Reconstructing 3D model of accident scene using drone image processing

Abstract

At the current stage, an investigation technique on the accident takes a longer time and this causes longer traffic congestion. The aim of this study is to reconstruct a 3D model of an accident scene using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The flight parameters that have been chosen are the circular method, the double grid method, and the single grid method. All these designs can produce a good 3D model to achieve the study’s objective. The methodology in this study is divided into 4 phases which are preliminary work, data acquisition, data processing, and data analysis. The main results of this study are the 3D model of the accident scene, an orthophoto map layout, and an accuracy assessment of a 3D model of reconstructed accident scene. All these parameters will be tested on accuracy based on the root mean square error (RMSE) value, comparing the UAV data and site measurement data. This objective has been tested for 10 different types of processing and different types of flight parameters. The best result among all the methods is the circular method 5 meters with ground control point (GCP) since this method has the least RMSE value which is 0.047 m. UAVs can replace the site measurement to reconstruct the accident scene.