Workshop on Low Altitude UAV Photogrammetry

for Engineers and Geoscientists

Analysis of DSM and Orthophoto Accuracy

By: Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail

School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus

24th – 25th January 2018
 Outcome of this module

1. Able to use polygon to do measurement.

2. Able to calculate area, perimeter, and volume.

3. Able to calculate angle of specific structure.

Dense Cloud Classification and
DTM generation
with Agisoft PhotoScan

Open folder > Leaning Tower > Copy and Create

New Folder in Desktop > Paste
 1) Open File

1. Open the file copied in the desktop.

2. Click on the Dense Cloud Classes.
 Automatic Mode and How To Produce Digital
Terrain Model (DTM).

Generally automatic classification procedure consists of two steps.

1. Dense cloud is divided into cells of a certain size. In each cell the lowest point is
detected. Triangulation of these points gives the first approximation of the terrain
model.
2. New point is added to the ground class, providing that it satisfies two conditions:
• it lays within a certain distance from the terrain model and that the angle
between terrain model
• the line to connect this new point with a point from a ground class is less
than a certain angle.

The second step is repeated while there still are points to be checked.
 2) Ground Point Classification
1

1. Click Tools → Dense Cloud menu → Select Reset Classification... command

2. Tick any if available and click Ok.
 2) Ground Point Classification (cont)
1

1. Click Tools → Dense Cloud menu → Select Classify Ground Points... command
2. Select ‘Any class’ at From, To is default to ‘Ground and Low point’ and set other variables as shown in
figure 2.
 1. Max angle (deg)
Determines one of the conditions to be checked while testing a point as a
ground one, i.e. sets limitation for an angle between terrain model and
the line to connect the point in question with a point from a ground class.
In fact, this parameter determines the assumption for the maximum
slope of the ground within the scene.

2. Max distance (m)

Determines one of the conditions to be checked while testing a point as a
ground one, i.e. sets limitation for a distance between the point in
question and terrain model. In fact, this parameter determines the
assumption for the maximum variation of the ground elevation at a time.

3. Cell size (m)

Determines the size of the cells for point cloud to be divided into as a
preparatory step in ground points classification procedure. Cell size
should be indicated with respect to the size of the largest area within the
scene that does not contain any ground points, e. g. building or close
forest.

In case the result of automatic dense cloud classification is not acceptable the procedure can be re-run
using adjusted parameters (for example, if some on-ground objects like stones and small bushes were
classified as ground points it is reasonable to reduce Max angle and Max distance parameter values).

It is important to reset the assigned classes for the dense cloud prior to starting the procedure again with
the new set of parameters.
 2) Ground Point Classification (cont)

Ground points will be colored with brown color, low-points (noise) class points will be colored
by pink and unclassified points will remain white
 3) Mesh Analysis
1

2 3

1. Click Workflow and select Build Mesh menu.

2. In the Build Mesh menu, click ‘Select’ in Point Classes.
3. Unclick other except ground. Then, press OK.
 4) Build DEM
2
1
3

1. In Workflow menu, click Build DEM.

2. In Build DEM, Source data select ‘Mesh’ and Click Ok.
 4) Build DEM (cont)

Digital Terrain Model from Dense Cloud Classification

Volume, Area, Perimeter &
Profile Cross-section

Open folder > Sand Mining

 1) Open File

1. Make sure all the photo’s is available

2. Make sure all the photogrammetry analysis is done and available in the workspace pane.
 2) Open Dense Cloud Classes

1. Click on the Dense Cloud Classes icon to crop the area we wanted to calculate.
 3) Remove Secondary Faces
1 2

After the model is georeferenced it is necessary to remove all secondary faces leaving only the area to be calculated. Face removal

could be performed using Rectangle Selection, Circle Selection or Free Form Selection tools and Delete Selection button on the Toolbar.

1. Click on Free Form - Section to crop the needed region.

2. Crop carefully to remove the unwanted region, to ensure an accurate measurement be made.
3) Remove Secondary Faces (cont)

Region after Crop

 4) Close Holes
1

PhotoScan can calculate volume of a closed model only. So it is necessary to make the model closed using Close Holes.

1. from Tools menuClick on Free Form - Section to crop the needed region.
2. Crop carefully to remove the unwanted region, to ensure an accurate measurement.
 5) Draw Polygon
1 2

1. Click on ‘Draw Polygon’ icon .

2. Crop carefully to remove the unwanted region, to ensure an accurate measurement.
5) Draw Polygon(cont)

Region enclosed with polygon

 6) Measure Area, Volume, Profile & Perimeter
1 2

1. Click on DEM tab in the workspace pane.

2. Bring you cursor to the polygon we have drawn and click the polygon. Then right click, to choose
measure.
6) Measure Area, Volume, Profile & Perimeter
6) Measure Area, Volume, Profile & Perimeter (cont)
6) Measure Area, Volume, Profile & Perimeter (cont)

Best fit and mean level

planes are calculated based
on the drawn polygon
vertices.

Volume measured against

custom level plane allows
to trace volume changes for
the same area in the course
of time.
(3) Dimension of building,
Roof Inspection & other
measurement.
Open folder > RPS Building
 1) Open File

1. Click on DEM tab in the workspace pane.

2. Zoom into area we want to measure.
 2) Draw Polygon Line
2

1. Click on DEM tab in the workspace pane.

2. Click on the Draw Polygon tab to enclose the area we wanted to measure.
 2) Draw Polygon Line (cont)
1 2

1. Complete the Polygon to enclose the area specified.

2. Bring Cursor to the drawn polygon and right click to select ‘Measure’
3) Measure- Perimeter & Area
 4) Cross Section Profile – Angle of roof
1 2

1. Click on the draw polygon for cross section profile.

2. Bring Cursor to the drawn polygon and right click to select ‘Measure’
4) Cross Section Profile – Angle of roof

2.2 m

12 m

Slope of the Roof 10 ⁰

(4) Export Model to Sketch
Fab

Open folder > Leaning Tower

 1

1. Click on File Menu, then open Export Model.

2. Save file type as ‘Wavefront OBJ’ and File Name as FabModel.
3

4 https://sketchfab.com/feed

3. Compress the 3 new file created.

4. Click on the link and register your account.
5

3. Upload your model by drag and drop the ‘FabModel.Rar’ File.

4. Click continue to allow the web to process and upload your model.
SkecthFab Model
https://skfb.ly/6vVSC
Next Module 10