What subjects would you like to see!

[Tom Harper]

When we were exploring the concept of this forum someone (raise your hand for credit - I can't find the post) suggested a thread for TOPICS - a WANT list. So here it is - what topics would you like to see covered?

[Tom Harper]

The Indian Mounds. Those that are in parks would be a good start, but what about the ones that are in agricultural fields. Or maybe even Mound st. in Alameda CA. It's all residential now but the mound may show up in AP.

Tumulus burial mounds exist worldwide. I'd like to see some from the AP perspective.

[bat]

photographing dig squares/ subsurface terrain

Photographing above ground ruins.

Considerations for technical research photography vs artistic photography

[Real Ira]

I'd like to see a "lighter side" of scientific interest or a "daily chuckle" thread.

A few nyucks always helps me clear mt head of the day to day stuff and frees up a few bytes on the hard drive for more important data.

Here's an example...................








Ira

[skymind]

Video from a platform which is descending within a rain shower and/or snow shower, falling at the same rate, showing the behavior of falling particles.

There are apparently multiple ancient structures in the world which were constucted so that components align with the sunrise and sunset at certain times of the year. I've never seen an AP showing these alignments occuring.

[wattnoise]

See it in the papers all the time - the Ol' Such and Such is being torn down for a new interchange or a Wally World...

Here's one that didn't get much press or fanfare here in Tucson... The convent for the Sister's of Carondolet who established the first modern hospital in Tucson around 1900... I heard about it from a friend before I was about to go to work and only got a couple of ground shots before it was completely down the next day... No chance for AP unfortunately... It's now a nice level parking lot... These shots are from June 20, 2006...

:(

Don't let these places get away from your lenses - might be the last that anyone will ever see of them...

Kevin

[Tom Harper]

Bat - I'd like to map ruins using AP. Maybe this year.

Ira - Too close to the truth.

Skymind - Interesting project - might just use an Aiptek 3100 in a stabilizing shell with the focus cranked down to 6" or so. Would pose some interesting problems. What would you expect to see?

Dan has a solar alignment site and June 21st is approaching.

Kevin - The Sisters of Carondolet have a large facility in the South Valley of Albuquerque. I think it is a retirement home. I suspect they bought that land when it was really cheap and now it is a prime development area. I'll look closer on our next trip to the big city.

[Tom Harper]

I'd like to see the extremes explored. How many useful applications are there for AP.

Lightning research, Forestry, Fisheries, Agriculture, Phenomena (like SkyMind's rain drops), Bird counts, Poacher monitoring, Wildlife Habitat monitoring, Geology

And, if Ira wants to manage a Science Humor thread that's OK with me, but let's contain it in one thread.

[skymind]

Regarding the precipitation Tom, a variety of focus settings on different flights would show different aspects of it. It would take a number of flights of the platform to get good hits and show different things. I don't believe all rain falls at the same rate. The platform would need to be capable of adjusting it's rate of descent to match the precipitation and perhaps live video feed would be used so you can see when you've got a good rate. A higher quality video recorder would be used to capture the quality views.

I thinking there exists one or more solar alignment sites in the southwest US too. And in the UK. Central/South America.

I stopped at two suggestions. I don't want to give away all my material. ;)


Oh wait, I think this is another good idea. Colaborative efforts. Pick a project, send public or private propoposals and invites, organize and work out the approach and task online, get together and shoot it up. I'm sure family members would love to be dragged along to another part of the country on such a trip.

[skymind]

Here's some things for those along a coast, like you Ira. Projects related to wave patterns. Wave patterns and beach buildup and erosion. Vertical video or sequenced stills of riptides in action. Winter storm waves.

For some of these you would park your plane into the wind coming off the water and hold your position. It might be better if the platform was powered by gas or glow-fuel for longer endurance.

[GOK]

Would historical and/or archeological touristic spots be suitable for this forum?

I am originally Turkish and moved to Australia about 4 years ago for my PhD research. Just completed it recently and am moving back to Turkey in less then a month.

In addition to completing a PhD in Australia I've also picked up the bug for RC aircraft and espeially AP.

I was thinking aerial shots and/or videos of historical/archeological spaces/ruins in Turkey might fit in with the interests of this thread. For example, capadocia, ephesus etc. How about historical Mosques and so on? All with a short historical story of course.

Just a thought... Would these sorts of material be suitable for this forum?

Cheers,

GOK

[Tom Harper]

Sounds great!

Between Australia and Turkey you have a life time of opportunity.

This forum is a work in progress. The defining item is that you have more than pictures. The ideal would be if you became involved with the research at a site - so your photos became a part of the science. But we don't get those opportunities every day.

I would love to see some AP of open tourist sites with as much story as possible along with it. These are things I will not see otherwise.

[Bill Harris]

The Indian Mounds.

The mounds at Moundville, Alabama. Been on my 'round tuit' AP list for a couple of years.

http://moundville.ua.edu/home.html

I remember visiting this park in the '60's when they had excavated burial areas open for display to the public. These areas gave me the creeps back then, but are now respectfully closed.

--Bill

[skymind]

...
I was thinking aerial shots and/or videos of historical/archeological spaces/ruins in Turkey might fit in with the interests of this thread. For example, capadocia, ephesus etc. How about historical Mosques and so on? All with a short historical story of course.

Just a thought... Would these sorts of material be suitable for this forum?
Do chicken have teeth?? Of course, ruins in Turkey would be great! Given the number of times that place has changed time in history, there must ancient ruins of a variety of peoples, like the Hetites.

[kd7ost]

Would historical and/or archeological touristic spots be suitable for this forum?

I am originally Turkish and moved to Australia about 4 years ago for my PhD research. Just completed it recently and am moving back to Turkey in less then a month.

In addition to completing a PhD in Australia I've also picked up the bug for RC aircraft and espeially AP.

I was thinking aerial shots and/or videos of historical/archeological spaces/ruins in Turkey might fit in with the interests of this thread. For example, capadocia, ephesus etc. How about historical Mosques and so on? All with a short historical story of course.

Just a thought... Would these sorts of material be suitable for this forum?

Cheers,

GOK

Those are perfect idea's. We would love to see them. It fits right with the theme of this forum. Safe travels.

Dan

[GOK]

Great Guys, Thanks.

I'm still in Australia but will be in Turkey by mid June and will start opening thread as soon as I get something.

Cheers,

GOK

[quailbird]

When I was growing up we lived very close to the Santa Fe Trail. Then when I got married we rented our first house right on the trail. (Right across the street from it.)
There was a grade school at the head of the block with a corner stone which read, The Santa Fe trail goes through the play ground and comes out this corner. There is a red line showing where it was. The school was Askew Elementary. At that time you could easily see the wagon ruts in the rocks. The area was full of solid bed rock and the ruts were still there. It is a very bad neighborhood now so I doubt if I'll go there. I love old wagon trails from the west like in Arizona, or Indian burials, and also the old sights from the UK.

[Tom Harper]

quailbird,

Was that in St. Louis?

[quailbird]

Kansas City Mo. I think the Santa Fe trail started in Independence Mo and made its way west.
I guess I was wrong, it started in Franklin MO.

[skymind]

QB this is an opportunity for a multi-participant project. This past weekend I visited the SanteFe trail's junction between the plains and the mountains at FtUnion and Wagon Mound in northern New Mexico near I-25. FtUnion would have been a very significant facility at the time. I was on my way down to Carlsbad in S.E. NewMexico and stopped to scout FtUnion for AP. Wagon ruts can still be seen coming into the Ft from the plains. The map of the trail at FtUnion's visitor center depicts Independence Mo as the starting point. (not saying they're up-to-speed on the info themselves)

There has to be a few places on the route which are still visible today. I can get some AP out at this end. It should be packaged a little closer to the elevated standards of this forum.

[Tom Harper]

skymind,

That's a great idea.

I'm not sure how we could manage it as 'multi-partipant'. Perhaps, we could have multiple threads, each covering a different segment of the Santa Fe/El Camino Real de Chihuahua Trail. What do you have in mind?

Tom

[skymind]

I don't know what's in the moderator's toolbox Tom but perhaps you could help do this.

Two threads: topic & discussion for the 'Sante Fe Trail Today'. The initial topic post should give some background information on the trail. Subsequent posts by participants covers an ap-sortie of a specific location along with whatever background information could be pulled together. (I haven't looked at it yet but I picked up a brochure of the trail and places to be found along the trail today. ) The threads posts don't need to be laid out in sequence of the route.

Hopefully, the end result is an interesting amateur/hobbiest thing. Not everyone will get the same luck in terms of location's or shooting results, that's ok. If a poster wants to submit a reshoot later and upgrade his post, that's ok. Upgrades or supplementing posts should be ok.

Something like this perhaps. ?

Tom.

[Tom Harper]

Not much in the tool box for this problem.

How about we post segments as different 'Gallery' threads and all link to a common 'Discussion' thread. Why don't you start with the first segment. I will post one for Central New Mexico when I get some time. For now I'll start a 'Discussion' thread using Susan Magoffin's diary title "Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico". Maybe the guys in Albuquerque and Las Cruces will join in.

I'd really like to see someone from the Chihuahua Mexico RC club posting on this.

[skymind]

I can work on it this evening after exiting the office.

[quailbird]

If any of the guys that lives in any areas of the trail would be watching this thread, I'm sure they'd love to do it. Any where but right here, the AP would work. I can do some research from this end and see if I can come up with anything. If we could get enough pictures, each guy could stitch several together along with some Google images. Might work!

[quailbird]

I just wrote a letter to the Parks and Recreations department in the Kansas City MO area about our possible project to get some ideas and maps. As soon as I hear from them I will let everyone know what they said.

[skymind]

I probably shouldn't start a thread or segment on this until I've got some AP to include in it.

QB, Info on the SanteFe can probably be found on the net too.

[quailbird]

I found a bunch on the net but not very clear maps, but there is a lot on the history itself. The parks and recreation department have actual sites with markers all along the way with good maps with pictures showing some of the wagon ruts. This way I could trace it across town in my own car, and if there are areas to fly in that is safe I could get some AP. Out in the wide open prairies in Kansas this should not be a problem.

[Tom Harper]

There is a Jornada del Muerto in Oklahoma. Bet there's some remnants there.

[skymind]

... This way I could trace it across town in my own car, and if there are areas to fly in that is safe I could get some AP. Out in the wide open prairies in Kansas this should not be a problem.The map on the trail I picked up from FtUnion is more detailed than I expected. I would be surprised if much is visible in Kansas given all the farming. Coming into Colorado and nearing Raton pass should have some remanants as it's mostly either catle ranching or desert-like areas. If you've not been out here it would be worth the trip.

[skymind]

Not much in the tool box for this problem.

How about we post segments as different 'Gallery' threads and all link to a common 'Discussion' thread. Why don't you start with the first segment. I will post one for Central New Mexico when I get some time. For now I'll start a 'Discussion' thread using Susan Magoffin's diary title "Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico". Maybe the guys in Albuquerque and Las Cruces will join in.

I'd really like to see someone from the Chihuahua Mexico RC club posting on this.That common discussion thread for the SanteFe trail is good. I'll continue anything regarding that over there. When I get some AP done I'll do a thread on the item.

[skymind]

Here's one. Is there a solar eclipse coming up near you? How about a sequence of shots of the surrounding geography as the shadow approaches & passes. That might take some <safe> altitude, don't risk manned aviation.

[roidspop]

I'd certainly be interested in any ideas about using AP in paleontological surveys. We have enormous exposures of fossil-bearing strata in NM, and it seems that aerial photography might offer a way of gathering data that would be useful in conducting searches.

[skymind]

I was thinking of that too but up at that SouthDakota area. Also, I notice that caravans are conducted twice a year for civilians to view ground-zero of the first atomic blast down there. I was thinking of trying to get in on that and attempt to get permission to do some AP.

[Tom Harper]

Skymind,

There are 2 days a year when Trinity site is open to the public. You drive the 13 miles into White Sands in your own car. So you can get there with your gear. The crowds are big. Safety would be a problem.

I schedule two other tours of the site every November. Our groups go in a coach. Limited to 40. Not sure what White Sand attitude would be.

If you are serious I can give you the name of the guy to contact.

Tom

[Tom Harper]

roidspop,

That's an interesting application. Any specific areas in mind?

Tom

[skymind]

Skymind,

There are 2 days a year when Trinity site is open to the public. You drive the 13 miles into White Sands in your own car. So you can get there with your gear. The crowds are big. Safety would be a problem.

I schedule two other tours of the site every November. Our groups go in a coach. Limited to 40. Not sure what White Sand attitude would be.

If you are serious I can give you the name of the guy to contact.

TomThanks for the info Tom. I guess there probably wouldn't be anything to see even if all the other people weren't there.

[roidspop]

I imagine a paleo crew in the field, setting up a small aircraft with an AP package and probably video; its principle job would be to scout exposures of possible fossil bearing formations. The level of detail available would dovetail nicely between conventional aerial surveys and geological maps to give the team a better sense of exactly where it might be best to explore on foot; it could be a time saver. In really rugged terrain, it could also be used to scout access routes which otherwise might not be apparent from maps and photos. Don't know that anybody has ever attempted anything like this, but I'd be interested to hear. As to specific areas, the one that comes to mind is around Ghost Ranch, but the whole Rocky Mountain area has plenty of steep exposures that might benefit from a system like this. It's also tempting to think of applying it in a poorly mapped region like Mongolia, but politics would probably prevent it.

[skymind]

Last night I semi-watched (while working on my build) a tv program which discussed how it was found that lighter colored vegetated areas, as revealed in satellite photos, in a certain area of deep SouthAmerican jungle consistently correlated with ancient stone structures.

They used gps to walk thru the dense jungle to the center of these areas and found a pyramid or other structure centered in these places. I didn't catch why the vegatation was lighter, something about the limestone I believe.

[ArtU]

When we were exploring the concept of this forum someone (raise your hand for credit - I can't find the post) suggested a thread for TOPICS - a WANT list. So here it is - what topics would you like to see covered?

How about very Hi-Altitude Balloon video ?

[Tom Harper]

Wow - curvature of the earth stuff!! Got any?

[wjkrysak]

Hello all,
I fly a Soarstick (designed to look llike a buzzard-turkey vulture) with Nikon L10, here in Georgia and Alabama. With goal of filming birds up close and personal, I also have an interest in video of civil war sites. I have Andersonviille, Kennesaw, Chattanoga in sight and am planning a road trip to Gettysburg, Mannassas, etc. Thoughts about flying over these Fed sites? Thank you in advance. bill

[skymind]

I tend to think in the summer months there will be more park rangers out and about. There's also a park just south of Birmingham which was a foundry during the war. It's open to viewing by the public. It's not so much an enclosed building but a large outside fireplace. IIRC a few other buildings nearby and trees to grab your airplane.

[wjkrysak]

Hello Skymind,
Thanks for the tip. Yes, summer is busy. Most planning is take off/landing offsite adjacent to the parks. I have some experience with the authorities with my metal detecting. I always seek to explore in a low impact, respectful manner and have managed to "move along" as requested.
You gave me a good idea, the Iron man in Birmingham would be a good video. Here in the southeast, we also have Native American mound sites. I am exploring the State and Federal parks for overhead AV opportunities. Something about the bigger picture that intrigues me. Happy and safe flying....