SURVEY ACCURACY AND SPATIAL RESOLUTION BENCHMARK OF A CAMERA SYSTEM MOUNTED ON A FAST FLYING DRONE

Abstract

Many drones are used to obtain high resolution imagery. Subsequent 3D object point derivation from images of these systems is an established technique. While rotor-craft drones are often used to capture fine, detailed structures and objects in small-scale areas fixed-wing versions are commonly used to cover larger areas even far beyond line of sight. Usually, these drones fly at much higher velocities during data acquisition and therefore the according sensor requirements are much higher.This paper presents the evaluation of a prototype camera system for fast flying fixed-wing drones. Focus of investigation is to find out if higher operating velocities, up to 100 km/h during image acquisition, has any influence on photogrammetric survey and image quality itself. It will be shown that images, obtained by the presented camera system and carrier, do not suffer from motion blur and that the overall survey accuracy is approximately 1/4 of ground sample distance.Survey accuracy analysis is carried out using standard photgrammetric procedures using signaled control- and checkpoints and verifying their conformity in image space and object space.Fundamentals of image quality will be introduced, as well asan approach to determine and evaluate motion smear of remote sensing senors (in theory and practical use case). Furthermore, it will be shown that the designed camera system mounted on a fixed-wing carrier does not suffer from motion smear.