Asssessment of UAVs and ground survey method for route profile data collection / Muhammad Rushdy Suhaimi

The study intends to investigate achievable accuracy that could be obtained from multi-rotor UAV data collection for the purpose of developing route profile information. To achieve the purpose, the objectives include: i) to perform UAV data collection for orthophoto generation; ii) to extract route profile information (longitudinal section) from orthophoto surface model, and iii) to compare route profile data between orthophoto and ground survey data. Data was collected both using total station and multi rotor UAV at 20 meter intervals. Ground control survey was carried out and UAV flight designed to be at 50 and 100 meters altitudes. DTM was produced from orthophoto images using Agisoft Metashape Pro and profile information extracted in ArcGIS software. The results show acceptable accuracy when compared with in-situ data, with sub centimeters levels of accuracy (in x, y and z directions) and the errors display an increasing trend with increased altitudes. Lower altitudes provides better and more accurate results for profile information data. Hence, this study could be the capstone in providing alternatives to ground survey for obtaining route information with faster method and wide area coverage.