Implementation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Automated Assessment of Geodetic Database Validity

Nowadays, the progress of technology covers, among other things, the development of modern techniques and high technologies used in land surveys. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as a good alternative to conventional land survey techniques, have currently played an increasing role. The advantages of using unmanned aerial vehicles in photogrammetric measurements include a relatively short mission time for large-area surveys. In addition, photogrammetric products have a wider range of applications compared with conventional geodetic surveys. Many scientific publications delve into the quality of photogrammetric products, but the accuracy of UAVs in the context of geodetic standards has not been investigated in full. In this paper, we attempt to fill the observed research gap. Our research has analysed the position of objects recorded in geodetic databases referring to their counterparts based on an accurate orthophotomap from a photogrammetry campaign employing an unmanned aerial vehicle. The outcomes were referenced with land survey accuracy standards set out by relevant legislation. To ensure a smooth assessment of the result's accuracy we designed a computing algorithm with a module for selecting comparable points and verifying the results. The tool can be implemented in surveys carried out in any area thanks to open-source GIS software. Our analysis showed that a detailed orthophotomap delivered using UAVs can be a valuable data source on objects recorded in geodetic databases covering selected cadastral and topographic objects and land development components. A general verification of the accuracy and validity of a geodetic numerical map and preliminary detection of areas for potential updates can be a particularly useful application of photogrammetry.