Drone to DEM

Methods of UAS data acquisition

and assimilation into GIS
Robert K. Garst
 Project Goals

• Capture aerial images with a model aircraft

• Create a dense point cloud of the subject

area to produce the following products

• Digital Elevation Model

• Orthophoto Mosaic
 UAS User Groups

• Business Users

• Apply for exemption

• Operate with FAA airworthiness certificate

• Both require COA

• Public Entities

• Certificate of Waiver or Authorization

• Recreational Users

• Hobbyist Rule
 Commercial Use

• What is Commercial Use?

• Selling media recorded from UAS

• Using a UAS for contract services

• Provide professional services with UAS

• How to operate UAS with commercial purpose?

• Apply for Exception, and COA

• Obtain an FAA airworthiness certificate, and COA

 Public Entities
• Governments, law enforcement, public
colleges and universities

• Requires only a COA

• Processing time takes approximately 60

days

• A COA has a predetermined term

• Online application
 Recreational Users

• No FAA authorization or COA required

• Cannot exceed 400 feet in altitude

• Do not fly near restricted airspace or air

fields

• Yield to all other aircraft

• Join the Academy of Model Aeronautics!

UAS Components

• Aerial Platform

• Camera System

• Data Link

• Ground Control
 Aerial Platform
• Multicopter design

• Vertical takeoff and

landing

• Lower flight speeds

• Tight hardware and

software integration with
other components
onboard aircraft

• Stable camera platform

http://joshanon.com
 Camera System
• Small, lightweight payload

• 12MP resolution

• Standard “Fisheye” lens replaced

• Three axis gimbal mount

Lens Focal 35 mm Horizontal

Point Equivelant FOV

Stock
2.92 mm 16.21 mm 123º
Lens
New
Lens 5.40 mm 29.97 mm 62º
Stock Fisheye lens
HFOV: 123 degrees
Replacement lens
HFOV: 62 degrees
 Camera System
• Small, lightweight payload

• 12MP resolution

• Standard “Fisheye” lens replaced

• Three axis gimbal mount

Lens Focal 35 mm Horizontal

Point Equivelant FOV

Stock
2.92 mm 16.21 mm 123º
Lens
New
Lens 5.40 mm 29.97 mm 62º
 Data Link
• Autonomous control

• Interface through iPad

Ground Station software

• Fail safe - home coordinates

and redundant radio set with
traditional controller
 Ground Control

• Provides horizontal and

vertical control for the
model

• 101 reference points

collected

• 10 used to
georeference model

• 91 reserved for
verification

http://www.leica-geosystems.us
UAS Demonstration
 Flight Plan Details

• 8 flight strips spanning the

neighborhood

• Minimum 60% image overlap

required

• Actual sequential overlap: 90%

• Actual flight strip overlap: 70%

• Flown 300 feet above the surface

• Flown at noon for best lighting

• 521 raw photographs

Raw Photograph
Overlay
 Wild Heerbrugg
Stereo Plotter A8

http://www.officemtt.com
Agisoft Photoscan Pro Workspace
Photoscan
View Points
 Ground
Control

• 10 points used for

georeferencing the
model

• 91 points reserved
for verifying model
 Absolute Error of Point Cloud

Horizontal Error Vertical Error Combined Error

Digital Terrain
Model
Photoscan
View Points
Orthophoto distortion
Example #1
Orthophoto distortion
Example #2
Orthophoto resolution:
1 inch per pixel
USDA
 Disadvantages and
Advantages
• Disadvantages

• Resource intensive

• Artifacts present at large map scales

• Advantages

• Produce three products - LAS Dataset, DEM, Orthophoto

• Inexpensive

• Quick turn around time

Acquire Photographs Align Images and Build Sparse
of Subject Area Create “View Points” Point Cloud

Register Model Build Dense

into FL East Build Polygonal Mesh
Point Cloud
Coordinate System

Rebuild Dense Rebuild Polygonal Apply Photographs

Point Cloud Mesh to Poly Mesh

Digital Elevation
LAS Dataset Orthophoto
Model

GIS
 Drone to DEM
Methods of UAS data acquisition
and assimilation into GIS
Robert K. Garst
rgarst88@gmail.com