Precise UAV Camera Positioning for 3D Mapping

摘要

Photogrammetric mapping is the new 'hot topic', although the concept has been around since Leonardo da Vinci's time and it has been in use in practice for over a century. Drone technology has now consumerised photogram-metry, introducing data acquisition and 3D model processing to thousands. From a surveying standpoint, accuracy is key. To build 3D models in a known spatial frame of reference requires some form of control, either on the ground, in the air or a combination of both, which is where ground control points (GCPs) come in. GCPs provide a solid tie to a real coordinate system with known coordinates on targets across a project. Accuracy of the project can be assessed in the aerial triangu-lation (AT) process, combining a weighted combination of data from the photo matching and the GCPs.