Optimizing Ground Sampling Distance for Drone-Based GIS Mapping: A Case Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Drone-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping has become very popular mostly due to it is a cost-effective method to capture high-resolution aerial imagery. This high-resolution drone imagery relies on Ground Sampling Distance (GSD), which itself is an influential factor that affects the accuracy of drone-based mapping. This paper discusses the relationship existing between GSD and the accuracy of GIS mapping using drone imagery. It investigates the trade-off between GSD, flight altitude, and the obtained scene resolution to find the optimal GSD for different mapping applications through a case study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A novel methodology is also introduced to identify the optimal altitude for a drone’s camera in different applications. It aims to obtain the best flying altitude, giving an optimal ratio of accuracy and quality in the captured imagery according to GIS engineers.