Quantitative Comparison of 3D Terrain Data Characteristics Based on UAV LiDAR, UAV SfM, and Digital Topographic Maps

doi:10.16879/jkca.2025.25.1.037

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2025 Vol.25, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Quantitative Comparison of 3D Terrain Data Characteristics Based on UAV LiDAR, UAV SfM, and Digital Topographic Maps UAV LiDAR, UAV SfM 및 수치지형도 기반 3차원 지형 데이터의 정량적 특성 비교: 김준석¹, 홍일영^2†
Juneseok Kim¹, Ilyoung Hong^2†; ¹남서울대학교 드론공간정보공학과 겸임교수
²남서울대학교 드론공간정보공학과 부교수

¹Adjunct Professor, Department of Drone & GIS Engineering, Namseoul University
²Associate Professor, Department of Drone & GIS Engineering, Namseoul University

30 April 2025. pp. 37~54

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Abstract

This study quantitatively compares the spatial accuracy and terrain representation characteristics of DEM data generated from UAV-based (Light Detection and Ranging), SfM (Structure from Motion), and traditional digital topographic maps. The analysis was conducted in the Beombae-san area of Siheung, South Korea, by dividing the terrain into flat, gentle slope, and steep slope zones. Statistical evaluations of elevation, slope, and aspect, as well as area distribution by reclassified slope classes, were performed. Results show that UAV LiDAR-based DEM exhibited the highest accuracy and resolution across all terrain types, while SfM-based data, though cost-effective and accessible, showed significant variability depending on vegetation density and terrain complexity. Topographic map-based DEMs, despite lower resolution, provided consistent results suitable for general terrain analysis. These findings offer practical insights into selecting and applying appropriate spatial data based on terrain conditions and analysis objectives.

Keywords

UAV

LiDAR

SfM

DEM

Terrain analysis

본 연구에서는 UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) 기반 LiDAR(Light Detection and Ranging), SfM(Structure from Motion), 그리고 수치지형도 기반 DEM(Digital Elevation Model) 데이터를 동일 지역에 적용하여 지형 데이터의 정밀도와 표현 특성을 정량적으로 비교 분석하였다. 경기도 시흥시 범배산 일대를 연구 대상지로 선정하고, 평지, 완사면, 급사면의 세 구역으로 나누어 고도 및 경사 통계, 경사 방향, 경사도 재분류에 따른 면적 분포를 비교하였다. 분석 결과, UAV LiDAR 기반 DEM은 모든 지형에서 가장 높은 정밀도와 해상도를 보여주었으며, SfM 기반 데이터는 비용과 접근성 면에서 유리하나 식생 및 지형 복잡도에 따라 정확도 변동이 크게 나타났다. 수치지형도 기반 DEM은 해상도는 낮지만 일정한 품질을 유지하며 일반적인 지형 분석에 적합한 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 지형 조건과 분석 목적에 따른 공간데이터 선택 기준을 제시하고, UAV 기반 지형 정보 활용 전략 수립에 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.

키워드

UAV

LiDAR

SfM

DEM

지형분석

References

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강준묵·윤희천·민관식·위광재, 2006, “LiDAR 자료에 의한 지형해석,” 한국측량학회지, 24(5), 389-397.
강준묵·윤희천·민관식·이원영, 2007, “수치지형도와 LiDAR 데이터를 이용한 지형경사도 비교분석,” 대한공간정보학회지, 15(4), 3-9.
김근용·장영재·이진교·유주형, 2022, “무인항공기 광학과 라이다 영상 기반 강화도 갯끈풀 분포와 정밀 지형 데이터셋,” Geo Data, 4(2), 1-8.
김준석·홍일영, 2020, “UAV를 활용한 사진측량의 지상 기준점 배치에 따른 정확도 분석,” 한국지도학회지, 20(2), 41-55.10.16879/jkca.2020.20.2.041
김진광·황철수, 2005, “항공사진을 이용한 정사사진지도제작,” 한국지도학회지, 5(1), 31-40.
김황순·서종철, 2013, “문경시 호계면 일대의 카르스트 지형 연구,” 한국지형학회지, 20(1), 1-9.
박준규·이근왕, 2020, “무인항공 LiDAR 센서에 따른 데이터 특성 분석,” 한국산학기술학회 논문지, 21(5), 1-6.
오정식·김동은, 2019, LiDAR, “수치지형도, 항공사진 기반 수치표고모델을 활용한 중부 양산단층의 선형구조 추출과 비교,” 대한지리학회지, 54(5), 507-525.
이용준·박근애·김성준, 2006, “로지스틱 회귀분석 및 AHP 기법을 이용한 산사태 위험지역 분석,” 대한토목학회논문집, 26(5D), 861-867.
홍일영, 2016, “오픈소스 소프트웨어를 이용한 마이크로 UAV 영상,” 한국지도학회지, 16(3), 139-151.10.16879/jkca.2016.16.3.139
Agüera-Vega, F., Ferrer-González, E., Carvajal-Ramírez, F., Martínez-Carricondo, P., Rossi, P., and Mancini, F., 2022, Influence of AGL flight and off-nadir images on UAV-SfM accuracy in complex morphology terrains, Geocarto International, 37(26), 12892-12912.10.1080/10106049.2022.2074147
Brede, B., Lau, A., Bartholomeus, H.M., and Kooistra, L., 2017, Comparing RIEGL RiCOPTER UAV LiDAR Derived Canopy Height and DBH with Terrestrial LiDAR, Sensors, 17(10), 2371.10.3390/s1710237129039755PMC5677400
Carrivick, J. L., Smith, M. W., and Quincey, D. J., 2016, The place of structure from motion, In Carrivick, J. L., Smith, M. W., and Quincey, D. J. (Eds.), Structure from Motion in the Geosciences, 9-36, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.10.1002/9781118895818
Ćwiąkała, P., Gruszczyński, W., Stoch, T., Puniach, E., Mrocheń, D., and Matwij, W., 2020, UAV applications for determination of land deformations caused by underground mining, Remote Sensing, 12(11), 1733. 10.3390/rs12111733
Ferreira, C. F., Hussain, Y., Uagoda, R., Silva, T. C., and Cicerelli, R. E., 2023, UAV-based doline mapping in Brazilian karst: A cave heritage protection reconnaissance, Open Geosciences, 15(1), 1-18.10.1515/geo-2022-0535
Fonstad, M. A., Dietrich, J. T., Courville, B. C., Jensen, J. L., and Carbonneau, P. E., 2013, Topographic structure from motion: A new development in photogrammetric measurement, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38(4), 421-430.10.1002/esp.3366
Gao, M., Yang, F., Wei, H., and Liu, X., 2022, Individual Maize Location and Height Estimation in Field from UAV-Borne LiDAR and RGB Images, Remote Sensing, 14(10), 2292.10.3390/rs14102292
Kim, J. and Hong, I., 2024, Evaluation of the Usability of UAV LiDAR for Analysis of Karst (Doline) Terrain Morphology, Sensors, 24(21), 7062. https://doi.org/10.3390/s2421706210.3390/s2421706239517959PMC11548729
Pilarska, M., Ostrowski, W., Bakuła, K., and Górski, K., 2016, The Potential of Light Laser Scanners Developed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles—The Review and Accuracy, The International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 42(2), 87-95. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W2-87-201610.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W2-87-2016
Mitasova, H., Hardin, E., Starek, M.J., and Overton, M.F., 2011, Landscape Dynamics from LiDAR Data Time Series, Geomorphometry Proceedings, 2011, 3-6.
Rodzik, J., Furtak, T., and Zgłobicki, W., 2016, The Impact of Snowmelt and Heavy Rainfall Runoff on Erosion Rates in a Gully System, Lublin Upland, Poland, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41(1), 130-144.
Salach, A., Bakuła, K., Pilarska, M., Ostrowski, W., and Kurczyński, Z., 2018, Accuracy Assessment of Point Clouds from LiDAR and Dense Image Matching Acquired Using the UAV Platform for DTM Creation, ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 7(9), 342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi709034210.3390/ijgi7090342
Smith, M. W., Carrivick, J. L., and Quincey, D. J., 2016, Structure from motion photogrammetry in physical geography, Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 40(2), 247-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/030913331561580510.1177/0309133315615805
Westoby, M. J., Brasington, J., Glasser, N. F., Hambrey, M. J., and Reynolds, J. M., 2012, Structure-from-motion photogrammetry: A low-cost, effective tool for geoscience applications, Geomorphology, 179, 300-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.08.02110.1016/j.geomorph.2012.08.021

Information

Publisher :The Korean Cartographic Association
Publisher(Ko) :한국지도학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Cartographic Association
Journal Title(Ko) :한국지도학회지
Volume : 25
No :1
Pages :37~54
DOI :https://doi.org/10.16879/jkca.2025.25.1.037

[1] 국토지리정보원, 2021, 항공 레이저 측량 작업 규정 (제2판), 국토교통부. https://www.ngii.go.kr

[2] 강준묵·윤희천·민관식·위광재, 2006, “LiDAR 자료에 의한 지형해석,” 한국측량학회지, 24(5), 389-397.

[3] 강준묵·윤희천·민관식·이원영, 2007, “수치지형도와 LiDAR 데이터를 이용한 지형경사도 비교분석,” 대한공간정보학회지, 15(4), 3-9.

[4] 김근용·장영재·이진교·유주형, 2022, “무인항공기 광학과 라이다 영상 기반 강화도 갯끈풀 분포와 정밀 지형 데이터셋,” Geo Data, 4(2), 1-8.

[5] 김준석·홍일영, 2020, “UAV를 활용한 사진측량의 지상 기준점 배치에 따른 정확도 분석,” 한국지도학회지, 20(2), 41-55.10.16879/jkca.2020.20.2.041

[6] 김진광·황철수, 2005, “항공사진을 이용한 정사사진지도제작,” 한국지도학회지, 5(1), 31-40.

[7] 김황순·서종철, 2013, “문경시 호계면 일대의 카르스트 지형 연구,” 한국지형학회지, 20(1), 1-9.

[8] 박준규·이근왕, 2020, “무인항공 LiDAR 센서에 따른 데이터 특성 분석,” 한국산학기술학회 논문지, 21(5), 1-6.

[9] 오정식·김동은, 2019, LiDAR, “수치지형도, 항공사진 기반 수치표고모델을 활용한 중부 양산단층의 선형구조 추출과 비교,” 대한지리학회지, 54(5), 507-525.

[10] 이용준·박근애·김성준, 2006, “로지스틱 회귀분석 및 AHP 기법을 이용한 산사태 위험지역 분석,” 대한토목학회논문집, 26(5D), 861-867.

[11] 홍일영, 2016, “오픈소스 소프트웨어를 이용한 마이크로 UAV 영상,” 한국지도학회지, 16(3), 139-151.10.16879/jkca.2016.16.3.139

[12] Agüera-Vega, F., Ferrer-González, E., Carvajal-Ramírez, F., Martínez-Carricondo, P., Rossi, P., and Mancini, F., 2022, Influence of AGL flight and off-nadir images on UAV-SfM accuracy in complex morphology terrains, Geocarto International, 37(26), 12892-12912.10.1080/10106049.2022.2074147

[13] Brede, B., Lau, A., Bartholomeus, H.M., and Kooistra, L., 2017, Comparing RIEGL RiCOPTER UAV LiDAR Derived Canopy Height and DBH with Terrestrial LiDAR, Sensors, 17(10), 2371.10.3390/s1710237129039755PMC5677400

[14] Carrivick, J. L., Smith, M. W., and Quincey, D. J., 2016, The place of structure from motion, In Carrivick, J. L., Smith, M. W., and Quincey, D. J. (Eds.), Structure from Motion in the Geosciences, 9-36, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.10.1002/9781118895818

[15] Ćwiąkała, P., Gruszczyński, W., Stoch, T., Puniach, E., Mrocheń, D., and Matwij, W., 2020, UAV applications for determination of land deformations caused by underground mining, Remote Sensing, 12(11), 1733. 10.3390/rs12111733

[16] Ferreira, C. F., Hussain, Y., Uagoda, R., Silva, T. C., and Cicerelli, R. E., 2023, UAV-based doline mapping in Brazilian karst: A cave heritage protection reconnaissance, Open Geosciences, 15(1), 1-18.10.1515/geo-2022-0535

[17] Fonstad, M. A., Dietrich, J. T., Courville, B. C., Jensen, J. L., and Carbonneau, P. E., 2013, Topographic structure from motion: A new development in photogrammetric measurement, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38(4), 421-430.10.1002/esp.3366

[18] Gao, M., Yang, F., Wei, H., and Liu, X., 2022, Individual Maize Location and Height Estimation in Field from UAV-Borne LiDAR and RGB Images, Remote Sensing, 14(10), 2292.10.3390/rs14102292

[19] Kim, J. and Hong, I., 2024, Evaluation of the Usability of UAV LiDAR for Analysis of Karst (Doline) Terrain Morphology, Sensors, 24(21), 7062. https://doi.org/10.3390/s2421706210.3390/s2421706239517959PMC11548729

[20] Pilarska, M., Ostrowski, W., Bakuła, K., and Górski, K., 2016, The Potential of Light Laser Scanners Developed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles—The Review and Accuracy, The International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 42(2), 87-95. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W2-87-201610.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-2-W2-87-2016

[21] Mitasova, H., Hardin, E., Starek, M.J., and Overton, M.F., 2011, Landscape Dynamics from LiDAR Data Time Series, Geomorphometry Proceedings, 2011, 3-6.

[22] Rodzik, J., Furtak, T., and Zgłobicki, W., 2016, The Impact of Snowmelt and Heavy Rainfall Runoff on Erosion Rates in a Gully System, Lublin Upland, Poland, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41(1), 130-144.

[23] Salach, A., Bakuła, K., Pilarska, M., Ostrowski, W., and Kurczyński, Z., 2018, Accuracy Assessment of Point Clouds from LiDAR and Dense Image Matching Acquired Using the UAV Platform for DTM Creation, ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 7(9), 342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi709034210.3390/ijgi7090342

[24] Smith, M. W., Carrivick, J. L., and Quincey, D. J., 2016, Structure from motion photogrammetry in physical geography, Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 40(2), 247-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/030913331561580510.1177/0309133315615805

[25] Westoby, M. J., Brasington, J., Glasser, N. F., Hambrey, M. J., and Reynolds, J. M., 2012, Structure-from-motion photogrammetry: A low-cost, effective tool for geoscience applications, Geomorphology, 179, 300-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.08.02110.1016/j.geomorph.2012.08.021

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