Evaluating Green Infrastructure via Unmanned Aerial Systems and Optical Imagery Indices

Abstract

Within small-sized areas, one of the most time and cost-effective remote sensing techniques for evaluating green infrastructure is unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in conjunction with optical imagery indices. In terms of urban sustainability, this approach can be applicable when, otherwise, expensive or up-to-date imagery is unavailable. This chapter illustrates the use of UAS as an adjunct to best urban planning practice and landscape infrastructural design and pieces together an environmental application by using flood mitigation as an example. The study area, located in Slovenia, assembles bottom-up imagery to produce a UAS-based flood map from predicted and potential rainfall. The basis of this research is to utilize simulation data from climate scenarios to show the intensification of precipitation change with pronounced change in seasonal variability. As such, green urban infrastructure mitigation policy can utilize UAS as a complimentary environmental monitoring tool for relating natural and urban systems.