Simulation and Analysis of Flight Altitude and Images Overlaps Impact on 3D Reconstruction Accuracy in UAV Photogrammetry

Saadat Seresht, Mohammad; Erfanzadeh, Ali; Homayouni, Saeid

doi:10.22059/eoge.2023.352949.1129

Simulation and Analysis of Flight Altitude and Images Overlaps Impact on 3D Reconstruction Accuracy in UAV Photogrammetry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Saadat Seresht ¹

Ali Erfanzadeh ¹

Saeid Homayouni ²

¹ School of Surveying and Geospatial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Centre Eau Terre Environnement Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Quebec, Canada.

10.22059/eoge.2023.352949.1129

Abstract

Flight altitude and images overlaps play an essential role in the 3D reconstruction accuracy using UAV photogrammetry. However, the comprehensive analysis of these parameters in operational conditions is costly and time-consuming. To this end, in this paper, the 3D reconstruction of a hypothetical point with definite 3D coordinates, observed with different overlaps and flight altitudes, was analyzed by the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method. In this simulation, all uncertainties and instabilities in the whole process of 3D reconstruction considering multiple imaging factors, including UAV exterior orientation parameters (EOP) instability, visibility issue, camera interior orientation parameters (IOP) instability, image observation noise, and aerial triangulation EOP noises were analyzed. These experimental tests provided about 900 cases to study the characterization of a UAV photogrammetry system for accurate mapping missions. Consequently, several practically helpful guidelines were obtained through these analyses. The outcomes of this study might help the geomatics engineers and surveyors efficiently plan and design flight missions for any mapping and monitoring projects using UAV imagery.

Keywords

Image overlap

Flight altitude

UAV photogrammetry

Monte Carlo simulation

Subjects