scholarly journals Impact of UAV Surveying Parameters on Mixed Urban Landuse Surface Modelling

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 656
Author(s):  
Muhammad Hamid Chaudhry ◽  
Anuar Ahmad ◽  
Qudsia Gulzar

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a surveying tool are mainly characterized by a large amount of data and high computational cost. This research investigates the use of a small amount of data with less computational cost for more accurate three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetric products by manipulating UAV surveying parameters such as flight lines pattern and image overlap percentages. Sixteen photogrammetric projects with perpendicular flight plans and a variation of 55% to 85% side and forward overlap were processed in Pix4DMapper. For UAV data georeferencing and accuracy assessment, 10 Ground Control Points (GCPs) and 18 Check Points (CPs) were used. Comparative analysis was done by incorporating the median of tie points, the number of 3D point cloud, horizontal/vertical Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and large-scale topographic variations. The results show that an increased forward overlap also increases the median of the tie points, and an increase in both side and forward overlap results in the increased number of point clouds. The horizontal accuracy of 16 projects varies from ±0.13m to ±0.17m whereas the vertical accuracy varies from ± 0.09 m to ± 0.32 m. However, the lowest vertical RMSE value was not for highest overlap percentage. The tradeoff among UAV surveying parameters can result in high accuracy products with less computational cost.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Montazeri ◽  
Fernando Rodríguez González ◽  
Xiao Zhu

Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) is an advanced multitemporal InSAR technique that is capable of retrieving the 3D coordinates and the underlying deformation of time-coherent scatterers. Various factors degrade the localization accuracy of PSI point clouds in the geocoding process, which causes problems for interpretation of deformation results and also making it difficult for the point clouds to be compared with or integrated into data from other sensors. In this study, we employ the SAR imaging geodesy method to perform geodetic corrections on SAR timing observations and thus improve the positioning accuracy in the horizontal components. We further utilize geodetic stereo SAR to extract large number of highly precise ground control points (GCP) from SAR images, in order to compensate for the unknown height offset of the PSI point cloud. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach using TerraSAR-X high resolution spotlight images over the city of Berlin, Germany. The corrected results are compared with a reference LiDAR point cloud of Berlin, which confirms the improvement in the geocoding accuracy.


Author(s):  
C. Altuntas

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Image based dense point cloud creation is easy and low-cost application for three dimensional digitization of small and large scale objects and surfaces. It is especially attractive method for cultural heritage documentation. Reprojection error on conjugate keypoints indicates accuracy of the model and keypoint localisation in this method. In addition, sequential registration of the images from large scale historical buildings creates big cumulative registration error. Thus, accuracy of the model should be increased with the control points or loop close imaging. The registration of point point cloud model into the georeference system is performed using control points. In this study historical Sultan Selim Mosque that was built in sixteen century by Great Architect Sinan was modelled via photogrammetric dense point cloud. The reprojection error and number of keypoints were evaluated for different base/length ratio. In addition, georeferencing accuracy was evaluated with many configuration of control points with loop and without loop closure imaging.</p>


The recent progress for spatial resolution of remote sensing imagery led to generate many types of Very HighResolution (VHR) satellite images, consequently, general speaking, it is possible to prepare accurate base map larger than 1:10,000 scale. One of these VHR satellite image is WorldView-3 sensor that launched in August 2014. The resolution of 0.31m makes WorldView-3 the highest resolution commercial satellite in the world. In the current research, a pan-sharpen image from that type, covering an area at Giza Governorate in Egypt, used to determine the suitable large-scale map that could be produced from that image. To reach this objective, two different sources for acquiring Ground Control Points (GCPs). Firstly, very accurate field measurements using GPS and secondly, Web Map Service (WMS) server (in the current research is Google Earth) which is considered a good alternative when GCPs are not available, are used. Accordingly, three scenarios are tested, using the same set of both 16 Ground Control Points (GCPs) as well as 14 Check Points (CHKs), used for evaluation the accuracy of geometric correction of that type of images. First approach using both GCPs and CHKs coordinates acquired by GPS. Second approach using GCPs coordinates acquired by Google Earth and CHKs acquired by GPS. Third approach using GCPs and CHKs coordinates by Google Earth. Results showed that, first approach gives Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) planimeteric discrepancy for GCPs of 0.45m and RMSE planimeteric discrepancy for CHKs of 0.69m. Second approach gives RMSE for GCPs of 1.10m and RMSE for CHKs of 1.75m. Third approach gives RMSE for GCPs of 1.10m and RMSE for CHKs of 1.40m. Taking map accuracy specification of 0.5mm of map scale, the worst values for CHKs points (1.75m&1,4m) resulted from using Google Earth as a source, gives the possibility of producing 1:5000 large-scale map compared with the best value of (0.69m) (map scale 1:2500). This means, for the given parameters of the current research, large scale maps could be produced using Google Earth, in case of GCPs are not available accurately from the field surveying, which is very useful for many users.


Drones ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Manfreda ◽  
Petr Dvorak ◽  
Jana Mullerova ◽  
Sorin Herban ◽  
Pietro Vuono ◽  
...  

Small unmanned aerial systems (UASs) equipped with an optical camera are a cost-effective strategy for topographic surveys. These low-cost UASs can provide useful information for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction even if they are equipped with a low-quality navigation system. To ensure the production of high-quality topographic models, careful consideration of the flight mode and proper distribution of ground control points are required. To this end, a commercial UAS was adopted to monitor a small earthen dam using different combinations of flight configurations and by adopting a variable number of ground control points (GCPs). The results highlight that optimization of both the choice and combination of flight plans can reduce the relative error of the 3D model to within two meters without the need to include GCPs. However, the use of GCPs greatly improved the quality of the topographic survey, reducing error to the order of a few centimeters. The combined use of images extracted from two flights, one with a camera mounted at nadir and the second with a 20° angle, was found to be beneficial for increasing the overall accuracy of the 3D model and especially the vertical precision.


1966 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
J. Somogyi*

This paper describes a method of strip adjustment by means of linear three-dimensional transformations applied to the individual models. The first and the last model are transformed independently, using at least three ground-control points. The intermediate models are transformed in a manner that minimizes the jumps in scale, azimuth and tilt, and enforces the fit at intermediate ground-control points. Coordinate connections are made at the centers of gravity of the carryover points. The results of the adjustment of two short strips of 11 and 12 models are shown.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique Momm ◽  
Robert Wells ◽  
Carlos Castillo ◽  
Ronald Bingner

&lt;p&gt;In agricultural fields, ephemeral gullies are defined as erosional channels formed primarily by overland flow from rainfall events. These channels are characterized by small dimensions, approximately 0.5 to 25 cm in depth, which allows their removal during regular farming operations. This dynamic characteristic coupled with their small size often can conceal soil losses by ephemeral gullies and poses challenges to efforts devised for soil loss quantification and mitigation. In this study, novel surveying and data processing techniques were employed to capture the small scale in topographic variation between two surveys and to assure that changes were due to erosional processes rather than survey miss-alignment. An agricultural field located in Iowa, U.S.A. with an area of approximately 54,500 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; was surveyed twice: right after the field was planted with corn and approximately one month later, following several rainfall events. A static benchmark point was established at the edge of the field and tied to public geodesic locations. A set of removable ground control points were spread throughout the field and surveyed in relation to the benchmark point. Low altitude aerial images were collected using a quadcopter UAS. Ground control points were used to aid in geospatial registration and to assess final survey accuracy. Standard off-the-shelf commercial software packages were unable compensate for less distortion and a new procedure using Micmac open-source photogrammetry software package was used to account for complex distortion patterns in the raw image data set. The undistorted images were then processed using Agisoft Photoscan for camera alignment, model georeferencing, and dense point cloud generation. Each point cloud representing a time period contained over 1 billion of points (file size &gt; 100GB) and was processed using custom algorithms for filtering outliers and rasterization into a 2.5 cm raster grid (DEM). Analysis of differences between the two high spatial resolution DEMs revealed changes in the landscape due to natural (erosion/deposition) and anthropogenic (farming activities) factors. Specifically, for ephemeral gully analysis, morphological features in the form of headcut position and size, channel incision, sinuosity, lateral expansion, and depositional patterns were easily identified. Findings of this study shed light on potential pitfalls inherent to the utilization of off-the-shelf commercial software packages for such fine scale multi-temporal analysis, describe the need for standardization of procedures that assure accurate erosional response amongst different studies, and support the generation of accurate datasets critical in advancing our understanding of ephemeral gully processes needed for improved model development and validation.&lt;/p&gt;


Author(s):  
G. Stavropoulou ◽  
G. Tzovla ◽  
A. Georgopoulos

Over the past decade, large-scale photogrammetric products have been extensively used for the geometric documentation of cultural heritage monuments, as they combine metric information with the qualities of an image document. Additionally, the rising technology of terrestrial laser scanning has enabled the easier and faster production of accurate digital surface models (DSM), which have in turn contributed to the documentation of heavily textured monuments. However, due to the required accuracy of control points, the photogrammetric methods are always applied in combination with surveying measurements and hence are dependent on them. Along this line of thought, this paper explores the possibility of limiting the surveying measurements and the field work necessary for the production of large-scale photogrammetric products and proposes an alternative method on the basis of which the necessary control points instead of being measured with surveying procedures are chosen from a dense and accurate point cloud. Using this point cloud also as a surface model, the only field work necessary is the scanning of the object and image acquisition, which need not be subject to strict planning. To evaluate the proposed method an algorithm and the complementary interface were produced that allow the parallel manipulation of 3D point clouds and images and through which single image procedures take place. The paper concludes by presenting the results of a case study in the ancient temple of Hephaestus in Athens and by providing a set of guidelines for implementing effectively the method.


Author(s):  
Q. Chen ◽  
T. Li ◽  
X. Tang ◽  
X. Gao ◽  
X. Zhang

GF-3 satellite, the first C band and full-polarization SAR satellite of China with spatial resolution of 1&amp;thinsp;m, was successfully launched in August 2016. We analyze the error sources of GF-3 satellite in this paper, and provide the interferometric calibration model based on range function, Doppler shift equation and interferometric phase function, and interferometric parameters calibrated using the three-dimensional coordinates of ground control points. Then, we conduct the experimental two pairs of images in fine stripmap I mode covering Songshan of Henan Province and Tangshan of Hebei Province, respectively. The DEM data are assessed using SRTM DEM, ICESat-GLAS points, and ground control points database obtained using ZY-3 satellite to validate the accuracy of DEM elevation. The experimental results show that the accuracy of DEM extracted from GF-3 satellite SAR data can meet the requirements of topographic mapping in mountain and alpine regions at the scale of 1&amp;thinsp;:&amp;thinsp;50000 in China. Besides, it proves that GF-3 satellite has the potential of interferometry.


Drones ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Jin Yu ◽  
Dong Woo Kim ◽  
Eun Jung Lee ◽  
Seung Woo Son

The rapid development of drone technologies, such as unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has led to the widespread application of three-dimensional (3D) point clouds and digital surface models (DSMs). Due to the number of UAS technology applications across many fields, studies on the verification of the accuracy of image processing results have increased. In previous studies, the optimal number of ground control points (GCPs) was determined for a specific area of a study site by increasing or decreasing the amount of GCPs. However, these studies were mainly conducted in a single study site, and the results were not compared with those from various study sites. In this study, to determine the optimal number of GCPs for modeling multiple areas, the accuracy of 3D point clouds and DSMs were analyzed in three study sites with different areas according to the number of GCPs. The results showed that the optimal number of GCPs was 12 for small and medium sites (7 and 39 ha) and 18 for the large sites (342 ha) based on the overall accuracy. If these results are used for UAV image processing in the future, accurate modeling will be possible with minimal effort in GCPs.


Author(s):  
T. J. B. Dewez

Coastal cliff collapse hazard assessment requires measuring cliff face topography at regular intervals. Terrestrial laser scanner techniques have proven useful so far but are expensive to use either through purchasing the equipment or through survey subcontracting. In addition, terrestrial laser surveys take time which is sometimes incompatible with the time during with the beach is accessible at low-tide. By comparison, structure from motion techniques (SFM) are much less costly to implement, and if airborne, acquisition of several kilometers of coastline can be done in a matter of minutes. In this paper, the potential of GPS-tagged oblique airborne photographs and SFM techniques is examined to reconstruct chalk cliff dense 3D point clouds without Ground Control Points (GCP). The focus is put on comparing the relative 3D point of views reconstructed by Visual SFM with their synchronous Solmeta Geotagger Pro2 GPS locations using robust estimators. With a set of 568 oblique photos, shot from the open door of an airplane with a triplet of synchronized Nikon D7000, GPS and SFM-determined view point coordinates converge to X: ±31.5 m; Y: ±39.7 m; Z: ±13.0 m (LE66). Uncertainty in GPS position affects the model scale, angular attitude of the reference frame (the shoreline ends up tilted by 2&deg;) and absolute positioning. Ground Control Points cannot be avoided to orient such models.


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