Vertical accuracy assessment of LiDAR ground points using minimum distance approach

Light Detection And Ranging is now being widely used to provide accurate digital elevation model (DEM). One common method used to determine the accuracy of LiDAR - Light Detection And Ranging - vertical accuracy is compared LiDAR-derived DEM elevation with survey-derived ground control points (GCPs). However, because the DEM elevations are generalised to the areas covered by one cell, inherent errors when compared to the elevation of a GCP are evident. This paper presents a method based on a minimum distance approach using the so called first law of geography to assess the accuracy of LiDAR ground point dataset. The result has shown that the tested LiDAR ground point dataset is suitable for applications that do not need a vertical accuracy better than 0.5m.