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Positional accuracy assessment of historical Google Earth imagery in Lagos State, Nigeria

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A Correction to this article was published on 14 October 2022

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Abstract

The horizontal accuracy of historical Google Earth (GE) images at four epochs between the years 2000 and 2018, and the vertical accuracy of its elevation data within Lagos State, in Nigeria, are respectively evaluated by comparison with a very high–resolution digital orthomosaic and comparison with 558 ground control points. Two readily available 30-m digital elevation models (DEMs) — the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) v3.0 and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite World 3D (AW3D) DEM v2.1. — were also compared with GE elevations. A novel approach for assessing the space–time variations in the magnitude and direction of errors in GE imagery is presented. For horizontal accuracy, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) are as follows — year 2000 (16.9 m), year 2008 (16.4 m), year 2012 (6.1 m) and year 2018 (6.1 m). The most recent GE imagery (year 2018) had the least horizontal error while year 2000 had the largest horizontal error. The horizontal shift was skewed towards the western and north-western directions, indicative of systematic error. In terms of the vertical accuracy, GE elevation data had the lowest accuracy and highest RMSE of 6.21 m followed by AW3D with an RMSE of 4.39 m and SRTM with an RMSE of 3.68 m.

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Data availability

The data that supports the findings of this study are available in Figshare at https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14562678 for download. The raw data was provided by JAXA, USGS/NASA and the Lagos State Surveyor General’s Office. Direct requests for these materials may be made to the providers as indicated in the Acknowledgements.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Google LLC for free access to Google Earth imagery used in this research, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for free access to AW3D-30m DEM and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/US Geological Surveys (USGS) for free access to SRTM data. The University of Lagos management is also appreciated for permitting us to conduct the UAV survey within the campus. We are also grateful to the Lagos State Surveyor General’s Office for provision of ground control points. The DJI Phantom 4 Professional UAV and accessories were made available by Geospatial Research Limited Nigeria. The following individuals who assisted with the GPS observation, UAV survey and orthomosaic processing are acknowledged — Kayode Omolaye and Olumide Awe (Geospatial Research Limited Nigeria), Adefemi Alabi Geosys Nigeria Limited, Shittu Ibrahim (Federal School of Surveying, Nigeria), Tochi Nwaoru, Oluwaseyi Isaac and Adepo Rahmatullahi (Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, University of Lagos, Nigeria).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    Peter C. Nwilo, Chukwuma J. Okolie, Johanson C. Onyegbula, Owolabi Q. Ayoade, Olagoke E. Daramola, Michael J. Orji & Imeime I. Uyo

  2. Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria

    Ikenna D. Arungwa

  3. Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, School of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

    Ikenna D. Arungwa

  4. Bureau of Lands and Survey, Ogun State, Abeokuta, Nigeria

    Owolabi Q. Ayoade

  5. Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria

    Ikechukwu D. Maduako

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The original online version of this article was revised: In this article, the correct details of Altunel et al. 2022 should be “Altunel AO, Okolie CJ, Kurtipek A (2022) Capturing the level of progress in vertical accuracy achieved by ASTER GDEM since the beginning: Turkish and Nigerian examples. Geocarto International, 23 p., https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2022.2063409.”

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Nwilo, P.C., Okolie, C.J., Onyegbula, J.C. et al. Positional accuracy assessment of historical Google Earth imagery in Lagos State, Nigeria. Appl Geomat 14, 545–568 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-022-00449-9

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