Hurricane Ian Reconnaissance: 3D Models from UAS Flights

NHERI RAPID Facility and StEER collected high-resolution imagery using a fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft system over three barrier islands near Fort Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian. The data was processed into 18 full-resolution 3D models and tiled previews using structure-from-motion photogrammetry. These measurement-quality models document damage to buildings, infrastructure, and the coastal environment.

Use Cases

• Damage assessment of residential structures based on high-resolution 3D models.
• Analysis of coastal degradation and erosion using geospatial point clouds.
• Infrastructure inventory and condition evaluation from oblique and nadir imagery.
• Benchmarking for photogrammetry and structure-from-motion techniques in disaster zones.
• Quick inspection of specific areas using reduced-resolution preview tiles.

Strengths

• Contains 18 complete 3D models derived from UAS flights, indicating substantial spatial coverage.
• Provides both full-resolution and reduced-resolution tiled versions on a 300-meter grid for accessibility.
• Data is described as 'measurement quality' for detailed damage characterization.

Limitations

• Complete models are described as very large and require significant GPU power to manipulate.
• Column names and exact file sizes are not provided in the metadata.
• One platform lists an Open Data Commons Attribution license, while another lists 'None', creating a conflict.

Provenance

Source

NHERI RAPID Facility, deployed by the Structural Engineering Extreme Events Reconnaissance Network (StEER).

Collection Method

Collected via low-flying fixed-wing UAS with a five-lens camera system, processed using structure from motion.

Time Range

Following Hurricane Ian (landfall September 28, 2022).

Freshness

2025-02-10

Geography

Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos, and Sanibel Island, Florida, USA.