scholarly journals Evaluation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems’ Lidar Data Quality

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Babbel ◽  
Michael J. Olsen ◽  
Erzhuo Che ◽  
Ben A. Leshchinsky ◽  
Chase Simpson ◽  
...  

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) with integrated light detection and ranging (lidar) technology are becoming an increasingly popular and efficient remote sensing method for mapping. Due to its quick deployment and comparatively inexpensive cost, uncrewed laser scanning (ULS) can be a desirable solution to conduct topographic surveys for areas sized on the order of square kilometers compared to the more prevalent and mature method of airborne laser scanning (ALS) used to map larger areas. This paper rigorously assesses the accuracy and quality of a ULS system with comparisons to terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data, total station (TS) measurements, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) check points. Both the TLS and TS technologies are ideal for this assessment due to their high accuracy and precision. Data for this analysis were collected over a period of two days to map a landslide complex in Mulino, Oregon. Results show that the digital elevation model (DEM) produced from the ULS had overall vertical accuracies of approximately 6 and 13 cm at 95% confidence when compared to the TS cross-sections for the road surface only and road and vegetated surfaces, respectively. When compared to the TLS data, overall biases of −2.4, 1.1, and −2.7 cm were observed in X, Y, and Z with a 3D RMS difference of 8.8 cm. Additional qualitative and quantitative assessments discussed in this paper show that ULS can provide highly accurate topographic data, which can be used for a wide variety of applications. However, further research could improve the overall accuracy and efficiency of the cloud-to-cloud swath adjustment and calibration processes for georeferencing the ULS point cloud.

Polar Record ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Pasik ◽  
Maria Elżbieta Kowalska ◽  
Sławomir Łapiński ◽  
Marcin Rajner ◽  
Krzysztof Bakuła

ABSTRACTThis paper presents survey measurements carried out during the 39th Polish Antarctic Expedition to the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station in March 2015. The measurements were used to create a map on a 1:500 scale and for 3D modelling of the station buildings and vicinity. The paper also presents the geodetic control network established around the station. We discuss the issue of creating a digital elevation model for the station and its surroundings. The elevation models were generated using terrestrial laser scanning data integrated with Global Navigation Satellite System real time kinematic and tacheometric surveying. The accuracy of these models was estimated using height differences in relation to survey data. The mean height difference was 0.03 m and root mean square error was 0.05 m. Furthermore, an analysis of changes to the coastline was conducted using archival cartographic materials to assess the threat of Admiralty Bay to the station buildings. The results are important for continued scientific activity and safety at Arctowski Station, and may be useful for future research on King George Island.


Author(s):  
C. Hütt ◽  
H. Schiedung ◽  
N. Tilly ◽  
G. Bareth

In this study, images from the satellite system WorldView-2 in combination with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) over a maize field in Germany are investigated. Simultaneously to the measurements a biomass field campaigns was carried out. From the point clouds of the terrestrial laser scanning campaigns crop surface models (CSM) from each scanning date were calculate to model plant growth over time. These results were resampled to match the spatial resolution of the WorldView-2 images, which had to orthorectified using a high resolution digital elevation model and atmosphere corrected using the ATCOR Software package. A high direct correlation of the NDVI calculated from the WorldView-2 sensor and the dry biomass was found in the beginning of June. At the same date, the heights from laser scanning can also explain a certain amount of the biomass variation (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.6). By combining the NDVI from WorldView-2 and the height from the laser scanner with a linear model, the R2 reaches higher values of 0.86. To further understand the relationship between CSM derived crop heights and reflection indices, a comparison on a pixel basis was performed. Interestingly, the correlation of the NDVI and the crop height is rather low at the beginning of June (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup> = 0,4, <i>n</i> = 1857) and increases significantly (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0,79, <i>N</i> = 1857) at a later stage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Valle Bueno ◽  
Alexssandra Dayane Soares de Campos ◽  
Jaqueline Trombetta da Silva ◽  
Lessandro Coll Faria ◽  
Fabrício da Silva Terra ◽  
...  

Abstract. Levees are small land dikes made every rice-cultivation season that allow for flood irrigation in rice fields. Currently, levees are demarcated by utilizing a laser technology (LT) system. However, with current technological advances, the demarcation of levees with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and real-time kinematics (RTK) correction has been highlighted in rice production systems in southern Brazil. The objective of this study was to compare the performance between LT and GNSS-RTK systems applied in the demarcation of levees that are used in flooded rice fields. To this end, an experimental area of approximately 27 ha located in Jaguarão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was used. From a digital elevation model, the area was subdivided into three subareas according to the mean slope: flat (0.16%), intermediate (0.36%), and gently undulated (1.3%). The total length of the levees for the three subareas was 8 km. The relative performances of both demarcation systems were evaluated by analyzing the vertical and horizontal behavior of the levees and the water layer spatial distribution. The results indicated that the demarcation of levees by GNSS-RTK systems is more accurate than that by the LT system, especially in flat areas. In these areas, the GNSS-RTK demarcation system permits a reduction in the total number of levees, as well as an increase in the vertical equidistance between levees and/or an increase in the height of the levee itself. The length of the levee is shorter than in a demarcation using the GNSS-RTK system. Keywords: Contour line, Irrigation, Lowlands, Precision agriculture.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-425
Author(s):  
Patricia Andréia Paiola Scalco ◽  
Andrea Lopes Iescheck ◽  
Iran Carlos Stalliviere Corrêa ◽  
Fernando Comerlato Scottá ◽  
Rafael Mastracusa de Oliveira ◽  
...  

Abstract Between 2013 and 2014, a kinematic positioning based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) was carried out for this research work. This GNSS survey resulted in 275916 points with tridimensional coordinates in the cross-border basin area of 58205 km2 called Mirim Lagoon Hydrographic Basin, located in south of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and west of Uruguay. This study aims at showing the methodology firstly and, furthermore, results regarding the validation of the vertical accuracy of the DEM SRTM through kinematic positioning by GNSS, in the Mirim Lagoon Hydrographic Basin region. Also, the GNSS surveying data was post-processed with the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) method, and the ellipsoidal height was converted into orthometric height through the software INTPT geoid. During this study, the geopotential model (EGM96) was used to transform altitude differences between two countries, Brazil and Uruguay. Results showed that the vertical mean absolute error of the DEM SRTM vary from 0.07 m to ± 9.9m with average of -0.28m. This vertical accuracy is better than the absolute vertical accuracy value of ±16m published in the SRTM data specification and validates the DEM SRTM.


2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-158
Author(s):  
Adam Ciećko ◽  
Wojciech Jarmołowski

ABSTRACT The article describes preliminary results of the augmentation of Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System positioning (GNSS/INS) by Digital Elevation Model (DEM) based on the data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and data from field survey. The prototype software is developed to refer the position of the aircraft to DEM and informs the user about the current relevant flight parameters. The number of the parameters may be arbitrarily increased, however, currently we investigate the altitude above the terrain and the aircraft position relative to the descent path and airfield. The study provides some information on the local SRTM accuracy in relation to the field survey of the airfield "Dajtki" - Aeroclub of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.


2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-155
Author(s):  
Timo Saari ◽  
Markku Poutanen ◽  
Veikko Saaranen ◽  
Harri Kaartinen ◽  
Antero Kukko ◽  
...  

Precise levelling is known for its accuracy and reliability in height determination, but the process itself is slow, laborious and expensive. We have started a project to study methods for height determination that could decrease the creation time of national height systems without losing the accuracy and reliability that is needed for them. In the pilot project described here, we study some of the alternative techniques with a pilot field test where we compared them with the precise levelling. The purpose of the test is not to evaluate the mutual superiority or suitability of the techniques, but to establish the background for a larger test and to find strong and weak points of each technique. The techniques chosen for this study were precise levelling, Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) levelling, which included static Global Positioning System (GPS) and Virtual Reference Station (VRS) measurements. This research highlighted the differences of the studied techniques and gave insights about the framework and procedure for the later experiments. The research will continue in a larger scale, where the suitability of the techniques regarding the height systems is to be determined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21
Author(s):  
Sangay Gyeltshen ◽  
Krisha Kumar Subedi ◽  
Laylo Zaridinova Kamoliddinovna ◽  
Jigme Tenzin

The study assessed the accuracies of globally available Digital Elevation Models (DEM’s) i.e., SRTM v3, ASTER GDEM v2 and ALOS PALSAR DEM with respect to Topo-DEM derived from topographic map of 5m contour interval. 100 ground control points of the elevation data were collected with the help of kinematic hand held GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), randomly distributed over the study area. The widely used RMSE statistic, NCC correlation and sub-pixel-based approach were applied to evaluate the erroneous, correlation, horizontal and vertical displacement in terms of pixels for the individual Digital Elevation Model. Following these evaluations, SRTM DEM was found to be highly accurate in terms of RMSE and displacement compared to other DEMs. This study is intended to provide the researchers, GIS specialists and the government agencies dealing with remote sensing and GIS, a basic clue on accuracy of the DEMs so that the best model can be selected for application on various purposes of the similar region.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 642-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irmela Herzog

The aim of this contribution is on the one hand to map pre-industrial long distance roads located in a hilly region east of Cologne, Germany, as exactly as possible and on the other hand to assess the accuracy of least-cost approaches that are increasingly applied by archaeologists for prehistoric road reconstruction. Probably the earliest map covering the study area east of Cologne dates back to 1575. The map is distorted so that rectification is difficult. But it is possible to assess the local accuracy of the map and to transfer the approximate routes to a modern map manually. Most of the area covered by the 1575 map is also depicted on a set of more accurate maps created in the early 19th century and a somewhat later historical map set (ca. 1842 AD). The historical roads on these rectified historical maps close to the approximate roads were digitized and compared to the outcomes of least-cost analysis, specifically least-cost paths and accessibility maps. Based on these route reconstructions with limited accuracy, Lidar data is checked to identify remains of these roads. Several approaches for visualizing Lidar data are tested to identify appropriate methods for detecting sunken roads. Possible sunken roads detected on the Lidar images were validated by checking cross sections in the digital elevation model and in the field.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-73
Author(s):  
Jaehee Choi ◽  
Namgyun Kim ◽  
Bongjin Choe ◽  
Byonghee Jun

In this study, the risk of rockfall on incision slopes adjacent to roads was evaluated using the RocFall program. The study area was a slope adjacent to the road leading to a university campus in Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do, with an area of 774 m<sup>2</sup> and an average slope of approximately 43°. A rock shed was installed at the lower zone of the slope. A 3D model of the terrain was generated based on point cloud data gathered using a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Fast and accurate orthoimages were captured by UAV and high-resolution digital surface models (DSMs) were produced; these data were used to assess the risk of rockfall. Compared to terrain extraction using a digital elevation model (DEM) generated from an existing digital map, terrain extraction using a UAV was more effective in deriving results close to the actual situation in the field, especially for the analysis of rockfall jump height and kinetic energy. The necessity of constructing 3D topographic data using UAVs to predict rockfall disasters in mountainous regions was confirmed.


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