Comparing the Accuracy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Ground Surveying Methods for Road Corridor Surveys: A Case Study of Parkoso Road

Traditional ground-based surveying methods in highway engineering often fall short in meeting project timelines because they are slow. Consequently, researchers are exploring new techniques to deliver accurate and reliable data within project schedules. However, these new approaches must demonstrate their reliability and effectiveness across various scenarios. This study aims to compare the accuracy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Real-Time Kinematic GPS (RTK GPS) in road corridor surveys. The research utilizes two main datasets: the first records point positions and elevations along the corridor using RTK GPS, while the second includes geometrically corrected aerial photographs from UAV surveys. Ground Control Points (GCPs) are used as benchmarks to ensure comparable accuracy between RTK GPS and UAV data. Notably, minimal positional shifts were observed between the two methods. Longitudinal profiles and cross-sections derived from both datasets were overlaid, showing negligible differences. Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) were calculated as 0.025m, 0.041m, and 0.065m for Eastings, Northings, and Elevations, respectively. The Arithmetic Mean Error (AME) and the Arithmetic Mean Standard Error (AMSE) were 0.032m and 0.0795m. Additionally, the Arithmetic Standard Deviation (ASD) between the survey methods was 1.1615E-16m. These statistical results indicate a strong agreement between UAV and RTK GPS measurements, suggesting UAVs can provide sufficient accuracy comparable to RTK GPS for road corridor topographic surveys.