Touching is Touching

Are you familiar with your campus? Sure you do! However, not everyone does. Students at the Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired had never had a holistic sense of what their school campus is like, albeit they navigate through it by heart every day.

In this social innovation project, a group of LSGI students and instructors have piloted unmanned aerial vehicles to survey and produce a geographically accurate model of the campus of Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired. Ebenezer's students could now gain a fuller understanding of their home away from home in an unprecedented way - by touching & feeling a meticulously accurate small-scale 3D replica of their school site.

Mr. LAU King Wah Peter
Ms. CHUNG Yuen Lam Cherry
Mr. CHING Pok Hin Gabbo
Mr. CHEUK Yi Fai Samuel
Dr. Matthew PANG, LSGI (Supervisor)
Supervisor:

Faculty of Construction and Environment

Domain Expertise:

3D Digital Model Generation

The project involves capturing a 3D digital model of the Ebenezer School for the Visually Impaired. This knowledge encompasses the use of technology and techniques to create accurate 3D representations of physical environments, which is essential in land surveying and geo-informatics.

UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Operation

The project includes the use of drones (UAVs) for data collection. This knowledge involves understanding how to operate UAVs for aerial surveys, including controlling flight parameters, ensuring privacy compliance, and optimizing GPS signal stability during fieldwork.

Photogrammetry Software Usage

The project involves using photogrammetry software to process aerial photos and generate 3D models. This knowledge encompasses the use of specialized software to transform aerial imagery into accurate spatial data, a crucial skill in land surveying and geo-informatics.

User-Centric Approach

The text emphasizes the importance of considering the end-users, in this case, visually impaired students, when fine-tuning the model. This knowledge highlights the need for a user-centric approach in land surveying and geo-informatics, where surveyors must tailor their work to meet specific user needs and preferences.

Lifelong Learning Excellence:

Critical Thinking and Problem-solving

The students encountered technical difficulties during the project, such as unstable GPS signals and challenges in controlling UAVs. They had to find solutions to these problems, such as trying different locations for improved signal reception and seeking support from their instructor and software vendors. They learned how to overcome obstacles and find solutions to complex problems.

Project Management and Teamwork

The students worked together as a team to complete the project successfully. They faced challenges such as privacy complaints and had to address them patiently and as a united team. They supported and helped each other throughout the project, showcasing their collaboration and teamwork skills.

Adaptability and Flexibility

The students had to adapt to changing circumstances and unexpected technical difficulties during the project. They learned to be flexible in their approaches and try different methods to improve the accuracy of their models. They also had to adjust their flight plans and approaches based on privacy concerns raised by neighboring buildings.

Communication and Presentation Skills

The students had to effectively communicate with the complainers regarding privacy issues and persuade them about the project's purpose and their commitment to respecting privacy boundaries. They learned to communicate professionally and resolve conflicts through effective communication.

Continuous Improvement and Learning from Mistakes

The students faced challenges and encountered difficulties throughout the project. They learned from their failures and mistakes, making improvements and finding alternative solutions. They embraced a growth mindset and used setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement.
The students recognized the value of lifelong learning and the need to stay updated with the latest technologies and techniques in their field. They mentioned the importance of adopting new technologies and continuous learning to enhance their skills and adapt to the evolving surveying profession.

Inspiring Quotes:

Professional Competence - " I am glad that I can innovate and apply new LSGI techniques to bring new experiences to the visually challenged young people. This project also helps me to see and feel the human-side of surveying techniques. " -Gabbo Ching, Year 4, Bachelor of Science in Geomatics.

Innovative Problem-solver - "I want to practice what I have learned from the lectures and, at the same time, bring something meaningful to people and society." -Cherry Chung, Year 4 Bachelor of Science in Geomatics

Teamwork - "We sincerely appreciate all resources & supports provided by the LSGI department, and especially our instructor who guided us to solve technical problems and give us professional advice in model generation. " - Samuel Cheuk, Year 4, Bachelor of Science in Geomatics

Global Outlook - "We can use this UAV survey approach to collect 3D spatial data, which are essential for smart city development in the future." - Peter Lau, Year 4, Bachelor of Science in Geomatics

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