Assessing the Accuracy of Digital Surface Models Derived from Optical Imagery Acquired with Unmanned Aerial Systems

Some useful recommendations for UAS-surveys aimed at the derivation of 3D surface models can be found in our recent manuscript published on Drones MDPI.

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. 

Author: Salvatore Manfreda

Salvatore Manfreda is Full Professor of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Constructions at the University of Naples Federico II. He is currently the Chair of the COST Action HARMONIOUS and the Scientific Coordinator of the Research Grant aimed at the Development of the Flood Forecasting System of the Basilicata Region Civil Protection. He has broad interest on distributed modeling, flood risk, stochastic processes in hydrology and UAS-based monitoring.

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#	File	Description	Date added	Added by	File size	Downloads
1	Assessing the Accuracy of Digital Surface Models Derived from Optical Imagery Acquired with Unmanned Aerial Systems		31 January 2019 8:52	Salvatore Manfreda	3 MB	325