An Interactive Tool for 3d Object Extraction Using Airborne Laserscanning Data and Orthoimages

Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) provides reliable and detailed 3D data of the earth surface. This data combined with digital Orthoimages can be used to create detailed 3D object models that are essential for a variety of applications such as city planning, disaster management, tourism or transmitter placement in telecommunications. Even though first software products for city modelling are available, the number of published procedures for automated or semi-automated object extraction is still quite low. This paper describes the development of a MATLAB tool for 3D object extraction, which uses LiDAR and Orthoimages simultaneously. Focussed on buildings 3D digitization of the object outlines and ridges is carried out manually. Orthogonality checks serve for better geometric quality. Part of the digitization process is the interactive selection of the roof type. By using topological and geometric conditions the roof models are reconstructed. In addition to buildings, other objects like roads can be taken into account by using or extending the MATLAB tool. For the experiments and for testing of the routines LIDAR and Orthoimages from a Stuttgart Center test data set are used.