March 2026 Magazine - Flipbook - Page 23
TECH TALK
Accuracy and precision are not the same. A dense point cloud may
exhibit high precision, yet still lack accuracy if control, georeferencing, or
classification are flawed. Conversely, a surface acceptable for earthwork
estimation may be inappropriate for final plat deliverables and most
certainly not acceptable for boundary retracement. Acceptable tolerance
is defined by intended use and professional judgment4not point density
alone.
A sound UAS workflow extends beyond field capture. Standard
processing includes trajectory refinement, georeferencing, point cloud
generation, ground classification, surface extraction, quality comparison
against check shots, and preparation of deliverables compatible with
engineering platforms. Each stage should be documented. Metadata,
coordinate systems, control reports, and quality checks form part of the
professional record.
