms and sonic anemometers (Lampert et al. (2016), Båserud et al. (2016)). As the RPA equipped with a 5-hole probe (defined as the ``wind-RPA'') is developed for aerosol-cloud observations, updraft velocities near cloud base are compared with cloud radar data during a BACCHUS field campaign (Mace Head Research Station, Ireland). Three case studies illustrate the similarity of in-cloud updrafts measured between the wind-RPA and the cloud radar. A good agreement between vertical velocities of both instruments over a range of different meteorological conditions is found. Updraft velocity measurements from the wind-RPA are implemented in the aerosol-cloud parcel model to conduct a closure study for stratocumulus case with convection sampled during a BACCHUS field campaign in Cyprus. Aerosol size distributions and CCN were measured at a ground-site, which served as input to the aerosol-cloud parcel model along with the updraft velocities at cloud base measured by the RPA. In addition, the RPA conducted a vertical profile through the cloud layer and measured the shortwave transmission of solar irradiance during the ascent. The aerosol-cloud parcel model also shows that entrainment has a greater impact on cloud optical properties than variability in updraft velocity and aerosol particle concentration. Results of the case study for the Cyprus field experiment are consistent with results for similar closure studies conducted during the Mace Head field campaign (Sanchez et al., 2017), and reinforce the significance of including entrainment processes in cloud models to reduce uncertainties in aerosol-cloud interactions.

Unmanned aircrafts represent one of the fastest growing technologies of the last years. Although historically not completely unknown, only recently have they acquired the long-deserved attention. However, it focuses almost exclusively on their use in combat operations, whereas their capabilities in civilian sphere remain relatively unexplored. Analysis of these abilities is the main focus of this thesis, which describes and analyses current applicable legislation, points out different issues of both its interpretation and application and tries to offer solutions. This thesis is divided into 4 chapters and a conclusion. The first chapter deals with the introduction to this topic, including history of unmanned aircrafts and clarification of the term unmanned aircraft itself. Then it moves on to describe the possible classification of unmanned aircrafts and the terminology used, which remains unsettled even to this day. The main aim of this is to try to help the reader to find his way in this complicated area. The second chapter includes the analysis of the applicable legislation in the Czech republic, starting with the general approach and then continuing with special emphasis on particular issues, such as operating limitations of unmanned aircrafts in certain areas or liability of aircraft operators...