Ground Control Points (GCPs)

Ground Control Points (GCPs) are fixed, accurately surveyed reference points used to improve the spatial accuracy of scanning, aerial mapping or photogrammetric datasets. They provide known coordinates that help align captured data to the correct real-world coordinate system.

GCPs are especially important in drone surveying, photogrammetry and large-scale measurement projects where positional accuracy must be verified and repeatable. They improve reliability, reduce alignment errors and support long-term consistency across multiple datasets.

See also: Coordinate surveying, Georeferencing, Photogrammetry