High-resolution orthophoto map and digital surface models of the largest Argentine Islands (the Antarctic) from unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry

This study presents the first high-resolution orthophoto maps and digital surface models (DSMs) of the largest Argentine Islands, West Antarctica. Aerial surveys with small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were performed in Austral summer, 2018, taking 10,041 aerial photographs. Accuracy requirements w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lamsters, Kristaps, Karušs, Jānis, Krievāns, Māris, Ješkins, Jurijs
Format: Dataset
Language:unknown
Published: Taylor & Francis 2020
Subjects:
59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
FOS Earth and related environmental sciences
Ecology
FOS Biological sciences
Sociology
FOS Sociology
Inorganic Chemistry
FOS Chemical sciences
Antarctic
Argentine
Argentine Islands
Austral
The Antarctic
West Antarctica
Antarc*
Antarctica
Ice cap
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12095229.v1
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/High-resolution_orthophoto_map_and_digital_surface_models_of_the_largest_Argentine_Islands_the_Antarctic_from_unmanned_aerial_vehicle_photogrammetry/12095229/1
Description
Summary:This study presents the first high-resolution orthophoto maps and digital surface models (DSMs) of the largest Argentine Islands, West Antarctica. Aerial surveys with small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were performed in Austral summer, 2018, taking 10,041 aerial photographs. Accuracy requirements were ensured using ground control points (GCPs). A resolution of 3.4 and 6.8 cm/px of orthomosaics and DSMs is reached on average, and the RMS reprojection error is 0.22 m on average. We report the morphometric parameters of surveyed islands and discuss issues related to accuracy and the usage of UAVs in polar conditions. This study demonstrates that small and low cost UAVs can be successfully used in harsh polar conditions to obtain accurate orthomosaics and DSMs of mainly glaciated terrain. We provide all generated materials in full resolution available in a scientific data repository that could be used for the monitoring of ice cap changes, vegetation cover, and wildlife populations.

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