Assessment on UAV onboard positioning in ground control point establishment

UAV offers advantages in mapping purposes due to its size, flexibility, and ease of use above other aerial platforms. Several sensors attached to the system such as GPS receiver combining with control module enables navigation and positional information to be obtained by the pilot on ground. However, due to its notorious poor quality image acquisition, it is vital that the UAV has precise information. This study is divided into several phases' namely planning, equipment and lab test and also data collection using UAV on-board GPS. The quality of GCPs used in UAV images processing is an indicator of the degree of accuracy that images acquired using UAV could produce. The results were analyzed using linear equation, histogram and normal probability plot. To achieve the desired accuracy using UAV and the on-board GPS during flight, a study is carried out in order to determine precise positioning of the devices on stationary object to assess the accuracy of on-board GPS in static environment, before the UAV could carry out a flight mission so as to define the acceptable accuracy for low-cost projects.