Abstract:
The application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in various fields has gained global recognition, particularly in civil engineering projects where they play a significant role. In tasks such as rapid surveying and resource-efficient operations, small-sized, cost-effective UAVs have become instrumental. This research aims to propose a methodology for assessing distance measurement accuracy using small-sized, low-cost UAVs, eliminating the need for costly RealTime Kinematic (RTK) satellite signal receivers, diverging from previous studies that often-requiredextensive resources and complex procedures. The research methodology involved three key steps: 1)Building a geometric shape distance measurement model consisting of three shapes: triangle, square, and pentagon 2)Defining the lengths of each side randomly, ranging from 34-38 metersand3)Measuring the lengths using a tape measure and comparing theresults with measurements obtained through image processing from aerial photographs at an altitude of 90 meters. The testing was conducted in an obstacle-free, flat terrain. The comparative analysis revealed that the average measurement errors for triangle, square, and pentagon shapes were 0.12, 0.15, and 0.14 meters, respectively, or 0.98%, 0.43%, and 0.37% in percentage terms. These discrepancies may be attributed to unclear reference points in certain positions within the images. However, when compared to human-based measurements, the UAV measurementsdemonstrated minimal motion, making them suitable for preliminary surveying work.