ACCURACY ASSESSMENT OF DIGITAL SURFACE MODELS FROM UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES’ IMAGERY ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Abstract. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with image sensors, which have been widely used in various fields such as construction, agriculture, and disaster management, can obtain images at the millimeter to decimeter scale. Useful tools that produce realistic surface models using 3D reconstruction software based on computer vision technologies are generally used to produce datasets from acquired images using UAVs. However, it is difficult to obtain the feature points from surfaces with limited texture, such as new asphalt or concrete, or detect the ground in areas such as forests, which are commonly concealed by vegetation. A promising method to address such issues is the use of UAV-equipped laser scanners. Recently, low and high performance products that use direct georeferencing devices integrated with laser scanners have been available. Moreover, there have been numerous reports regarding the various applications of UAVs equipped with laser scanners; however, these reports only discuss UAVs as measuring devices. Therefore, to understand the functioning of UAVs equipped with laser scanners, we investigated the theoretical accuracy of the survey grade laser scanner unit from the viewpoint of photogrammetry. We evaluated the performance of the VUX-1HA laser scanner equipped on a Skymatix X-LS1 UAV at a construction site. We presented the theoretical values obtained using the observation equations and results of the accuracy aspects of the acquired data in terms of height.

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Method for Estimating Solar Energy Potential Based on Photogrammetry from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics9122144 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 2144

Author(s):

Jose Eduardo Fuentes ◽

Francisco David Moya ◽

Oscar Danilo Montoya

Keyword(s):

Solar Energy ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

3D Model ◽

Low Cost ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Solar Panels ◽

Energy Potential ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

3D Data ◽

Surface Models

This study presents a method to estimate the solar energy potential based on 3D data taken from unmanned aerial devices. The solar energy potential on the roof of a building was estimated before the placement of solar panels using photogrammetric data analyzed in a geographic information system, and the predictions were compared with the data recorded after installation. The areas of the roofs were chosen using digital surface models and the hemispherical viewshed algorithm, considering how the solar radiation on the roof surface would be affected by the orientation of the surface with respect to the sun, the shade of trees, surrounding objects, topography, and the atmospheric conditions. The results show that the efficiency percentages of the panels and the data modeled by the proposed method from surface models are very similar to the theoretical efficiency of the panels. Radiation potential can be estimated from photogrammetric data and a 3D model in great detail and at low cost. This method allows the estimation of solar potential as well as the optimization of the location and orientation of solar panels.

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Mapping Heterogeneous Buried Archaeological Features Using Multisensor Data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12010041 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 41 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christopher Brooke ◽

Ben Clutterbuck

Keyword(s):

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Image Data ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Archaeological Survey ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

East Midlands ◽

History Of ◽

Single Technique ◽

Target Design ◽

Multisensor Data

There is a long history of the use of aerial imagery for archaeological research, but the application of multisensor image data has only recently been facilitated by the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Two archaeological sites in the East Midlands U.K. that differ in age and topography were selected for survey using multisensor imaging from a fixed-wing UAV. The aim of this study was to determine optimum methodology for the use of UAVs in examining archaeological sites that have no obvious surface features and examine issues of ground control target design, thermal effects, image processing and advanced filtration. The information derived from the range of sensors used in this study enabled interpretation of buried archaeology at both sites. For any archaeological survey using UAVs, the acquisition of visible colour (RGB), multispectral, and thermal imagery as a minimum are advised, as no single technique is sufficient to attempt to reveal the maximum amount of potential information.

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Remote Sensing Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Tourist-Recreation Lake Evaluation and Development

Quaestiones Geographicae ◽

10.2478/quageo-2019-0012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 5-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Grzegorz Borkowski ◽

Adam Młynarczyk

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Research Methods ◽

Unmanned Aircraft ◽

Water Research ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

Surface Models ◽

Lake Systems ◽

Remote Sensing Methods ◽

Research Show

Abstract This article concerns the use of remote sensing methods to assess the potential of tourism and recreation of lakes by using unmanned aerial vehicles as a tool that offers new measurement possibilities in such difficult areas to research as river and lake systems. For the purpose of the study, air surveys over three lakes used for tourism and recreation purposes were planned and carried out. These were the following lakes: Swarzędzkie, Wolsztyńskie and Zbąszyńskie located in western Poland. The photos were taken with a RGB and a multispectral cameras. On the basis of calculated orthophotomaps and digital surface models, anthropogenic and natural values were assessed. The examples of the research show the versatile possibilities of using drones dependent on the type sensor used. Remote sensing performed from the deck of an unmanned aircraft is widely used in the study of lakes and is an alternative to existing land and water research methods.

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Photogrammetric Acquisitions in Diverse Archaeological Contexts Using Drones: Background of the Ager Mellariensis Project (North of Córdoba-Spain)

Drones ◽

10.3390/drones4030047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Massimo Gasparini ◽

Juan Carlos Moreno-Escribano ◽

Antonio Monterroso-Checa

Keyword(s):

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Technological Innovation ◽

User Experience ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Publicly Funded ◽

End User ◽

Aerial Photogrammetry ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

Scientific Fields ◽

Funded Research Project

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aerial photogrammetry have greatly contributed to expanding research in scientific fields that employ geomatics techniques. Archaeology is one of the sciences that has advanced most as a result of this technological innovation. The geographic products obtained by UAV photogrammetric surveys can detect anomalies corresponding to ancient settlements and aid in designing future archaeological interventions. These acquisitions also offer attractive scientific dissemination products. We present five archaeological sites from different ages located in the Guadiato Valley of Córdoba, Spain, where a series of photogrammetric images were acquired for purposes of both research and dissemination. Acquisitions were designed based on the accessibility of the sites and on the end-user experience. The results present several photogrammetric products for use in research, and the mandatory dissemination of the results of a publicly-funded research project.

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SURVEY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF GORNY ALTAY USING UAV

Vestnik SSUGT (Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies) ◽

10.33764/2411-1759-2021-26-2-56-64 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 56-64

Author(s):

Evgeny P. Krupochkin ◽

◽

Sergei I. Sukhanov ◽

Dmitry A. Vorobyov ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coordinate System ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Local Coordinate System ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Control Points ◽

Heritage Sites ◽

Gps Survey ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

Russian Federa Tion

The article describes a methodology for determining the boundaries of archaeological sites using GPS survey and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with subsequent registration in the cadastral record. The method of georeferencing and photogrammetric processing of orthophotomaps using a system of control points has been tested. The digital photogrammetric program Agisoft Metashape (company Agisoft LLC, St. Petersburg) was chosen for the research. By means the program an orthomosaic was obtained with georeferencing with the Local Coordinate System (LCS-04). The result of the work was the construction of topographic plans and the determination of the boundaries of archaeological sites in accordance with the "Methodology for determining the boundaries of the territories of archaeologi-cal heritage sites, recommended for use by the letter of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federa-tion No. 12-01- 39/05-AB dated 27.01.2012".

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APPLICATION OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES FOR GLACIER RESEARCH IN THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC

Environment Technology Resources Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference ◽

10.17770/etr2019vol1.4130 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 131

Author(s):

Kristaps Lamsters ◽

Jānis Karušs ◽

Māris Krievāns ◽

Jurijs Ješkins

Keyword(s):

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Satellite System ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

The Arctic ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Flight Duration ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

Surface Models ◽

Global Navigation Satellite ◽

Glacier Mapping

Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are nowadays widely used in a broad field of scientific and commercial applications. Despite this, it is quite a new method for glacier mapping in polar regions and has a lot of advantages, as well as disadvantages over more classical remote sensing instruments. Here we examine the main issues associated with the application of drones for glacier research from our experience in Iceland, Greenland and the Antarctic. We use DJI Phantom series drones for the obtaining of aerial photographs and produce digital surface models (resolution of 8 – 16 cm) and orthomosaics (resolution of 2 – 4 cm) for glacier mapping. Several issues related to the ground control points, geolocation using Global Navigation Satellite System receiers and creation of final products are addressed as well. We recommend the further use of drones in remote polar areas because it allows obtaining very high-resolution orthomosaics and digital surface models that are not achieved by other methods. Short summer season, raw weather with precipitation and winds, limited drone flight duration and problems with connection cables are the main issues everyone can encounter working in polar regions but all issues can be restricted with careful planning and readiness to gather data whenever it is possible during all field campaign.

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Future 3D Urbanism

Methods and Applications of Geospatial Technology in Sustainable Urbanism - Advances in Geospatial Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-2249-3.ch018 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 552-585

Author(s):

Rossana Estanqueiro ◽

José António Tenedório ◽

Carla Rebelo ◽

Joao Pedro Marques

Keyword(s):

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Accuracy Assessment ◽

3D Models ◽

Positional Accuracy ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

3D Data ◽

Urban Analysis ◽

2D Data ◽

Data Acquisition And Processing ◽

The City

Urbanism has mainly used 2D data for both the urban analysis and diagnosis and the presentation of proposals for changes in the whole city or parts of the city. Even regarding the production of urban indicators, using, for example, the quantification of the existing green area in relation to the resident population, this practice is regularly based on the area and rarely on volume. This situation is mainly justified by the sluggishness and costs associated with obtaining 3D data. The recent development of data collection technology by unmanned aerial vehicles has triggered a change in this scenario. This chapter presents the UAV data acquisition and processing chain, analyses the positional accuracy of UAV data processing performed with GCP measurements obtained from GNSS, demonstrates how positional accuracy assessment and UAV workflow's quality control are relevant for ensuring the accuracy of derived UAV geospatial products, and demonstrates the usability of 3D models in a theoretical 3D urbanism context.

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Crop Loss Evaluation Using Digital Surface Models from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Data

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12060981 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 981 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Virginia E. Garcia Millan ◽

Cassidy Rankine ◽

G. Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽

Precision Agriculture ◽

Remote Sensing Data ◽

Training Data ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Aerial Vehicles ◽

Surface Models ◽

Data Volume ◽

Processing Steps

Precision agriculture and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are revolutionizing agriculture management methods. Remote sensing data, image analysis and Digital Surface Models derived from Structure from Motion and Multi-View Stereopsis offer new and fast methods to detect the needs of crops, greatly improving crops efficiency. In this study, we present a tool to detect and estimate crop damage after a disturbance (i.e., weather event, wildlife attacks or fires). The types of damage that are addressed in this study affect crop structure (i.e., plants are bent or gone), in the shape of depressions in the crop canopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of four unsupervised methods based on terrain analyses, for the detection of damaged crops in UAV 3D models: slope detection, variance analysis, geomorphology classification and cloth simulation filter. A full workflow was designed and described in this article that involves the postprocessing of the raw results from the terrain analyses, for a refinement in the detection of damages. Our results show that all four methods performed similarly well after postprocessing––reaching an accuracy above to 90%––in the detection of severe crop damage, without the need of training data. The results of this study suggest that the used methods are effective and independent of the crop type, crop damage and growth stage. However, only severe damages were detected with this workflow. Other factors such as data volume, processing time, number of processing steps and spatial distribution of targets and errors are discussed in this article for the selection of the most appropriate method. Among the four tested methods, slope analysis involves less processing steps, generates the smallest data volume, is the fastest of methods and resulted in best spatial distribution of matches. Thus, it was selected as the most efficient method for crop damage detection.

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