3D modeling of ultra-high-resolution UAV imagery using low-cost photogrammetric software and structure from motion

The availability of advanced low-cost unmanned aerial systems (UASs), aftermarket applications, and a competitive market for processing software have provided researchers new opportunities for employing high resolution remote sensing in research. The UAS allows for the capture of close range aerial imagery that can then be used to generate dense point clouds using structure from motion (SfM). A variety of digital products can be created form these dense point clouds such as three-dimensional models, digital elevation models (DEMs), digital surface models (DSMs) and orthomosaics. This dissertation looks at methods and accuracies associated with the creation of digital mapping products from dense point clouds generated from imagery captured by two low-cost off the shelf UASs. The UASs were used to capture imagery over a 2-hectare vineyard in the Uwharrie mountains of North Carolina. Aspects of imagery collection, such as altitude, ground control, camera types, flight paths, and target styles, were investigated for their impacts on accuracy. Thirty-one ground control points were created in the vineyard using a survey grade GNSS receiver and total station for use in georeferencing. The number of ground control points used for georeferencing were reduced until a significant difference in accuracy was found using t-tests. Five ground control points were shown to be the least amount of ground control needed before accuracy began to change significantly. Four flight altitudes were tested with 80-meters generating the least level of error. Orthomosaics created from structure from motion and imagery collected using a global shutter 20-megapixel had total RMS errors between 2-4 cm

Product Design

Product design is a comprehensive process related to the creation of new products, and the ability to design and develop efficient products are key to success in today’s dynamic global market. Written by experts in the field, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the product design process and its applications in various fields, particularly engineering. Over seven chapters, the authors explore such topics as development of new product design methodologies, implementation of effective methods for integrated products, development of more visualized environments for task-based conceptual design methods, and development of engineering design tools based on 3D photogrammetry, among others