Exploration of curved UAV flight path design methods for banded aerial survey areas
SUN Xinchao1(), LUO Qifeng2(), HE Zongyou2, ZHANG Aoli1, CAI Guolin1
1. Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China 2. Institute of Land and Resource Surveying and Mapping of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510700, China
To improve the efficiency of UAV aerial surveys in complex banded areas, this study explored and proposed a design method for curved flight paths. This method included planning algorithms for both horizontal and variable-altitude curved flight paths for banded areas, as well as a detection algorithm for flight path safety based on a digital elevation model (DEM). First, a simulation system for UAV aerial surveys was constructed, and the method was tested for planar aerial surveys, variable altitude aerial surveys, and safety detection through simulation experiments. Then, the quality of the aerial photography production data was verified using actual aerial photography experiments. The results indicate that design algorithms for horizontal and variable-altitude flight paths can automatically generate reasonable flight paths for complex banded areas and that the detection algorithm for flight path safety can ensure route safety. Compared to conventional flight paths, the quality of aerial photography data from curved flight paths can also meet the requirements of existing regulations. In other words, for aerial surveys in complex banded areas, the method presented in this study allows for the automatic design of reasonable, safe flight paths and, thus, can effectively improve the operational efficiency of UAV aerial photography.
Bi K, Li Y C, Ding X B, et al. Aerial photogrammetric technology of light small UAV:Status and trend of development[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2015(3):27-31,48.
[2]
Nesbit P R, Hugenholtz C H. Enhancing UAV-SfM 3D model accuracy in high-relief landscapes by incorporating oblique images[J]. Remote Sensing, 2019, 11(3):239.
Gu G J, Zhang K P, Liu Z C, et al. Introduction to the standard of technology of tilt photogrammetry for UAV[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2017(s1):210-213.
Yu G R, Wang X T, Huang X M. Design and application of UAV surveying and mapping mission[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2017(s1):216-219.
[5]
Apostolidis S D, Kapoutsis P C, Kapoutsis A C, et al. Cooperative multi-UAV coverage mission planning platform for remote sensing applications[J]. Autonomous Robots, 2022, 46(2):373-400.
Sheng H, Li L H, Liu S S, et al. Route planning method for UAV inclined photography in complex urban areas[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2021(1):47-52.
doi: 10.13474/j.cnki.11-2246.2021.0009
Bi R, Gan S, Yuan X P, et al. UAV route planning and 3D mode-ling analysis in different terrain environment[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2022(4):83-89,129.
Wang B Q, Chen C, Wang H J, et al. A new ground-like flight method based on contours to construct drone routes[J]. Bulletin of Surveying and Mapping, 2020(11):104-107,115.
doi: 10.13474/j.cnki.11-2246.2020.0364
Li T S, Deng F, Wan F. Air route design method of multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles assisted by real 3D model[J]. Remote Sensing Information, 2017, 32(1):40-43.
[11]
Torres M, Pelta D A, Verdegay J L, et al. Coverage path planning with unmanned aerial vehicles for 3D terrain reconstruction[J]. Expert Systems With Applications, 2016,55:441-451.
Xu B, Chen L P, Tan Y, et al. Route planning algorithm and verification based on UAV operation path angle in irregular area[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2015, 31(23):173-178.
2025, Vol. 37 
), 骆奇峰2(
