Exploration of curved UAV flight path design methods for banded aerial survey areas

SUN Xinchao; LUO Qifeng; HE Zongyou; ZHANG Aoli; CAI Guolin

doi:10.6046/zrzyyg.2023291

2025 Vol. 37, No. 1

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Article navigation > Remote Sensing for Natural Resources > 2025 > 37(1): 68-75

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SUN Xinchao, LUO Qifeng, HE Zongyou, ZHANG Aoli, CAI Guolin. 2025. Exploration of curved UAV flight path design methods for banded aerial survey areas. Remote Sensing for Natural Resources, 37(1): 68-75. doi: 10.6046/zrzyyg.2023291

Citation:

SUN Xinchao, LUO Qifeng, HE Zongyou, ZHANG Aoli, CAI Guolin. 2025. Exploration of curved UAV flight path design methods for banded aerial survey areas. Remote Sensing for Natural Resources, 37(1): 68-75. doi: 10.6046/zrzyyg.2023291

Exploration of curved UAV flight path design methods for banded aerial survey areas

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

More Information

Corresponding author: LUO Qifeng

Received Date: 22 September 2023

Revised Date: 31 December 2023

Abstract

Abstract

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.
- banded areas /
- UAV aerial survey /
- design of curved flight paths /
- safety detection

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References

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