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Applied Sciences
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Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
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Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 5921

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Julio Manuel De Luis-Ruiz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mining and Energy Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Interests: modeling; UAV’s; GIS; microgeodesy; mining surveying
Dr. José Antonio Domínguez-Gómez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Surveying, Geodesy and Cartography Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Interests: monitoring water quality by remote sensing; monitoring blooms cyanobacteria by remote sensing; time series in water quality and climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Raúl Pereda-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mining and Energy Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Interests: photogrammetry; GIS; bathymetry; geodesy
Dr. Rubén Pérez-Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Interests: mining engineering; heritage; 3D modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This issue is presented as an element that enables us to connect trends in research in the field of remote data collection, especially through the use of different sensors attachable to UAVs: from RGB to infrared or LIDAR sensors, among others. Articles related to the use of non-airborne remote sensors may also be sent.

The topics addressed include, but are not limited to, the methodologies, design, use and results obtained from the application of these remote sensors for the development of technologies that represent an advance towards sustainable progress and an improvement in performance in fields as broad as civil engineering, mining, agronomy, industry, heritage, photogrammetry, remote sensing, etc.

All researchers are encouraged to submit the results of their latest research and findings as full-length articles or reviews.

Prof. Dr. Julio Manuel De Luis-Ruiz
Dr. José Antonio Domínguez-Gómez
Dr. Raúl Pereda-García
Dr. Rubén Pérez-Álvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • UAV applications
  • LIDAR sensors
  • thermal sensors
  • RGB sensors
  • photogrammetry
  • modelling
  • image processing
  • bathymetries
  • teledetection

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 4496 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Photogrammetric Performance Test on Large Areas by Using a Rolling Shutter Camera Equipped in a Multi-Rotor UAV
by Alba Nely Arévalo-Verjel, José Luis Lerma, Juan Pedro Carbonell-Rivera, Juan F. Prieto and José Fernández
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 5035; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15095035 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
The generation of digital aerial photogrammetry products using unmanned aerial vehicle-digital aerial photogrammetry (UAV-DAP) has become an essential task due to the increasing use of UAVs in the world of geomatics, thanks to their low cost and spatial resolution. Therefore, it is relevant [...] Read more.
The generation of digital aerial photogrammetry products using unmanned aerial vehicle-digital aerial photogrammetry (UAV-DAP) has become an essential task due to the increasing use of UAVs in the world of geomatics, thanks to their low cost and spatial resolution. Therefore, it is relevant to explore the performance of new digital cameras equipped in UAVs using electronic rolling shutters instead of ideal mechanical or global shutter cameras to achieve accurate and reliable photogrammetric products, if possible, while minimizing workload, especially for their application in projects that require a high level of detail. In this paper, we analyse performance using oblique images along the perimeter (3D perimeter) on a flat area, i.e., with slopes of less than 3%. The area was photogrammetrically surveyed with a DJI (Dà-Jiāng Innovations) Inspire 2 multirotor UAV equipped with a Zenmuse X5S rolling shutter camera. The photogrammetric survey was accompanied by a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) survey, in which dual frequency receivers were used to determine the ground control points (GCPs) and checkpoints (CPs). The study analysed different scenarios, including the combination of forward and transversal strips and oblique images. After examining the ideal scenario with the least root mean square error (RMSE), six different combinations were analysed to find the best location for the GCPs. The most significant results indicate that the optimal calibration of the camera is obtained in scenarios including oblique images, which outperform the rest of the scenarios for achieving the lowest RMSE (2.5x the GSD in Z and 3.0x the GSD in XYZ) with optimum GCPs layout; with non-ideal GCPs layout, unacceptable errors can be achieved (11.4x the GSD in XYZ), even with ideal block geometry. The UAV-DAP rolling shutter effect can only be minimised in the scenario that uses oblique images and GCPs at the edges of the overlapping zones and the perimeter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
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24 pages, 30254 KiB  
Article
Assessing Spatiotemporal LST Variations in Urban Landscapes Using Diurnal UAV Thermography
by Nizar Polat and Abdulkadir Memduhoğlu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3448; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073448 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 324
Abstract
This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of land surface temperature (LST) across five distinct land use/land cover (LULC) classes through high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) thermal remote sensing. Thermal orthomosaics were systematically captured at four diurnal periods (morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight) over [...] Read more.
This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of land surface temperature (LST) across five distinct land use/land cover (LULC) classes through high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) thermal remote sensing. Thermal orthomosaics were systematically captured at four diurnal periods (morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight) over an urban university campus environment. Using stratified random sampling in each class with spatial controls to minimize autocorrelation, we quantified thermal signatures across bare soil, buildings, grassland, paved roads, and water bodies. Statistical analyses incorporating outlier management via the Interquartile Range (IQR) method, spatial autocorrelation assessment using Moran’s I, correlation testing, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) revealed substantial thermal variability across LULC classes, with temperature differentials of up to 17.7 °C between grassland (20.57 ± 5.13 °C) and water bodies (7.10 ± 1.25 °C) during afternoon periods. The Moran’s I analysis indicated notable spatial dependence in land surface temperature, justifying the use of GWR to model these spatial patterns. Impervious surfaces demonstrated pronounced heat retention capabilities, with paved roads maintaining elevated temperatures into evening (13.18 ± 3.49 °C) and midnight (2.25 ± 1.51 °C) periods despite ambient cooling. Water bodies exhibited exceptional thermal stability (SD range: 0.79–2.85 °C across all periods), while grasslands showed efficient nocturnal cooling (ΔT = 23.02 °C from afternoon to midnight). GWR models identified spatially heterogeneous relationships between LST patterns and LULC distribution, with water bodies exerting the strongest localized cooling influence (R2≈ 0.62–0.68 during morning/evening periods). The findings demonstrate that surface material properties significantly modulate diurnal heat flux dynamics, with human-made surfaces contributing to prolonged thermal loading. This research advances urban microclimate monitoring methodologies by integrating high-resolution UAV thermal imagery with robust statistical frameworks, providing empirically-grounded insights for climate-adaptive urban planning and heat mitigation strategies. Future work should incorporate multi-seasonal observations, in situ validation instrumentation, and integration with human thermal comfort indices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
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12 pages, 1880 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Number of GCPs and Placement Strategy for UAV-Based Orthophoto Production
by Dong-Min Seo, Hyun-Jung Woo, Won-Hwa Hong, Hyuncheol Seo and Wook-Jung Na
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 3163; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14083163 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1886
Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been employed to perform aerial surveys in many industries owing to their versatility, relatively low cost, and efficiency. Ground control points (GCPs) are used for georeferencing to ensure orthophoto geolocation/positioning accuracy. In this study, we investigate the impact [...] Read more.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been employed to perform aerial surveys in many industries owing to their versatility, relatively low cost, and efficiency. Ground control points (GCPs) are used for georeferencing to ensure orthophoto geolocation/positioning accuracy. In this study, we investigate the impact of the number and distribution of GCPs on the accuracy of orthophoto production based on images acquired by UAVs. A test site was selected based on regulatory requirements, and several scenarios were developed considering the specifications of the UAVs used in this study. The locations of GCPs were varied to obtain the results. Based on the results obtained for different numbers of GCPs per unit area and distribution of GCPs, it is shown that UAV-based platforms can be more extensively utilized in a range of applications. The findings of this study will significantly impact the development process of GCP automation algorithms and enable a more cost-effective approach when determining target sites for UAV-based orthophoto production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
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21 pages, 5990 KiB  
Article
4D Models Generated with UAV Photogrammetry for Landfill Monitoring Thermal Control of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfills
by Javier Sedano-Cibrián, Julio Manuel de Luis-Ruiz, Rubén Pérez-Álvarez, Raúl Pereda-García and Jonathan Daniel Tapia-Espinoza
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13164; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413164 - 11 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2024
Abstract
The management of the increasing volume of municipal solid waste is an essential activity for the health of the environment and of the population. The organic matter of waste deposited in landfills is subject to aerobic decomposition processes, bacterial aerobic decomposition, and chemical [...] Read more.
The management of the increasing volume of municipal solid waste is an essential activity for the health of the environment and of the population. The organic matter of waste deposited in landfills is subject to aerobic decomposition processes, bacterial aerobic decomposition, and chemical reactions that release large amounts of heat, biogas, and leachates at high temperatures. The control of these by-products enables their recovery, utilization, and treatment for energy use, avoiding emissions to the environment. UAVs with low-cost thermal sensors are a tool that enables the representation of temperature distributions for the thermal control of landfills. This study focuses on the development of a methodology for the generation of 3D thermal models through the projection of TIR image information onto a 3D model generated from RGB images and the identification of thermal anomalies by means of photointerpretation and GIS analysis. The novel methodological approach was implemented at the Meruelo landfill for validation. At the facility, a 4D model (X,Y,Z-temperature) and a 13.8 cm/px GSD thermal orthoimage were generated with a thermal accuracy of 1.63 °C, which enabled the identification of at least five areas of high temperatures associated with possible biogas emissions, decomposing organic matter, or underground fires, which were verified by on-site measurements and photointerpretation of the RGB model, in order to take and assess specific corrective measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technical Advances in UAV Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
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