Field Safety Plan

Mission Objectives:

• Conduct SfM, TLS, and GNSS surveys to teach students about landscape change detection

• Collect data for DEMs with sUAS SfM (Phantom) & Terrestrial LIDAR

• Requested specifications: 6 cm resolution, 100m flight altitude

Site coordinates, description & map: Kyle Gulch (40.644384, -105.534809, 2450 m [~8,000 ft])

PI Sean Gallen has provided the larger area of interest defined by the red polygon is ~500 m by 250 m. The specific area of interest defined by the purple polygon is ~250 m x 10 m.

The area will be surveyed in 3 ways: (1) Emlid GNSS, with individual points chosen in the field, (2) TLS, with targets and scanner positions located via Emlid GNSS, (3) UAV SfM, with ground control located with Emlid GNSS. The PI has outlined a 100m flight elevation with a target 6 cm resolution in the final DEM.

Total flight time will be 2 hours or less, and will take place between the hours of 8 am & 8 pm, weather allowing.

Communications 

Sean Gallen

PI, Colorado State Univ.

(315) 729-7939

Erika Schreiber

EarthScope

WFA Certified

(631) 707-1662

eschreiber@inreach.garmin.com

Samuel Beane

EarthScope

WFR Certified

(339) 832-8043

(808) 684-3863

samuel.beane@inreach.garmin.com

Stratis Karantanellis

Univ. of Michigan

(734) 596-0727

Ben Mason

USGS, Oregon State

(510) 499-7694

Communication Challenges

While piloting the aircraft, line of sight is anticipated, and a Visual Observer (VO) is not required. However, there will be a number of participants, and a visual observer will be used in redundancy when possible.

Radios are not required to complete the mission. Frequency: N/A Handheld channel: N/A  Privacy code: N/A

Cell reception IS expected on-site with Verizon and AT&T.

Describe any additional anticipated challenges regarding communication: N/A

Emergency Response Plan

Calling for help:

Call 911 if cell service is available, otherwise use satellite phone, or inReach if driving to the hospital is not a viable option. Parking and verbal directions outlined below.

Vans/trucks will be available on-site.

Back-up Emergency Medical Services:

• Forest Service Main Line: (970) 295-6600

• Forest Service Law Enforcement: (970) 295-6682

• Fort Collins Highway Patrol: (970) 224-3027 3832 I-25, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Assembly Areas:

Primary meeting location: Parking area. (40.6465768546, -105.531498504) (Shown in yellow below)

Verbal direction on how to access parking site from Larimer County, CO; northwest of Fort Collins:

• Where 287 meets Poudre Canyon Rd, there is a gas station called Ted’s Place. 

• From there, head southwest on Poudre Canyon Rd for 26.2 mi.

• Turn left onto Pingree Park Rd, across a bridge. Continue 4.2 mi.

• Turn left onto Pingree Park Rd, continue 0.7 mi.

• The parking area is on the right side of the road. Describe vehicles to look for.

Secondary meeting location: (40°38'33.6"N 105°31'52.1"W) (Approx evacuation path and area shown in red below)

In the event that the main parking area cannot be accessed, head east over the hill, cross the power lines and get back to Pinegree Park Rd. Turn right to head south along the road. Meet at the next bend in the road in a southerly direction, where there is a clearing. This bend is a quarter mile south of the primary parking.

Evacuation:

Nearby amenities: 45 - 60 mins south (water, food, first aid, shelter)

CSU Mountain Campus        

16321 Pingree Park Rd, Bellvue, CO 80512

                40°34'17.1"N 105°35'22.5"W

                (970) 881-2150

Distance required on-foot to get to a vehicle: <0.5 mi

Concerns for hiking through difficult terrain: Site appears to have some steep terrain but no cliffs and no water.

Distance and estimated driving time to nearest hospital & emergency department: 45 mi / 1 hr 15 mins

Hospital address: UCHealth Emergency Care - Poudre Valley Hospital: 1024 S Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Directions and map to hospital:

Land Ownership Map: The site is within Larimer County. Land is owned by The Bureau of Reclamation. Abutting properties are also owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, and issues with local residents are not anticipated.

Permitting: Special Note

Primary survey (06/05/2023) approved on 5/30/2023 by:

Scott Headrick

Forest Aviation Officer

Forest Service, working in conjunction with Fort Collins Dispatch

(720) 209-2303

scott.e.headrick@usda.gov

Matthew Jurak

Lands & Realty Specialist

Forest Service

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland

Canyon Lakes Ranger District

(970) 222-3822

matthew.jurak@usda.gov

Per Scott Headrick and Matthew Jurak, this project does not require a permit because of a working collaboration agreement between Colorado State University (Point of Contact: Stephanie Kampf) and the Forest Service. This grant can be found at the following link, and is described in Appendix A of this document.

https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2101068

Hazard Analysis

Hazards need to be discussed amongst all team members before departing to the field.

A ground survey or aerial reconnaissance flight may be needed prior to flying the mission. 

Other Concerns

Document any other relevant laws, regulation or required permits. (e.g. International concerns, USAP wind limitations)

“Clean Up” Protocol: This survey will require ground targets (1 m² tarps) to be staked down. These will be removed following the survey, with minimal impact to the natural environment. No permanent control will be set.

Document any known human or environmental variables that may cause increased risk to any team members based on personal risk factors or their identity. (e.g. racial/religious/gender/disability/other)

N/A