Generation of High-Resolution 3-D Maps for Landscape Planning and Design Using UAV Technologies

Creative Commons License

ÇİLEK A., BERBEROĞLU S., DÖNMEZ C., ÜNAL M.

Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, vol.5, no.1, pp.175-284, 2020 (Scopus)

Abstract

To support the decision-making process and to share ideas easily and make them quickly accessible to users, new digital tools are gradually being developed from two-dimensional and three-dimensional levels, to the fourth dimension. Traditionally, remote sensing images, including aerial (un-manned or manned) or satellite systems, are used to collect geospatial data. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), however, have recently become a suitable technology for providing exceptionally high spatial and temporal resolution data at a lower cost than other remote sensing data. Landscape architects using UAVs for versatile flying platforms for various sensors and photogrammetric software can create 3-D models faster than traditional topographic research methods. This study aims to demonstrate the poten-tial of using UAVs for obtaining 3-D topographic data from various types of UAVs that can be used as a basis in landscape planning and design studies. This study proposes an established 3-D data generation workflow and its use in landscape design and planning applications using a fixed wing UAV with a GoPro 4 camera having 12 MP CMOS Sensor, and a quadcopter with 20 MP CMOS Sensor to collect image data for 3-D maps using photogrammetry. This study shows that UAVs provide promising op-portunities for creating high-resolution and precise images, thus making 3-D mapping easier.