Digital map updates with UAV photogrammetric methods

Abstract

Currently, Korea's digital maps are being produced through traditional aerial photogrammetry methods. Aerial photogrammetry is the most economical way to produce a map of a wide area. However, timely survey is not allowed depends on weather condition and it is inefficient for small area surveying in economic point of view. Therefore, it costs too much and needs long time to produce a map for various small areas where are terrestrial changes for updating the map. In contrast, UAV photogrammetry is possible to work even in cloudy weather because of shooting at low altitude below the clouds. It also has excellent mobility and shoot quickly and well suited for small-scale mapping in several places by low cost. In this study, we produced an ortho-photo and digital map with the UAV photogrammetry method using SIFT and SfM algorithm and verified its accuracy to evaluate the applicability for future digital map updates. The accuracy was verified by comparing the results of the ground survey for check points selected on the digital map. Test results show small errors at ±2.6cm in X coordinates, ±2.8cm in Y coordinates and ±5.8cm in height and we could find a possibility that UAV photogrammetry would be fully applicable for digital map updating.