Research on Seamless 3D Modeling Using UAV Technology Combined with Smartphone LiDAR

In recent years, the rise of the "digital twin" concept has significantly expanded the potential applications of 3D modeling in disaster prevention engineering. Among these, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has emerged as a key method for terrain and structural modeling. As UAV technology continues to advance rapidly, its use in engineering has become increasingly widespread. With their high mobility and low-altitude operational capabilities, UAVs effectively overcome challenges such as post-disaster traffic disruptions and cloud cover. They are now widely utilized in tasks like terrain mapping, regional inspections, vegetation seeding, and disaster prevention surveys. Despite these advantages, UAV-based 3D modeling faces challenges. Vegetation often obstructs the clear capture of structures, and modeling resolution can be inadequate for certain applications. However, the LiDAR functionality integrated into smartphones offers a promising solution. This technology enables the rapid creation of high-precision 3D models and the accurate measurement of structural dimensions and volumes, even in steep terrains or remote locations that are difficult to access. This study explores the integration of UAV technology with ground-based LiDAR scanning using the iPhone 15 Pro, aiming to achieve seamless 3D modeling through an air-ground integration approach. The research focuses on merging aerial and ground point clouds. To accomplish this, we will employ both commercial software (e.g., Pix4Dmatic) and custom-developed point cloud fusion techniques. Each approach will be evaluated and compared comprehensively in terms of cost, processing time, and model accuracy. By combining UAV with smartphone-based applications, this study is expected to significantly improve model accuracy and detection efficiency in disaster prevention engineering. Moreover, the proposed approach holds broad potential for application in other fields, such as road design, landscape architecture, and urban planning.