Aerial photogrammetry has been a part of the evolution of geospatial technology and understanding for the last century, transforming how we capture and analyze the world from above. It has been used for mapping vast landscapes, for urban planning, environmental monitoring and disaster management. The applications are infinite, and growing. As technology evolves, so does the need for standardized practices to ensure accuracy, reliability and interoperability of the data collected. Enter the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), an organization dedicated to advancing the science and practices of photogrammetry and remote sensing through development of robust standards and educational resources for all.

What is ASPRS

Founded in 1934, ASPRS is a scientific society that serves a global community of thousands of professional members. Its objective revolves around the advancement of knowledge and comprehension within mapping sciences, and to help educate and build a community around the responsible use of photogrammetry, remote sensing, GIS, and other associated technologies. PixElement has been a member of ASPRS since 2016 and continues to participate in regional and national workshops, conferences, seminars and symposiums.

Why are Standards Important and How can They be Applied?

Standards are essential in any field to ensure consistency, reliability and interoperability. In geospatial data and mapping, standards are particularly crucial to have due to the wide-ranging applications and potential consequences of inaccuracies. Such standards provide a framework for assessing and communicating the quality and reliability of digital geospatial data, enabling users to make informed decisions for their projects, consequently leading to improved outcomes.

By integrating positional accuracy standards into your workflow, you can systematically assess and improve the quality of your geospatial data. For instance, during data acquisition, adhering to standardized protocols for ground control point placement and data collection techniques ensures consistency and accuracy. In the processing stage, implementing rigorous quality control measures, such as error propagation analysis and statistical validation, helps identify and mitigate errors.

Leveraging advanced software solutions like PixElement allows users to apply automated algorithms for data alignment and error correction, further enhancing accuracy and efficiency. By documenting adherence to positional accuracy standards in project reports and metadata, practitioners demonstrate transparency and accountability in their data management practices. Overall, the application of these standards in practice not only ensures the reliability of geospatial data but also instills confidence in its usability for informed decision-making in various domains.

The quality of your data depends on not only your equipment, but also on you. As a practitioner in this dynamic field, your expertise, attention to detail and adherence to best practices are paramount for achieving accurate and reliable results. PixElement allows users to add ground control points, checkpoints and tiepoints to validate their dataset and improve the overall connection of their imagery and/or LiDAR datasets.

Standards Release

The latest version of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) ‘Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data’ (Edition 2, Version 2.0) sets the stage for exceptional quality in best practices for photogrammetry. Developed by ASPRS specialists, and experts spanning public, private, and academic domains, this edition is set to enhance our geospatial capabilities and establishes a new benchmark for precision in digital geospatial data collection practices.

Key Changes in Edition 2:

  • Removal of 95% confidence level as an accuracy measure
  • Relaxation of ground control and checkpoints accuracy requirements
  • Introduction of “three-dimensional positional accuracy”
  • Additions to best practices and guidelines for Mapping with Photogrammetry, LiDAR and UAS

The publication is expected to be updated regarding the additional addendums for guidelines on mapping with photogrammetry, LiDAR and UAS.

If you would like to review the standards document, visit this link to download: https://publicdocuments.asprs.org/PositionalAccuracyStd-Ed2-V2

We will be publishing a longer blog post in the near future with some examples of how the Positional Accuracy Standards are applied in practice. Stay tuned!