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Drones
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Applications of UVs in Digital Photogrammetry and Image Processing
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Applications of UVs in Digital Photogrammetry and Image Processing

A special issue of Drones (ISSN 2504-446X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2025) | Viewed by 3319

Special Issue Editors

Dr. David R. Green

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
UCEMM, Department of Geography, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, UK
Interests: UV; GIS; remote sensing; photogrammetry; cartography; digital mapping; coastal management; marine spatial planning; coastal ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cristina Gómez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
iuFOR, EiFAB, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: environmental remote sensing; forestry; optical; radar; UV; time series; processes of change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Uncrewed aerial, ground or waterborne vehicles equipped with a high-resolution optical camera or other sensor are increasingly used to collect high-resolution data for a specific area or object. UV-based photogrammetry has revolutionized the field of short-range applications by combining aerial and ground photogrammetric techniques, and it serves as a valuable supplement to traditional aerial photogrammetry methods, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional surveying and mapping practices. The technique involves arranging image control points in the survey area using GPS technology and conducting digital photogrammetry operations on a computer workstation to extract geographical information data. Based on images obtained from proximity UV enables the generation of dense point clouds, high-resolution digital terrain or surface models, and true-orthophotos. The mobility and flexibility of UV photogrammetry enables it to quickly generate high-resolution images for objects, small areas and challenging terrains. Moreover, it offers a range of advantages such as high precision, low operating costs, wide applicability, and short production cycles. With advancements in drone and digital camera technologies, the digital photography approach, based on UV platforms, showcases its distinctive strengths.

For this Special Issue of Drones, we welcome authors to submit papers related to UV photogrammetry. The selection of papers for publication will depend on the quality and rigor of research. Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Uncrewed vehicles (UVs);
  • Photogrammetry;
  • Digital mapping;
  • Cartography;
  • GIS.

Dr. David R. Green
Dr. Cristina Gómez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Drones is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • uncrewed vehicles (UVs)
  • photogrammetry
  • digital mapping
  • cartography
  • GIS

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1795 KiB  
Article
Impact of UAV-Derived RTK/PPK Products on Geometric Correction of VHR Satellite Imagery
by Muhammed Enes Atik, Mehmet Arkali and Saziye Ozge Atik
Drones 2025, 9(4), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9040291 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Satellite imagery is a widely used source of spatial information in many applications, such as land use/land cover, object detection, agricultural monitoring, and urban area monitoring. Numerous factors, including projection, tilt angle, scanner, atmospheric conditions, terrain curvature, and fluctuations, can cause satellite images [...] Read more.
Satellite imagery is a widely used source of spatial information in many applications, such as land use/land cover, object detection, agricultural monitoring, and urban area monitoring. Numerous factors, including projection, tilt angle, scanner, atmospheric conditions, terrain curvature, and fluctuations, can cause satellite images to become distorted. Eliminating systematic errors caused by the sensor and platform is a crucial step to obtaining reliable information from satellite images. To utilize satellite images directly in applications requiring high accuracy, the errors in the images should be removed by geometric correction. In this study, geometric correction was applied to the Pléiades 1A (PHR) image using non-parametric methods, and the effects of different transformation models and digital elevation models (DEMs) were investigated. Ground control points (GCPs) were obtained from orthophotos created by the photogrammetric method using precise positioning. The effect of photogrammetric DEMs with various spatial resolutions on geometric correction was investigated. Additionally, the effect of DEMs obtained using the photogrammetric method was compared with those from open-source DEMs, including SRTM, ASTER GDEM, COP30, AW3D30, and NASADEM. Two-dimensional polynomial transformation, the thin plate spline (TPS), and the rational function model (RFM) were applied as transformation methods. Our results showed that a higher-accuracy geometric correction process could be achieved with orthophotos and DEMs created using precise positioning techniques such as RTK and PPK. According to the results obtained, an RMSE of 0.633 m was achieved with RFM using RTK-DEM, while an RMSE of 0.615 m was achieved with RFM using PPK-DEM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of UVs in Digital Photogrammetry and Image Processing)
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25 pages, 15584 KiB  
Article
Inland Water Quality Monitoring Using Airborne Small Cameras: Enhancing Suspended Sediment Retrieval and Mitigating Sun Glint Effects
by Diogo Olivetti, Henrique L. Roig, Jean-Michel Martinez, Alexandre M. R. Ferreira, Rogério R. Marinho, Ronaldo L. Mincato and Eduardo Sávio P. R. Martins
Drones 2025, 9(3), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9030173 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
The ongoing advancement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the evolution of small-scale cameras have bridged the gap between traditional ground-based surveys and orbital sensors. However, these systems present challenges, including limited coverage area, image stabilization constraints, and complex image processing. In water [...] Read more.
The ongoing advancement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the evolution of small-scale cameras have bridged the gap between traditional ground-based surveys and orbital sensors. However, these systems present challenges, including limited coverage area, image stabilization constraints, and complex image processing. In water quality monitoring, these difficulties are further compounded by sun glint effects, which hinder the construction of accurate orthomosaics in homogeneous water surfaces and affect radiometric accuracy. This study focuses on evaluating these challenges by comparing two distinct airborne imaging platforms with different spectral resolutions, emphasizing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) monitoring. Hyperspectral airborne surveys were undertaken utilizing a pushbroom system comprising 276 bands, whereas multispectral airborne surveys were conducted employing a global shutter frame with 4 bands. Fifteen aerial survey campaigns were carried out over water bodies from two biomes in Brazil (Amazon and Savanna), at varying concentrations of TSS (0.6–130.7 mg L−1, N: 53). Empirical models using near-infrared channels were applied to accurately monitor TSS in all areas (Hyperspectral camera—RMSE = 3.6 mg L−1, Multispectral camera—RMSE = 9.8 mg L−1). Furthermore, a key contribution of this research is the development and application of Sun Glint mitigation techniques, which significantly improve the reliability of airborne reflectance measurements. By addressing these radiometric challenges, this study provides critical insights into the optimal UAV platform for TSS monitoring in inland waters, enhancing the accuracy and applicability of airborne remote sensing in aquatic environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of UVs in Digital Photogrammetry and Image Processing)
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Review

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26 pages, 25111 KiB  
Review
Monitoring Nodal Transportation Assets with Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review
by Taraneh Askarzadeh, Raj Bridgelall and Denver Tolliver
Drones 2024, 8(6), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8060233 - 30 May 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1585
Abstract
Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the condition of nodal transportation assets—airports, seaports, heliports, vertiports, and cargo terminals—presents a transformative approach to traditional inspection methods. The focus on nodal assets rather than linear assets like roads, railways, bridges, and waterways fills a [...] Read more.
Using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the condition of nodal transportation assets—airports, seaports, heliports, vertiports, and cargo terminals—presents a transformative approach to traditional inspection methods. The focus on nodal assets rather than linear assets like roads, railways, bridges, and waterways fills a gap in addressing the dynamic challenges specific to transportation hubs. This study reviews scholarly literature on applying UAV-based remote sensing (URS) techniques to assess the condition of various transportation hubs, which are critical junctures in global logistics networks. Utilizing a systematic literature review framework, this study reviewed 486 publications from 2015 to 2023 to extract insights from the evolving discourse on URS applications. The findings suggest that these emerging methods resulted in substantial enhancements in time saving, cost efficiency, safety, and reliability. Specifically, this study presents evidence on how URS approaches can overcome the constraints of conventional inspection methods by enabling rapid, high-precision mapping and surveillance in complex and constrained environments. The findings highlight the role of UAVs in enhancing operational workflows and decision making in transportation planning and maintenance. By bridging the gap between traditional practices and innovative technology, this research offers significant implications for stakeholders in the field, advocating for a shift towards more dynamic, cost-effective, and precise asset management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of UVs in Digital Photogrammetry and Image Processing)
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