Abstract: A method and system for controlling the flight path of an aerial vehicle measures a distance between the aerial vehicle in flight and a plurality of points to obtain a point cloud of point position data. A first contour line corresponding to the topographical ground and a second contour line corresponding to a top line of objects on the ground are segmented from the point cloud. Data representing the first contour line and/or data representing the second contour line is processed in a control unit of the aerial vehicle for determining a control signal for the aerial vehicle. The flight path of the aerial vehicle includes a first section in which the vertical position of the aerial vehicle is determined relative to the first contour line, and a second section in which the vertical position of the aerial vehicle is determined relative to the second contour line.

Abstract: Method for referencing aircraft-based position data to an Earth-related coordinate system. The method comprises obtaining position data from objects on the ground with an aircraft being in flight. The objects on the ground include a reference target, the reference target comprising a target device (21) having known coordinates in an Earth-related coordinate system, a first catenary line (13) being suspended from the target device (21) and a second catenary line (14) being suspended from the target device (21). The invention further relates to a corresponding system.

Abstract: A method and system for determining positions on the ground from an aerial vehicle, including scanning the ground with a measuring beam to obtain a point cloud, wherein each point of the point cloud represents coordinates of a position on the ground in an aircraft-related coordinate system; segmenting a first subset of points within the point cloud, wherein the first subset of points shares a predefined first distortion class; segmenting a second subset of points within the point cloud, wherein the second subset of points shares a predefined second distortion class; geo-referencing the point cloud from the aircraft-related coordinate system to an Earth-related coordinate system; strip adjusting the geo-referenced first subset of points relative to the geo-referenced second subset of points for identifying a set of correction parameters; correcting the geo-referenced first subset of points by the set of correction parameters.