Cisco 1500 Series AP - Outdoor Wi-Fi Mesh Topology Versus Repeaters

Here's the current configuration in our organization (which I believe is incorrect):We have a number of Cisco 1500 series AP's (22 in total), that are mounted outdoors to provide seamless WiFi coverage over a large area. Each AP however has its own physical ethernet connection back to the WLC (All the AP's are marked as Root AP's). They are all broadcasting the same SSID. We have tried to stagger the channel selection but because there are only three non-overlapping channels to choose from, and in some areas the density of AP's is quite high, there is multiple places of channel interference. With this configuration we experience 100-150 disconnects from clients every day. (Our clients are mobile so they move throughout the coverage area constantly).

My idea is to switch the AP's to the same channel thereby forming a wireless mesh, use the built in functionality of the 1500 series to use 802.11a as the backhaul, designate one or two AP's as root AP's and wire them back to the WLC. Thereby forming a WiFi mesh, which if I'm not mistaken is the point of the 1500 series in the first place!

I am however completely new at WiFi networks and wondering if I am simply mistaken in what I believe my proposed changes will enable, or if there is a better way to tackle the WiFi topology.