I have a project that has local coordinates (no coordinate system, coordinates were just assumed). Are there any advantages to using an RTK drone when flying the site if I will be using GCPs on the same project local coordinate system? Won’t the RTK flight data essentially just be “rubber-sheeted” to the GCPs?
Hello,
Yes, if the project uses local assumed coordinates, the GCPs will define the final reference system and the RTK image positions will be adjusted to fit them. However, RTK can still improve the project by providing better initial camera positions, which often leads to more stable calibration and alignment. It can also reduce the number of GCPs needed and improve consistency, especially in the vertical component. So while RTK will not control the final coordinates in this case, it can still make the project more efficient and robust.
You might want to look at creating a site localization file. This will make you workflows even easier. If you are interested, Pix4D can help to create this file for you.