Validation of measurements of land plot area using UAV imagery

This paper analyzes the potential use of very high resolution UAV imagery to measure the area of land plots to monitor land policies. The method used to monitor land is to measure the area of a set of land plots. Compared to traditional methods based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements or imagery obtained from aerial or satellite platforms, UAV systems lead to improved cost savings in this task without losing accuracy. The tests were conducted on 25 plots representing all the characteristics of a region (e.g. size, shape, border conditions and land use). We determined technical tolerance as a buffer using ISO 5725. We also assessed the relationship between the buffers obtained for the land plots and the characteristics of the plots. Technical tolerance in the digitized plots was within the range established by the European Union. This result shows the validity of UAV systems for land policy monitoring.