This paper presents a methodological framework for integrating UAV-based photogrammetry and GIS technologies to generate a high-accuracy digital elevation model (DEM) for urban land-use planning. The study was conducted in an urbanized area characterized by heterogeneous topography, mixed vegetation cover, and fragmented land use, which complicate high-resolution terrain modeling. UAV surveys were performed using multiple photogrammetric blocks with centimeter-level ground sample distance and a dense ground control network supported by geoid-based height corrections. The resulting DEM was independently validated using control points derived from large-scale topographic data. The achieved vertical accuracy (RMSE ≈ 0.25 m) confirms the applicability of UAV-derived DEMs for large-scale mapping (1:1000–1:2000) and urban spatial analysis. Unlike studies focused on runoff simulation, this work emphasizes the accuracy-controlled generation and validation of DEMs as a primary spatial dataset for urban planning applications. The results demonstrate that DEM accuracy depends strongly on flight planning, ground control distribution, and hybrid automatic–manual point cloud refinement.

Keywords
unmanned aerial vehicles; unmanned aerial vehicle; digital elevation model; DEM; photogrammetry; GIS; urban terrain modeling; ground control points; elevation accuracy

Kulikovska, O.; Kolb, I.; Kovalyshyn, O.; Kolodiy, P.; Stupen, R.; Trzyniec, K.; Vasyuk, V.; Hutsol, T. Integration of UAV Photogrammetry and GIS for Digital Elevation Modeling in Urban Land Use Planning. Sustainability 2026, 18, 3047. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18063047