Ground Control Points (GCPs)
Ground Control Points (GCPs)
16” x 16”
Aerotas Ground Control Points (GCPs) are the best and most cost-effective targets for your drone survey project. Aerotas GCPs get you high accuracy data without the time and effort associated with lugging around and picking up bulky/expensive tiles.
>>Learn more about the evolution of Aerotas GCPs
New Disposable Hi-Vis Ground Control Points (GCPs)
What's new with Aerotas GCPs?
Pink & Green color pattern optimized to stand out during GCP marking in photogrammetry
Matte finish reduces glare and improves visibility
Environmentally friendly material biodegrades more rapidly
Aerotas has processed thousands of drone survey projects with hundreds of land surveyors from all across the country. We have worked with and seen tens of thousands of different ground control points. Through all of that experience, we thought that we could make a better ground control point than the spray paint, bucket lids, and kitchen tiles frequently used today.
The main reason Aerotas GCPs are better than a bucket lid is that there is an unambiguous, crystal clear center point that is visible even at 400' AGL.
Remember, if you cannot clearly see the center point of the ground control point, then that point cannot be accurately marked during photogrammetric processing. An accurate reading from your GPS rover only gets you so far. If you cannot accurately mark the center point, then you are introducing error into the model.
HOW THEY'RE MADE
Aerotas makes our Ground Control Points from a specific type of paper, designed specifically for this purpose. Aerotas builds our GCPs to biodegrade, so you don't have to waste time picking them up after a flight. They are also sturdy, built to withstand field conditions. A single nail is sufficient to anchor Aerotas GCPs to the ground, even in the wind.
SIZE
We have found that 12” x 12” is the most common size for simple GCPs. These work great at 200’ AGL or lower (assuming 20MP sensor) but can be very difficult to see otherwise. Larger ground control points, like the 19” x 19” Propeller AeroPoints, are easy to see from high altitude, but large enough that they are difficult to carry under one arm. Our GCPs, at 16” x 16” attempt to find the right balance of easy to carry and set, and easy to see in the field. They have 78% more surface area than 12” squares and are small enough to carry hundreds in a typical field truck without modifications.
TIME EFFICIENCY
On large projects, it can take hours to walk an entire project and pick up ground control points at the end of a project. Because Aerotas makes our GCPs from 100% bio-degradable paper, they can be left behind after a project, saving hours in the field.
VISIBILITY
Typical ground control points can be challenging to see from aerial photos. They are either too small to be seen from a high altitude, or have high contrast colors (like pure white) that wash out in the sunlight and can lead to inaccuracy. Aerotas GCPs are big enough to be seen from any altitude (16 "x16") and made from high-contrast colors. These colors are bright enough to be easily seen from the air but muted to a specific level so that they do not wash-out the image in direct sunlight. These colors are easily visible in a wide variety of environments, including grass, dirt, desert, and urban environments.
Pink & Green
The Pink & Green color pattern is optimized to stand out during GCP marking in photogrammetry.
ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY
No one likes leaving trash on a job site or littering the environment. That is why Aerotas designs and manufactures our Ground Control Points from 100% bio-degradable paper products. When left out in the elements, Aerotas GCPs will fully biodegrade in 3-6 months, limiting the impact that they have on the environment. Other types of ground control points are often made of plastic or vinyl and can take hundreds of years to bio-degrade. But, at Aerotas, we wanted to build something that can be left behind on a job site, without leaving a lasting mark on the environment.