The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
Download
Publications Copernicus
Download
Citation
Articles | Volume XLIII-B2-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2022-245-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2022-245-2022
30 May 2022
 | 30 May 2022

CIRCULAR TARGET OBSERVATION OF POINT CLOUD USING LASER REFLECTION INTENSITY BY AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A LASER SCANNER

K. Nakano

Keywords: Circular Target Observation, Inhomogeneous Density Point Cloud, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Laser Reflection Intensity

Abstract. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with laser scanners have been widely used for various purposes, such as in construction sites, forestry, and disaster management, as they can obtain high density point clouds with millimeter to centimeter scale accuracy. However, systematic errors in the height of a UAV relative to the earth's surface may occur owing to the method of direct georeferencing using the global navigation system satellite (GNSS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU). Therefore, to enable highly accurate surveying, adjustments must be made using ground control points. However, interpreting the ground control points of a discrete, inhomogeneous density point cloud requires a high degree of skill and effort. In this study, a high-end UAV laser scanner was used to obtain the point clouds of a site using a white circular target enclosed within a black frame in a measurement setup of 500 points/m2. The center coordinates of the circle, calculated using the conventional and proposed methods, were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. As a result, the average of 10 error distances was found to be 0.028 m for the weighted center of gravity method, 0.014 m for the fitting circle equation method, and 0.008 m for the proposed method. These results corresponded to one-fifth to one-half of the 0.045-m point intervals of the measurement plan. Thus, using the reflection intensity of point clouds, the circular target observation could be performed.