Several work threads have been developed:
* User Requirements identification/validation (by a mapping service company,TopScan): contact with several stakeholders in the mapping community to present the main tech/operational aspects of mapKITE, and therefore unveil its potential for their specific needs
* State-of-the-art survey (by EPFL): identification of the trends, realities and drawbacks of the current sensors and systems used in UAVs and terrestrial mobile mapping, mainly for navigation, orientation and imaging fields (three-times iterated deliverable D2.2).
* Technical Feasibility Analysis (by geomatic specialists GeoNumerics): identification of technical requirements out of the user requirements, and then assessment of state-of-the-art technologies' compliance. Several recommendations for system and operations derived (three-times iterated deliverable D2.3).
* System architecture (by UAV provider UAVision): detailed view of the various sensors and systems to be included and the necessary interactions among them. Enabling the identification of the level of maturity for each sub-system and effort for integration, for clear roadmap to successful system built-up (three-times iterated deliverable D3.1).
* mapKITE sub-systems development (all R&D partners): basically, the virtual tether (deliverable D4.1) orientation and calibration post-processing concept (deliverable D4.2) the UAV (deliverable D4.3) the Galileo E1/E5 receiver (deliverable 4.4) the generic navigation post-processing concept (deliverable 4.5) the optical target concept (deliverable 4.6) and target-tracking concept (deliverable 4.7).
* Sub-system integration (by UAVision): interfaces and integration issues have been addressed and solved to materialize a 'ready-to-operate' system, following the development plan (demonstrator, prototype and pre-commercial). (three-times iterated deliverable D5.1).
* Test plan (by GRID-IT): designed to cover the various system and sub-system elements, coherent with development layers in the project. Firstly, a test plan for sub-systems (deliverables D6.1); secondly, validate the first integration of all components (deliverable D6.3); assess high-level and global aspects of a more mature mapKITE system (deliverable D6.5).
* Test Reports (by GeoNumerics): compile the main results of the validation items in the test plan (deliverables D6.2 D6.4 D6.6)
Achievements:
Firstly, we have built and operated a full-fledged mapKITE prototype, including interfaced terrestrial vehicle and unmanned aerial vehicle and navigation and imaging sensors. This achievement is the final step in a chain of small successful steps entailing sub-system development, testing and validation. The outcome of this achievement has been well documented in Test Report 2 and 3 (deliverables D6.4 D6.6).
Secondly, the mapKITE prototype has been operated and mapKITE-like quality geodata has been acquired. These data have been processed using the developed post-processing chain to produce mapKITE-like results. The demonstration of mapKITE services has been carried out twice (second and third test campaign), with medium-to-high level of maturity in line with the proposed TRL output level. In addition, first-ever mapKITE results on the use of the novel sensor orientation approach based on Kinematic Ground Control Points (KGCPs) have been published (see Publications), which has contributed to the demonstration of the mapKITE potential for corridor mapping.
Thirdly, the mapKITE market has been analysed by means of the WP6000 activities, and moreover, we have established direct contact with world-leading mobile mapping service providers, integrators and users. The case of Brazil (Engemap is a consortium partner that has fostered mapKITE among its mobile mapping projects) has been specially noticeable and is, therefore, promoted as ice-breaker for the rest of the market niches.
