Orthomosaics and digital elevation models generated from images taken with UAV systems

Abstract

Context: Nowadays, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are among the technological tools most researched and applied in areas such as aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing, presenting itself as an important alternative for capturing imagery with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, UAV flight parameters, image and sensor characteristics, result on major challenges for traditional processing for producing mapping products such as digital elevation models and orthomosaics, that is why it is required to identify new processing strategies. Method: In this paper, a review of the main characteristics of UAVs used in aerial photogrammetry is done, along with related processing strategies currently being used in areas such as computer vision and photogrammetry. Results: From this review, it is shown that processing strategies in the area of computer vision are more akin to the information captured with UAV systems for generating digital elevation models and orthomosaics. Conclusions: The technological advances in UAVs systems and advances in strategies for processing large data volumes continue to drive research and application of these systems for the generation of mapping products more accurately in areas such as photogrammetry and computer vision.

Keywords

• aerial images, DSM, orthomosaic, point clouds, UAV.