High-Precision UAV Photogrammetry with RTK GNSS: Eliminating Ground Control Points

Mehmet Nurullah Alkan

Makale detayları

High-Precision UAV Photogrammetry with RTK GNSS: Eliminating Ground Control Points

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Nurullah Alkan

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | Satellite-Based Positioning

Dergi:

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.139-147

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337653

pISSN:

2148-4171

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs have significantly enhanced the capability of the photogrammetric approaches, particularly with the integration of Real-Time Kinematic RTK sensors. That approach enables the operators to use the Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS more efficiently with the production of high-precision 3D Digital Terrain Models DTMs. Traditionally, Ground Control Points GCPs are used to link those models to a ground coordinate system, but their establishment is time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring static or rapid-static GNSS observations over two hours for each point. However, RTK-embedded UAVs offer a significant improvement by facilitating direct geo-referencing of DTMs, which includes the estimation of internal and external orientation parameters more efficiently and potentially eliminating the need for GCPs. In this study, UAV flights over a test area at various altitudes 30m, 45m, 60m were conducted to evaluate the 3D positioning accuracy of photogrammetric models generated without using any GCP, and their locations were compared against the precise GNSS observations for 22 control points. Results indicated that UAVs with RTK ability could achieve centimeter-level accuracy in positioning, making this kind of evaluation a viable alternative to traditional methods. This study also discusses the implications of those results within the context of large-scale map production and their regulations in Türkiye. The elimination of GCPs should significantly reduce the time and effort associated with map production, suggesting a potential alternative in regulatory standards to incorporate these technological approaches.

 The advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs have significantly enhanced the capability of the photogrammetric approaches, particularly with the integration of Real-Time Kinematic RTK sensors. That approach enables the operators to use the Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS more efficiently with the production of high-precision 3D Digital Terrain Models DTMs. Traditionally, Ground Control Points GCPs are used to link those models to a ground coordinate system, but their establishment is time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring static or rapid-static GNSS observations over two hours for each point. However, RTK-embedded UAVs offer a significant improvement by facilitating direct geo-referencing of DTMs, which includes the estimation of internal and external orientation parameters more efficiently and potentially eliminating the need for GCPs. In this study, UAV flights over a test area at various altitudes 30m, 45m, 60m were conducted to evaluate the 3D positioning accuracy of photogrammetric models generated without using any GCP, and their locations were compared against the precise GNSS observations for 22 control points. Results indicated that UAVs with RTK ability could achieve centimeter-level accuracy in positioning, making this kind of evaluation a viable alternative to traditional methods. This study also discusses the implications of those results within the context of large-scale map production and their regulations in Türkiye. The elimination of GCPs should significantly reduce the time and effort associated with map production, suggesting a potential alternative in regulatory standards to incorporate these technological approaches.

 The advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs have significantly enhanced the capability of the photogrammetric approaches, particularly with the integration of Real-Time Kinematic RTK sensors. That approach enables the operators to use the Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS more efficiently with the production of high-precision 3D Digital Terrain Models DTMs. Traditionally, Ground Control Points GCPs are used to link those models to a ground coordinate system, but their establishment is time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring static or rapid-static GNSS observations over two hours for each point. However, RTK-embedded UAVs offer a significant improvement by facilitating direct geo-referencing of DTMs, which includes the estimation of internal and external orientation parameters more efficiently and potentially eliminating the need for GCPs. In this study, UAV flights over a test area at various altitudes 30m, 45m, 60m were conducted to evaluate the 3D positioning accuracy of photogrammetric models generated without using any GCP, and their locations were compared against the precise GNSS observations for 22 control points. Results indicated that UAVs with RTK ability could achieve centimeter-level accuracy in positioning, making this kind of evaluation a viable alternative to traditional methods. This study also discusses the implications of those results within the context of large-scale map production and their regulations in Türkiye. The elimination of GCPs should significantly reduce the time and effort associated with map production, suggesting a potential alternative in regulatory standards to incorporate these technological approaches.

 The advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs have significantly enhanced the capability of the photogrammetric approaches, particularly with the integration of Real-Time Kinematic RTK sensors. That approach enables the operators to use the Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS more efficiently with the production of high-precision 3D Digital Terrain Models DTMs. Traditionally, Ground Control Points GCPs are used to link those models to a ground coordinate system, but their establishment is time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring static or rapid-static GNSS observations over two hours for each point. However, RTK-embedded UAVs offer a significant improvement by facilitating direct geo-referencing of DTMs, which includes the estimation of internal and external orientation parameters more efficiently and potentially eliminating the need for GCPs. In this study, UAV flights over a test area at various altitudes 30m, 45m, 60m were conducted to evaluate the 3D positioning accuracy of photogrammetric models generated without using any GCP, and their locations were compared against the precise GNSS observations for 22 control points. Results indicated that UAVs with RTK ability could achieve centimeter-level accuracy in positioning, making this kind of evaluation a viable alternative to traditional methods. This study also discusses the implications of those results within the context of large-scale map production and their regulations in Türkiye. The elimination of GCPs should significantly reduce the time and effort associated with map production, suggesting a potential alternative in regulatory standards to incorporate these technological approaches.

Makale detayları

High-Precision UAV Photogrammetry with RTK GNSS: Eliminating Ground Control Points

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Nurullah Alkan

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | Satellite-Based Positioning

Dergi:

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.139-147

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337653

pISSN:

2148-4171

UAV

RTK GNSS

photogrammetry

direct geo-referencing

3D modeling

GCP

Türkiye mapping regulations

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Mehmet Nurullah Alkan

Yayıncı: Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar: Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | Satellite-Based Positioning

Dergi: Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.139-147

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 12/2024

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001337653

pISSN: 2148-4171

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Nurullah Alkan

Yayıncı:

Hitit University

Ana Başlıklar:

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | Satellite-Based Positioning

Dergi:

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Vol.11 Issue 4, pp.139-147

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337653

pISSN:

2148-4171