Detection of crane track geometric parameters using UAS

Abstract

This paper presents the results of experimental and survey work on the application of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) photogrammetry to determine the geometric parameters that describe crane ground rails. The goal was to achieve highly accurate measurements (millimeter accuracy) to determine the geometric parameters of elongated engineering objects (of significant dimensions, such as a crane track) up to several hundred meters long and several dozen meters wide. The method of processing images taken with the use of UAS depends on combining images taken at different flying heights and the use of code targets (of appropriately selected sizes), enabling the automatic measurement of controlled points representing the object. The method of fixing the plates with the code target on the crane track is described. Experimental field work was conducted using a section of crane track of length 35 m whose span was 6.000 m. The proposed method features high accuracy, takes less time and is therefore less expensive than other known methods.