First Advisor

Jiunn-Der Duh

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Paper

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography

Department

Geography

Language

English

Subjects

Drone aircraft -- Remote sensing, Photogrammetry, Geographic information systems, Lidar, Spatial data accuracy, St. Helens (Or.) -- Maps

Abstract

UAS (unmanned-aerial systems) mapping is an emerging technology in spatial science. UAS, more informally referred to as “drones,” are small, radio-controlled or autonomous aerial platforms outfitted with camera sensor systems that can be deployed to fly missions for mapping terrain and structures. With the use of a photogrammetry technique called structure-from-motion, overlapping aerial images can be developed into high-resolution spatial data (< 5-cm). These data are georeferenced by GPS location information assigned to aerial targets which act as ground-control points (GCPs). This research explores the accuracy of the UAS-derived digital surface model (DSM) as it relates to a LIDAR DSM of the same study area in St. Helens, Oregon.

The site that was chosen to be mapped was a large wastewater treatment plant, with surrounding natural areas, residential, and industrial properties. The site was mapped using a small quadcopter-style UAS which was programmed autonomously; the overlapping aerial photos from three separate flights were compiled in photogrammetry software to create a high-resolution orthomosaic and 3D point cloud. The DSM was created in GIS and a difference model was constructed using a LIDAR model from the same area. After analyzing the difference model, it was found that UAS mapping produced accurate results of mapping terrain in areas of bare earth and pavement, but struggled in areas with dense vegetation. UAS provides an affordable, efficient, and accurate terrain mapping tool to fly at low-altitudes and produce GIS-ready data for high-resolution mapping and spatial analysis.

Comments

A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Geography

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44211

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