Overview The EuroSDR RPAS benchmark datasets were aqcuired in August 2021 as part of the EuroSDR benchmark initiative. This aims to evaluate the true geometric quality of real-world survey data generated from Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) photogrammetry and lidar under different control configurations, focussing primarily on the geometric quality of data generated in the absence of ground control and local GNSS base station information. Guided by a task force of National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs) experts and academics, in August 2021 Newcastle Geospatial Engineering team have established and surveyed a coordinated test field of independent checkpoints (CPs), test surfaces and profiles at the disused Wards Hill Quarry near Morpeth, Northumberland, UK. The 350 x 250 m study area was simultaneously surveyed using the following RPAS mounted instruments, each limited to a single flight to represent “real-world” operation: DJI Phantom 4 RTK DJI ZENMUSE P1 DJI ZENMUSE L1 Routescene LidarPod Riegl MiniVUX More information can be found here. To facilitate and encourage wider use of the EuroSDR RPAS dataset, it has been made open access. About us We are the Geospatial Engineering research group in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University with a long history of research and teaching across geospatial disciplines. EuroSDR is a not-for-profit organisation linking National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies with Research Institutes and Universities in Europe for the purpose of applied research in spatial data provision, management and delivery.

Acknowledgements EuroSDR funds this benchmark study. We would like to thank DJI, Heliguy and Routescene for assisting the data collection exercise, and Leica Geosystems for provision of surveying equipment used in the ground exercise. Newcastle University equipment used in this study was funded by UKCRIC - UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities: Newcastle Laboratories (EP/R010102/1).