Journals / Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Fen ve Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 26 Sayı: 2

Improving Digital Twin and Virtual Reality Performance in Challenging Land Classes by UAV and TLS Data Fusion

İHA ve TLS Veri Füzyonu ile Zorlu Arazi Sınıflarında Dijital İkiz ve Sanal Gerçeklik Performansının İyileştirilmesi

Umut Güneş Sefercik(GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-2403-5956
Mertcan Nazar(GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-3280-5685
Muhammed Madak(GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-2129-2578
Pages
393–407
Publication Date
2026-03-27
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This approach enhances the interpretability of spatial data and facilitates user engagement with complex spatial information within an immersive virtual world.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The creation of realistic three-dimensional (3D) models of objects has become a subject of significant interest and attention in both academic and industrial contexts.
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Key Findings & Data:The generation of a virtual representation of physical reality within a digital environment can be achieved by utilizing high-quality and precise 3D textured mesh models derived from aerial photos obtained through the latest technological advancements, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.
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Conclusion & Impact:This approach enhances the interpretability of spatial data and facilitates user engagement with complex spatial information within an immersive virtual world.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Füzyon · İHA · TLS

Abstract

The creation of realistic three-dimensional (3D) models of objects has become a subject of significant interest and attention in both academic and industrial contexts. The generation of a virtual representation of physical reality within a digital environment can be achieved by utilizing high-quality and precise 3D textured mesh models derived from aerial photos obtained through the latest technological advancements, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. Optical UAV systems have become an indispensable tool in 3D modeling; however, due to operating on the basis of passive remote sensing, their 3D modeling performance may be decreased in dense vegetation, forest understory, and structures, including bridges, viaducts, and underpasses, in which some parts cannot be comprehensively visualized. In this study, a solution based on the fusion of different techniques is proposed to enhance precise 3D digital twin generation, hence improving virtual reality (VR) performance in challenging land classes. Accordingly, a methodology has been developed for combining optical UAV data collected in the above-mentioned areas, where 3D modeling performance may be degraded, with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data collected during the field survey in the same areas to achieve high geometric accuracy and generate 3D digital twins that are highly realistic in terms of geometric and spectral features. The proposed methodology was successfully employed to generate realistic digital twins of objects with high accuracy, achieving a geometric accuracy of 3.8 cm as the average root mean square error (RMSE). Finally, high-accuracy digital twins were successfully integrated into the VR environment using the Unity game engine. This resulted in a realistic and interactive VR experience, allowing users to explore the environment and view the precise 3D digital twins in high detail. This approach enhances the interpretability of spatial data and facilitates user engagement with complex spatial information within an immersive virtual world.

Özet

Nesnelerin gerçekçi üç boyutlu (3B) modellerinin oluşturulması hem akademik hem de endüstriyel bağlamlarda önemli bir ilgi odağı haline gelmiştir. Dijital bir ortamda fiziksel gerçekliğin sanal bir temsilinin oluşturulması, insansız hava aracı (İHA) sistemleri de dâhil olmak üzere en son teknolojik gelişmelerle elde edilen hava fotoğraflarından üretilen yüksek kaliteli ve hassas 3B doku giydirilmiş mesh modellerin kullanılmasıyla gerçekleştirilebilir. Optik İHA sistemleri 3B modellemede vazgeçilmez bir araç haline gelmiştir, ancak pasif uzaktan algılama prensibine bağlı çalışmaları nedeniyle 3B modelleme performansları yoğun bitki örtüsünde, orman alt tabakasında ve bazı kısımların kapsamlı bir şekilde görüntülenemediği köprüler, viyadükler ve alt geçitler gibi yapılarda düşebilir. Bu çalışmada, hassas 3B dijital ikiz üretimini geliştirmek ve dolayısıyla zorlu arazi sınıflarında sanal gerçeklik (VR) performansını iyileştirmek için farklı tekniklerin birleştirilmesine dayalı bir çözüm önerilmiştir. Bu doğrultuda, yukarıda belirtilen 3B modelleme performansının düşebileceği alanlarda toplanan optik İHA verilerini, aynı alanlarda gerçekleştirilen arazi çalışması sırasında toplanan yersel lazer tarama (TLS) verileriyle birleştirerek yüksek geometrik doğruluk elde etmek ve geometrik ve spektral özellikler açısından oldukça gerçekçi 3B dijital ikizler üretmek için bir yöntem geliştirilmiştir. Önerilen yöntem, nesnelerin gerçekçi dijital ikizlerini yüksek doğrulukla üretmek için başarıyla kullanılmış ve karesel ortalama hata (RMSE) olarak 3.8 cm'lik bir geometrik doğruluk elde edilmiştir. Son olarak, yüksek doğruluklu dijital ikizler Unity oyun motoru kullanılarak VR ortamına başarıyla entegre edilmiştir. Bu, kullanıcıların çevreyi keşfetmesine ve hassas 3B dijital ikizleri yüksek ayrıntıyla görüntülemesine olanak tanıyan gerçekçi ve etkileşimli bir VR deneyimiyle sonuçlanmıştır. Böylelikle, hem mekânsal verilerin yorumlanabilirliği artırılmış hem de kullanıcının karmaşık mekânsal verilerle etkileşimi sürükleyici bir sanal ortam içerisinde sağlanmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Sefercik, U. G., Nazar, M., Madak, M. (2026). Improving Digital Twin and Virtual Reality Performance in Challenging Land Classes by UAV and TLS Data Fusion. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Fen ve Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 26 Sayı: 2, 393–407. https://doi.org/10.35414/akufemubid.1738352

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