{"title":"Simulation and Validation of Real-Time UAV-Based GNSS-R Altimetry Across Diverse Landforms","authors":"Ziyin Xu;Xianyi Wang;Junming Xia;Zhenhe Zhai;Zhuoyan Wang;Cheng Liu;Yusen Tian;Tongsheng Qiu;Yueqiang Sun;Qifei Du;Weihua Bai;Feixiong Huang;Cong Yin","doi":"10.1109/JSTARS.2025.3602102","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Accurate measurement of land surface elevation is essential for applications, such as terrain mapping, environmental monitoring, and ecological assessment. However, conventional spaceborne and ground-based techniques face challenges in achieving both high accuracy and real-time performance. To address these limitations, this work proposes a BeiDou-based UAV global navigation satellite system reflectometry altimetry system capable of delivering real-time elevation estimates at a 5 Hz sampling rate. The system integrates a compact, low-power receiver with a real-time correction framework, thereby eliminating the need for postprocessing. Performance was evaluated through three experiments involving variable flight altitudes (10–110 m), low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, and complex terrain scenarios (1300–1550 m). The system achieved an accuracy of 1.5 m under both low-altitude and low-SNR conditions, and approximately 1.854 m in complex terrain scenarios. These consistent results across diverse conditions indicate the system’s robustness and generalizability. To support realistic signal modeling, a 12.5 m resolution ALOS digital elevation model and the GSS-9000 simulator were employed. In addition, terrain undulation, vegetation characteristics, and surface roughness were incorporated into the modeling process. The results demonstrate that the system has strong potential for practical use in terrain mapping and disaster monitoring applications.","PeriodicalId":13116,"journal":{"name":"IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing","volume":"18 ","pages":"22151-22164"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=11134769","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11134769/","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Accurate measurement of land surface elevation is essential for applications, such as terrain mapping, environmental monitoring, and ecological assessment. However, conventional spaceborne and ground-based techniques face challenges in achieving both high accuracy and real-time performance. To address these limitations, this work proposes a BeiDou-based UAV global navigation satellite system reflectometry altimetry system capable of delivering real-time elevation estimates at a 5 Hz sampling rate. The system integrates a compact, low-power receiver with a real-time correction framework, thereby eliminating the need for postprocessing. Performance was evaluated through three experiments involving variable flight altitudes (10–110 m), low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, and complex terrain scenarios (1300–1550 m). The system achieved an accuracy of 1.5 m under both low-altitude and low-SNR conditions, and approximately 1.854 m in complex terrain scenarios. These consistent results across diverse conditions indicate the system’s robustness and generalizability. To support realistic signal modeling, a 12.5 m resolution ALOS digital elevation model and the GSS-9000 simulator were employed. In addition, terrain undulation, vegetation characteristics, and surface roughness were incorporated into the modeling process. The results demonstrate that the system has strong potential for practical use in terrain mapping and disaster monitoring applications.
期刊介绍:
The IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing addresses the growing field of applications in Earth observations and remote sensing, and also provides a venue for the rapidly expanding special issues that are being sponsored by the IEEE Geosciences and Remote Sensing Society. The journal draws upon the experience of the highly successful “IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing” and provide a complementary medium for the wide range of topics in applied earth observations. The ‘Applications’ areas encompasses the societal benefit areas of the Global Earth Observations Systems of Systems (GEOSS) program. Through deliberations over two years, ministers from 50 countries agreed to identify nine areas where Earth observation could positively impact the quality of life and health of their respective countries. Some of these are areas not traditionally addressed in the IEEE context. These include biodiversity, health and climate. Yet it is the skill sets of IEEE members, in areas such as observations, communications, computers, signal processing, standards and ocean engineering, that form the technical underpinnings of GEOSS. Thus, the Journal attracts a broad range of interests that serves both present members in new ways and expands the IEEE visibility into new areas.