From consumer to enterprise grade: How the choice of four UAS impacts point cloud quality

Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), combined with structure-from-motion photogrammetry, has already proven to be very powerful for a wide range of geoscience applications and different types of UAS are used for scientific and commercial purposes. However, the impact of the UAS used on the accuracy of the point clouds derived is not fully understood, especially for the quantitative analysis of geomorphic changes in complex terrain. Therefore, in this study, we aim to quantify the magnitude of systematic and random error in digital elevation models derived from four commonly used UAS (XR6/Sony α6000, Inspire 2/X4s, Phantom 4 Pro+, Mavic Pro) following different flight patterns. The vertical error of each elevation model is evaluated through comparison with 156 GNSS reference points and the normal distribution and spatial correlation of errors are analysed. Differences in mean errors (−0.4 to −1.8 cm) for the XR6, Inspire 2 and Phantom 4 Pro are significant but not relevant for most geomorphological applications. The Mavic Pro shows lower accuracies with mean errors up to 4.3 cm, thus showing a higher influence of random errors. QQ plots revealed a deviation of errors from a normal distribution in almost all data. All UAS data except Mavic Pro exhibit a pure nugget semivariogram, suggesting spatially uncorrelated errors. Compared to the other UAS, the Mavic Pro data show trends (i.e. differences increase with distance across the survey—doming) and the range of semivariances is 10 times greater. The lower accuracy of Mavic Pro can be attributed to the lower GSD at the same flight altitude and most likely, the rolling shutter sensor has an effect on the accuracy of the camera calibration. Overall, our study shows that accuracies depend highly on the chosen data sampling strategy and that the survey design used here is not suitable for calibrating all types of UAS camera equally.     

用数值预报场间接对比新疆两种型号探空系统

利用2007—2010年近4年的探空资料对比新疆中、北部地区乌鲁木齐、伊宁、克拉玛依、北塔山4个采用GTS (U)-2型P波段雷达-电子探空仪的探空站及其周围的阿勒泰、阿克苏和库尔勒3个采用GTS1型L波段雷达-电子探空仪的探空站的探空记录与预报场的偏差值,发现采用GTS1型探空仪的3个探空站的探空记录不仅在同一观测时段而且08:00(北京时,下同) 与20:00两个不同的观测时段与预报场差值的差异小;4个采用GTS (U)-2型探空仪的探空站的探空记录与预报场的差值在同一观测时间的差异小,但08:00和20:00的差异很大;且GTS (U)-2型探空仪与GTS1型探空仪20:00获取的探空记录与预报场差值的差异小,但08:00探空记录的差异大。综合对比结果表明:2007年1月—2010年3月新疆自治区采用的GTS (U)-2型探空仪的探空记录08:00可能存在问题,用户在数据资料分析时需要特别注意。     

祁连山青海云杉林空间结构分析

 通过调查祁连山青海云杉天然林1块100 m×100 m的大样地,利用其直径分布和混交度、角尺度、大小比数、开敞度4种结构参数对其空间结构进行了分析,结果表明：（1）青海云杉直径分布表明该林分是典型的异龄林直径结构;（2）青海云杉林地青海云杉为顶级群落且呈单种聚集,空间隔离程度为零度混交;（3）青海云杉直径大小比数和树高大小比数平均数均为0.49,生长上处于中庸状态,大小分化程度一般;（4）青海云杉林角尺度分布呈正态分布,其平均值为0.526,从林分水平分布格局上看,青海云杉分布是以团状分布的;（5）青海云杉开敞度大小为1.667,生长空间很充足。相关研究结果对于今后青海云杉林的合理经营能起到一定的借鉴意义。     

机载PPP与动基线测量相对定位精度比较与分析

机载精密单点定位可测量单个载体的位置和速度,这一模式能够满足大多数应用的需求。但在某些特殊应用场合,比如:远洋编队航行、舰载飞机着舰、空中加油、飞船交会对接等,要求解决两个运动目标之间高精度的相对定位问题。文中通过采用PPP模式和动基线测量两种模式对两个运动目标的相对定位进行比较与分析。     

基于MODIS—NDVI时序数据的重庆市植被变化研究

采用最大值合成（MVC）与最佳指数斜率提取（BISE）组合法和时间序列谐波分析法（HANTS）对重庆地区2006～2010年的共五年MODIS—NDVI时序数据进行降噪处理与数据重构,对重构结果进行对比与评价,并选其优者来评估重庆市的植被生长动态变化。结果表明,HANTS方法的除云去噪效果优于MVC与BISE组合法;2006～2010年,重庆市400m以下的地区植被变化较大,400m以上的区域植被呈连续变好趋势,研究结果可为重庆市生态保护与生态建设提供依据。     

TOPEX/Poseidon-Jason Comparison and Combination off Nova Scotia

Sea level observations from the tandem TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) and Jason-1 altimetry missions (2002–2003) are used to study characteristics of sea level and surface currents over the Scotian Shelf and Slope off Nova Scotia. The consistency and error characteristics of T/P and Jason-1 measurements are examined not only in terms of sea level and cross-track current anomalies but also with respect to current anomalies at crossovers, kinematic properties associated with Gulf Stream warm core rings (WCR), and the shelf-edge current transport. Nominal absolute currents are constructed by adding the altimetric geostrophic current anomalies to an annual-mean model circulation field. The concurrent frontal analysis data are analyzed for occurrence of the WCRs and associated kinematic properties are derived from altimetric current anomalies. The comparison of the sea level and cross-track current anomalies from January to July 2002 shows overall good agreement between T/P and Jason, with correlation coefficients different from zero at the 5% significance level at essentially all locations for sea level and at most locations for currents. The cross-track geostrophic current anomalies from January to July 2002 and from September 2002 to December 2003 are further used to calculate the root-mean-square (rms) current magnitude, and the normalized relative vorticity associated with WCRs. The altimetric currents are consistent with each other and complementary to frontal analysis data in deriving the properties of the WCRs. The rms current magnitude is ～55 cm/s and the normalized relative vorticity is ～0.15. The model-altimetry combined absolute currents are used to estimate near-surface transport associated with the shelf-edge current, showing good correlation between T/P and Jason estimates and strong seasonal changes. The current anomalies derived from altimetry and moored measurements are significantly (at the 5% significance level) correlated and comparable in the rms magnitude.     

Editorial

The long‐term mean sea level in the Baltic Sea is investigated using the coupled three‐basin model constructed by Carlsson (1997). The model is forced by the observed sea level in the Kattegat, the freshwater supply, horizontal air pressure and density gradients, and the wind stress. Both the seasonal variations and the slope of the mean sea level are investigated and compared with the results of another oceanographic model (Lisitzin, 1962) and a geodetic model (Ekman &; Mäkinen, 1996). In the geodetic model an unofficial height system, NH60, is used, and one part of the investigation is to find out whether this height system is useful for oceanographers. The estimated mean sea level difference between the northern and the southern parts of the Baltic Sea are: 17.1 cm (the present model), 26 cm (Lisitzin's model), and 18.3 cm (the geodetic model). It is concluded that the mean sea level difference between the northern and southern parts of the Baltic Sea is due mainly to horizontal variations of density and air pressure, and that the height system NH60 is suitable for oceanographie applications.     

江西冰雹与雷雨大风气候变化特征的对比分析

利用江西省85个气象站46年的监测资料,采用气候统计分析方法,研究江西省冰雹与雷雨大风气候变化特征,结果表明:冰雹易发区主要分布在江西中西部,有4个中心;雷雨大风易发区主要分布于中北部的地势平整地区,有2个中心。冰雹季节变化呈单峰型,3—5月最容易出现冰雹,4月份最多;雷雨大风季节变化呈双峰型,主要出现在3-8月,3-5月为一高峰,6-8月为另一高峰。冰雹1981年以前以12 a周期经历了3次转换,1981年后以18 a周期进行变化,同时还在9 a时间周期进行了4次转换。雷雨大风主要以中高频周期振荡为主,1973年前为12 a的振荡周期,1974年后,振荡周期主要以6 a为主。EOF展开的第一特征向量表明江西冰雹与雷雨大风的变化趋势总体特征是一致的;第二特征向量表明冰雹和雷雨大风在地势平整地区与多山地区都存在反位相变化,而江西南部雷雨大风变化更显著;第三特征向量表明冰雹和雷雨大风在武夷山附近与其他地区都存在反位相的变化。     

苏尼尔水文站气象要素对比分析

根据苏尼尔水文站新气象站与原气象站2007年10月—2008年9月的气温、降水量、水面蒸发量等同期观测资料,分析了各气象要素随位置及地形的变化特征。结果表明,气温随高度升高而降低,降水量随高度升高而增大;新气象站位于苏尼尔河出山口,受地形因素影响,风速相对较大,大风出现频次高,蒸发量较大,大多数月份没有出现蒸发量随高度升高而减小的变化趋势。     

双参数威布尔分布函数在希尼尔水库风速资料分析中的应用

介绍计算威布尔分布参数的累积分布函数拟合法、平均风速和标准差估计法、平均风速和最大风速估计3种算法,并应用此算法计算了希尼尔水库地区的风速威布尔分布参数。将拟合的风速概率分布与同期的风速实际频率分布结果进行分析,并将拟合曲线应用到实际中,对希尼尔水库风能资源开发做初步评价。