The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences
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Articles | Volume XXXVIII-5/W12
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-XXXVIII-5-W12-151-2011
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-XXXVIII-5-W12-151-2011
03 Sep 2012
 | 03 Sep 2012

GEO-REFERENCED MAPPING USING AN AIRBORNE 3D TIME-OF-FLIGHT CAMERA

T. K. Kohoutek, M. Nitsche, and H. Eisenbeiss

Keywords: Range Imaging, UAV, real time, 3D geometric mapping, elevation model

Abstract. This paper presents the first experience of a close range bird's eye view photogrammetry with range imaging (RIM) sensors for the real time generation of high resolution geo-referenced 3D surface models. The aim of this study was to develop a mobile, versatile and less costly outdoor survey methodology to measure natural surfaces compared to the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Two commercial RIM cameras (SR4000 by MESA Imaging AG and a CamCube 2.0 by PMDTechnologies GmbH) were mounted on a lightweight crane and on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The field experiments revealed various challenges in real time deployment of the two state-of-the-art RIM systems, e.g. processing of the large data volume. Acquisition strategy and data processing and first measurements are presented. The precision of the measured distances is less than 1 cm for good conditions. However, the measurement precision degraded under the test conditions due to direct sunlight, strong illumination contrasts and helicopter vibrations.