Engineers from Tatarstan have developed a method for determining the coordinates of objects from drone images with an accuracy of up to 1.5 cm. The new technology allows for the creation of high-precision maps, orthophotos, and three-dimensional terrain models without the use of a large number of ground control points.
The development was presented by specialists who created a method for determining the position of an unmanned aerial vehicle using a single robotic total station and a reflective prism installed on the drone. The system determines the precise coordinates of the camera during flight and uses this data in subsequent image processing.
The main advantage of the technology is the ability to forgo determining the angular position of the camera in flight. Instead, the system records only the coordinates of the shooting center, which simplifies drone equipment and increases measurement stability.
During operation, the drone performs aerial photography along a predetermined route, and a ground total station automatically tracks the position of the reflective prism on board. Then, flight trajectory data is used for photogrammetric image processing and building an accurate object model.
The development is intended for use in geodesy, construction, cadastre, cartography, and engineering structure surveys.