Quantifying the Reliability of Volumetric and Areal Calculation with UAV-Generated DEMs: A Comparative Study with Ground Truth Data

Abstract

For performing an assessment of the volume estimation accuracy using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) generated by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), an evaluation of suitability has been made. The study was operated at Tikrit University, on a man-made topographic depression in the form of fishponds. The generated DEM by using the images of the UAV followed by accuracy assessment using Ground Control Points (GCPs), the points distributed evenly throughout the pond. The results showed that the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculated for the DEM at the optimum flight plane ranged between 0.14 to 0.45. Comparing the pond's predicted volume utilizing UAV DEMs to the ground truth volume obtained using GNSS RTK surveying, it was discovered that the UAV DEM calculation was 97% accurate. The study came to the conclusion that the UAV Structure from Motion (SFM) method and the generated DEMs are appropriate for precisely surveying the volumes utilizing the appropriate range of flying parameters based on prior knowledge.