UAS Photogrammetry for Precise Digital Elevation Models of Complex Topography: A Strategy Guide

The presented research investigates different strategies to acquire high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) of complex and inaccessible terrain using Structure-from-Motion and Multi-View Stereo applied to data of an unoccupied aerial system (UAS) equipped with real-time-kinematic (RTK)-GNSS....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inISPRS annals of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences Vol. X-2-2024; pp. 57 - 64
Main Authors Elias, Melanie, Isfort, Steffen, Eltner, Anette, Maas, Hans-Gerd
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Gottingen Copernicus GmbH 10.06.2024
Copernicus Publications
Subjects
Accuracy
Altitude
Calibration
Cameras
Data acquisition
Digital Elevation Models
Elevation
Flight
Glaciers
Kinematics
Photogrammetry
Remote sensing
Self calibration
Sensors
Software
Systematic errors
Terrain
Topography
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Summary:The presented research investigates different strategies to acquire high-precision digital elevation models (DEMs) of complex and inaccessible terrain using Structure-from-Motion and Multi-View Stereo applied to data of an unoccupied aerial system (UAS) equipped with real-time-kinematic (RTK)-GNSS. The survey scenarios are taken from real-life situations and thus, in comparison to many previous studies, provide information on how to operate under challenging conditions in difficult terrain. Among others, the study examines the influence of different flight configurations (parallel axes and cross-grid), flight altitudes (relative to ellipsoid or terrain) and associated variations in ground sampling distance, image orientations (nadir and oblique), advanced camera self-calibration techniques and georeferencing strategies in image block processing (direct and integrated) on the overall accuracy of the resulting DEMs. Random and systematic errors, including spatial patterns such as doming and bowling, are quantified using check points and differences between DEM calculations and independently acquired surface data from laser scans. This comprehensive analysis contributes valuable insights for UAS-based analysis of complex terrain with improved accuracy in DEM generation and subsequent applications like change detection.
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ISSN:2194-9050
2194-9042
2194-9050
DOI:10.5194/isprs-annals-X-2-2024-57-2024