Survey Parameters

Use the Survey Parameters option (geogxnet.dll(Geosoft.GX.UAVSurvey.SurveyParameters;Run)*) from the UAV Merge Sorties menu to collect the project parameters needed throughout the workflow.

Survey Parameters dialog options

Survey name	Provide a name for the survey. All interim files created by the UAV workflow will be prefixed with this name. The files produced by this workflow will be saved in a subfolder named accordingly. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.SURVEY_NAME
Area of interest polygon file	Provide a geolocated polygon file defining the area of interest. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.AOI_POLYGON
Coordinate system	The coordinate reference system (CS) to be used for the survey database is displayed here. This is a contextual parameter. Initially set to "unknown", it will be populated with the CS of your selected Area of interest polygon file* or with the CS of the DEM grid selection if the polygon file is in geographic coordinates. If both the polygon file and the DEM grid are in geographic coordinate systems, the Coordinate system field will remain undefined. Click the Define button to invoke the Coordinate System tool and specify the coordinate system for the survey documents.
Terrain	If a digital terrain grid covering the area of interest is available, select the DEM grid option. Otherwise, select the Constant elevation option. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TERRAIN_SELECTION [0 – DEM grid (default), 1 – constant elevation]
DEM grid or Elevation datum	Depending on the above selection, you are prompted to either provide a DEM grid defining the terrain or a constant elevation relative to sea level. The DEM grid will be reprojected "on the fly" to the CS specified in the Coordinate system field. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.DEM_GRID Or Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.ELEVATION_DATUM
Terrain clearance	Specify the elevation of the sensor above the terrain. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TERRAIN_CLEARANCE
Flight line azimuth (CW from N)	Enter the flight line azimuth direction in degrees, clockwise from North. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.FLIGHT_LINE_AZIMUTH
Flight line spacing	Specify the flight line spacing in the project ground units, as defined by the coordinate system. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.FLIGHT_LINE_SPACING
Add tie lines	Providing the tie line parameters is optional. Check this box if tie lines are desired. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.ADD_TIE_LINES [0 – No (default), 1 – Yes]
Tie line spacing	This entry becomes enabled when Add tie lines is checked. Provide the tie line spacing in project ground units. By default, it will be set to 10 times the line spacing. You can reset this entry to its default value by clicking the calculator button () located to the right of the field. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TIE_LINE_SPACING
Display in	A projected ideal flight path is always created and can be displayed. This database file acts as a guideline to indicate the number of lines and the total line kilometers covering the area of interest, which can be used to size the project. Furthermore, the ideal flight path can be used for planning a survey. 3D: If checked, a 3D view displaying the terrain, the area of interest, and the ideal flight path will be created and opened in the current project workspace. This file will be named Survey name.geosoft_3dv. By default, this option is not checked. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.DISPLAY_IN_3D [0 – do not create a 3DV (default), 1 – create a 3DV] 2D: If checked, a plan map displaying the terrain, the area of interest, and the ideal flight path will be created and opened in the current project workspace. This file will be named Survey name.map. By default, this option is not checked. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.DISPLAY_IN_2D [0 – do not create a map (default), 1 – create a map]
[More] All subsequent parameters are set to their default values. To customize them, please expand this section.
Line Definition
Sample spacing	This parameter essential if you opt to calculate a 3D drape path. Set the sample spacing to the resolution at which you would like to define the planned draped path. Otherwise, to simply calculate the start and end points for each line, set the sampling rate to a large value in the order of the diagonal across the area of Interest. Script Parameter:PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.SAMPLE_SPACING
Line extension outside AoI	In a geophysical survey, turnarounds are generally executed at some distance outside the area of interest. Provide the required distance outside the area of interest to facilitate the turnaround. If the sensor is on a sling, account for the required distance outside the area of interest needed to stabilize the sensor. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.EXTEND_LINES_OUTSIDE_AOI
Initial survey line number	The initial survey line number in the ideal flight path database is set to 0 by default. If an origin is defined, the line that crosses the origin is set to the initial line number. Otherwise, the bottom/ leftmost line will be set to the initial line number. Line numbers will increase in a left-handed coordinate system; line numbers will increase to the right when facing the survey line azimuth angle. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.INITIAL_SURVEY_LINE_NUMBER
Survey line label increment	The increment for survey line numbers between consecutive lines is initially set to the value entered in the Flight line spacing field. This value will persist in subsequent runs, regardless of any changes made to the Flight line spacing field. It can be manually adjusted. The survey lines will be numbered relative to the flight line azimuth. By default, when facing in the direction of the specified azimuth, line numbers will decrease to the left and increase to the right. If this is not desirable, you can reverse the order by entering a negative value. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.SURVEY_LINE_INCREMENT
Initial tie line number	If tie lines are produced, specify the initial tie line number. By default, this is set to 0. If you opt not to add tie lines, this entry will be disabled. If an origin is defined, the tie line that crosses the origin is set to the initial tie line number. Otherwise, the bottom/leftmost tie line will be set to the initial tie line number. Line numbers will increase in the direction normal to the survey line azimuth. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.INITIAL_TIE_LINE_NUMBER
Tie line label increment	The increment for tie line numbers between consecutive tie lines is initially set to the value entered in the Tie line spacing field. This value will persist in subsequent runs, regardless of any changes made to the Tie line spacing field. It can be manually adjusted. If you choose not to add tie lines, this entry will be disabled. To reverse the order of the tie line numbering, simply enter a negative value. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TIE_LINE_INCREMENT
Origin
Survey line X & Y	The X & Y coordinates of a point within or in the proximity of the AoI (area of interest) that a survey line must pass over. If specified, the initial survey line number will pass over this point. If the coordinates of the origin are not provided, these fields will be populated with the minimum X & Y values of the AoI bounding rectangle. The subsequent lines will then be named relative to this point. The survey line origin values are automatically updated if a different Area of interest polygon file is selected. Script Parameters: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.FLIGHT_X_WAYPOINT PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.FLIGHT_Y_WAYPOINT
[Locate]	Click on Locate if you would like to define the survey line origin on a map, specifically if the map contains visuals of accessible areas. If no map is currently opened in your workspace, you will be prompted to enter a map name to load. When the map is displayed, you can use the shortcut keys (P-Pan, B-Zoom to box, Z-Zoom in, X-Zoom out, F-Zoom to full extent, L-Last view) to better focus on the point of reference area before left-clicking on the desired location. The coordinates of the origin will then populate the X & Y entries.
Tie line X & Y	This entry is enabled if Add tie lines has been checked. Define the coordinates of a point within or in the proximity of the AoI that a tie line must pass over. If specified, the initial tie line number will pass over this point. If left blank, the tie line XY origin will default to the survey line XY origin. The tie line origin values are automatically updated if a different Area of interest polygon file is selected. Script Parameters: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TIE_X_WAYPOINT PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.TIE_Y_WAYPOINT
[Locate]	See definition of [Locate] above.
Drape
Calculate drape survey altitude	Checking this option invokes the elevation drape calculation immediately after the flight path is generated. For each X & Y point, a drape value will be calculated according to the provided parameters. By default, the drape altitude is not generated. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.CALCULATE_DRAPE [ 0 – No (default), 1 – Yes]
Maximum climb angle (degrees)	The limiting angle of ascent the drone can travel. Any value in the range 0-90⁰ is acceptable. To define a near-vertical ascent, enter 89⁰. (If you enter 90⁰, it will max out at 89.4 degrees). If left blank, it defaults to the maximum internally. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.MAX_CLIMB_ANGLE
Maximum descent angle (degrees)	The maximum angle of descent. If left blank, it defaults to the maximum internally. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.MAX_DESCENT_ANGLE
Smooth	Check this box to smooth the calculated drape. Script Parameter: PLAN_UAV_SURVEY.SMOOTH_DRAPE

Application Notes

This GX reads a Geosoft polygon file defining the boundary limits of the survey area, the line spacing, line azimuth, and optionally the sample spacing and origin. These are the project parameters shared by the subsequent GXs. Additionally, two files are generated:

An output log file containing the number and length of lines and the total line kilometers inside the area of interest (AoI), as well as the turnaround skit.
An ideal flight path database file covering the survey area.

The first line, labeled using the initial line number specified, will pass over the specified origin. All subsequent lines will be labeled incrementally using the line number increment specified. If the origin is not specified, it is set to the lower-left point of the bounding rectangle of the polygon. The line numbers will increase in a left-handed coordinate system where the Y-axis aligns with the survey line azimuth.

You may be running different scenarios to plan the same survey. Each scenario can be saved under a separate survey name in the same working folder. The files related to each survey are prepended by the survey name to avoid conflict.

Additionally, this tool will set workspace parameters that will be used by subsequent tools of the workflow, such as the DEM grid and the projections.

Output Files

Planned database: An ideal planned database will be created that contains the XYZ path and, if provided, the DEM channel. This database will be named <Survey name>_Master.gdb. The database will acquire the projection embedded in the DEM grid, should the grid possess one. The path will cover survey/tie lines and will optionally extend to cover the turnaround margin. Survey lines are labeled with an "L" and tie lines with a "T".
Log file: The length of each survey/tie line and the overall line kilometers of the proposed survey are reported in an ASCII log file. This file is named <Survey name>_SurveyReport.txt.
2D Map: It is recommended to plot the 2D map to verify the projected line path. This file is named <Survey name>.map
3D View: It is recommended to plot the 3D view to inspect the draped path. This file is named <Survey name>.geosoft_3dv.

*The GX.NET tools are embedded in the geogxnet.dll file located in the "...\Geosoft\Desktop Applications \bin" folder. If running this GX interactively, bypassing the menu, first change the folder to point to the "bin" directory, then supply the GX.NET tool in the specified format. See the topic Run GX for more details on running a GX.NET interactively.