QA4UAV: a standard workflow to quality assure UAV products

The Challenge

Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery has become widely applied in the mining industry in recent years, but variable spatial accuracy and lack of traceability in the range of systems used mean that much data gathered in this way is not standardised or fit-for-purpose for advanced scientific analysis.

The Solution

This project created operational Minimum Viable Product (MVP) software suitable for undertaking a range of checks required to automate imagery quality assurance, including 11 metadata checks and three photogrammetric checks.

The standardisation provided by this tool is intended to establish a universal framework allowing integration of image data collected from diverse sources, and supporting future development of a broader set of improved aerial imagery analysis products.

Benefit to WA

Application of a standard UAV workflow across the Western Australian mining sector would help the industry operate at the leading edge of technological development globally, and prepare WA mines for future developments in remote analysis and operations.

Keywords: UAV, remote sensing, remote imagery, spatial information, drones