Integrated UAV and geospatial approaches for high-precision digital terrain modeling in cadastre and land management

• Date: 2026
• Main Authors: Tarnavskyi, Vicheslav, Siroshtan, Tetiana, Komarova, Nataliia, Kaminetska, Oksana
• Format: Article
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Scientific Centre for Aerospace Research of the Earth Institute of Geological Science National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine 2026
• Subjects: unmanned aerial technologies; water body; aerial survey; hydrographic survey; land management; topographic and geodetic surveys; GNSS; sonar; cadastre; digital elevation model; orthophoto
• Online Access: https://ujrs.org.ua/ujrs/article/view/291
• Journal Title: Ukrainian Journal of Remote Sensing of the Earth

This study presents an integrated geospatial methodology for high-precision terrain modelling within the domains of land management and cadastre. The proposed approach combines UAV-based photogrammetry, hydrographic surveying using sonar (echo sounder), and GNSS measurements, enabling accurate and efficient topographic and geodetic data acquisition in areas with complex relief, limited accessibility, or restricted visibility.The methodology was tested in the Tetiyiv Territorial Community, Bila Tserkva District, Kyiv Region (Ukraine), where the research focused on water fund lands containing a pond, hydraulic structures, and protective coastal zones. Bathymetric data were obtained using a professional echo sounder capable of automated bottom scanning and real-time three-dimensional (3D) model generation. The collected data were integrated with UAV aerial imagery and GNSS ground control points to produce a comprehensive Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and high-resolution orthophotomap.The integration of multisource spatial datasets significantly enhances the accuracy and detail of the terrain model, supporting effective inventory, monitoring, and documentation of water fund lands and hydraulic infrastructure. The resulting cartographic materials, including 3D terrain reconstructions and 2D maps at a 1:1000 scale, provide a reliable spatial basis for cadastral registration, environmental monitoring, and spatial planning.The proposed “GNSS – Sonar – UAV” integrated methodology establishes a scalable and cost-effective framework for the modernization of cadastral and land management workflows. It contributes to the digital transformation of spatial data infrastructures in Ukraine by improving the precision, efficiency, and interoperability of topographic, cadastral, and hydrographic surveying processes. Author Contributions: Conceptualization – V.A. Tarnavskyi; Methodology – V.A. Tarnavskyi; Formal analysis – N.V. Komarova, O.V. Kaminetska; Systematization and visualization – V.A. Tarnavskyi, T.M. Siro¬shtan; Writing – original draft preparation – V.A. Tarnavskyi; Review and editing – N.V. Komarova, O.V. Kaminetska; Visualization – V.A. Tarnavskyi, T.M. Siroshtan. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This research received no external funding and was conducted using the authors’ own resources. Data Availability: Data are available from the authors upon reasonable request. Acknowledgments: The authors express their gratitude to the reviewers and editors for their valuable comments, recommendations, and careful attention to this work. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The methodology was tested in the Tetiyiv Territorial Community, Bila Tserkva District, Kyiv Region (Ukraine), where the research focused on water fund lands containing a pond, hydraulic structures, and protective coastal zones. Bathymetric data were obtained using a professional echo sounder capable of automated bottom scanning and real-time three-dimensional (3D) model generation. The collected data were integrated with UAV aerial imagery and GNSS ground control points to produce a comprehensive Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and high-resolution orthophotomap. The integration of multisource spatial datasets significantly enhances the accuracy and detail of the terrain model, supporting effective inventory, monitoring, and documentation of water fund lands and hydraulic infrastructure. The resulting cartographic materials, including 3D terrain reconstructions and 2D maps at a 1:1000 scale, provide a reliable spatial basis for cadastral registration, environmental monitoring, and spatial planning. The proposed “GNSS – Sonar – UAV” integrated methodology establishes a scalable and cost-effective framework for the modernization of cadastral and land management workflows. It contributes to the digital transformation of spatial data infrastructures in Ukraine by improving the precision, efficiency, and interoperability of topographic, cadastral, and hydrographic surveying processes.