2019 APRIL Airborne Research

Airborne Research then Lunch.

We, including our guests met at hanger 60 at the Parafield Airport. It was good April weather, while it was cool it was not raining or windy.John and Robyn today did not have a Guide Dog in spite of selling their MG.Today showed again, no matter how long you plan things you can’t help people getting sick or unable to come along as indicated. Get well wishes to Mary, Charlie’s wife in hospital, also to Dennis, and it was nice to see Peter was able to join us with Carol and Karen.We had good company, but only 29 of our 40 strong group, could be seated in our air conditioned venues for the show and lunch later on.

Dr Andrew McGrath is an ARA Senior Research Fellow, he was great holding our interest as he explained about using its specialised aircraft, built for carrying sophisticated sensor packages. They produce high resolution data of the Earth’s surface for national Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Networks.

He told us the network of groups working together to do a field study across Australia, the eRSA is affiliated, as a joint venture between the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and the University of South Australia. Most never knew such an organisation existed let alone understood what they did. Andrew spoke the whole time telling us about how they provide data showing the condition of vegetation, fauna populations and ecosystems across Australia.Researchers can monitor, improve their understanding of the changes that happen.

They have access to remote sensing data and process from satellite and airborne imagery, which gives researchers data to answer how important environmental variables change over space and time. The ARA fly over with remote sensing instrumentation such as hyperspectral line scanners and lidar, which provides information about the biochemistry of each plant as well as the structure and shape of the land.

 They do mapping, imaging, world leading, and unusual research projects.He explained, LiDAR system emits outgoing laser pulses of variable strength and frequency as it travels across a project area. Outgoing laser pulses are reflected from the ground and surface objects and recaptured by the LiDAR sensor; the time delay between transmission and detection of each pulse return provides the distance from the sensor to the surface object.

LiDAR is the most suitable technology for mapping the ground through forested landscapes. Penetrating laser pulses can capture ground and sub-canopy locations that are difficult to interpret in airborne imagery or survey in ground surveying circumstances.

They furtherRecord 3D images of dinosaur footprints on rock platforms along the coast near Broome.Flying through plumes from coal-fired power stations in Queensland to measure dangerous ultra-fine particles that can settle in the lungs.Using a ‘methane sniffer’ just 25 metres above a 12,000-cattle feedlot in Victoria to record cattle-generated methane and ammonia gas for Australia’s greenhouse gas emission.

Testing a specialist dust-measuring Canadian-built laser bound for Mars in flight over Lake Eyre, funded by the Canadian Space Agency.

 Carly, and I, was pleased our group who did visit Parafield, said it was a good experience, and still interesting for the ladies as well.  Dick and a lady guest sat in the aircrafts cock pit, with Andrew explaining how it all worked

Our lunch at the Eureka was only 10 minutes away, so we were soon to be seated in our private function room.  Our group appreciated again, being together with no other noise around us except our own.  All went well, I thought the meals kept coming fairly quickly, with good service today.

Malcolm and Carly Goldsworthy.