A digital Surface Model (DSM) has been generated with an Optech Gemini laser scanner with approximately 4 points/m2 in an area also covered by an UltraCam Eagle with 5cm GSD. Based on the digital images DSM and digital terrain models (DTM) were automatically/interactively produced with BAE SYSTEMS “NGATE” (New Generation of Automatic Terrain Extraction) and also SimActive’s “Correlator3D” with ...

Experience in digital terrain modelling has shown, that analysis and preparation of the primary data is of great importance both for the productivity and the quality of DTM modelling. The paper presents a semi-automatic procedure to analyze the primary data in a numerical and graphical way. After gross error detection and data structuring using a triangular irregular network (TIN) the density a...

Novel technique for enhanced visual recognition of the landform features developed by spatial analysis on the digital terrain model (DTM) is proposed. The approach called “visibility simulation technique” is consisted form the following steps: (1) visibility calculation, (2) altering an azimuth and zenith angle (following the proposed algorithm), (3) generating continuous surfaces that indicate...

Meso-scale digital terrain models (DTMs) and canopy-height estimates, or digital canopy models (DCMs), are two lidar products that have immense potential for research in tropical rain forest (TRF) ecology and management. In this study, we used a small-footprint lidar sensor (airborne laser scanner, ALS) to estimate sub-canopy elevation and canopy height in an evergreen tropical rain forest. A f...

Digital terrain model (DTM) is one of the important input parameters in urban flood application. This is because it influences the flow direction, flow velocity, flood extend and flood depth. LiDAR offers accurate DTM for large areas within a short period of time. From the overall LiDAR data processes, filtering (classification) poses the greatest challenge. Evaluation and comparison of current...

The application of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in forest research includes a wide range equipment, systems, and flight settings, creating need for enhancing data acquisition efficiency quality. Thus, we assessed the effects flying altitude lateral longitudinal overlaps on digital photogrammetry (DAP) processing ability its products to provide point clouds forestry inventory. For this, used 18...

The acquisition of 3D models of buildings and other man-made objects is currently an issue of high importance to many users of geoinformation, including planners, geographers, architects, etc. Aerial imagery has proven to be a valuable data source for these models. The project AMOBE1, a joint research effort between the photogrammetry and image sciences groups at ETH, aims firstly at developing...

Small footprint discrete return lidar data have already proved useful for providing information on forest areas. During the last decade, a new generation of airborne laser scanners, called full-waveform (FW) lidar systems, has emerged. They digitize and record the entire backscattered signal of each emitted pulse. Fullwaveform data hold large potentialities. In this study, we investigated the p...

High spatial resolution measurements of vegetation structure in three-dimensions (3D) are essential for accurate estimation of vegetation biomass, carbon accounting, forestry, fire hazard evaluation and other land management and scientific applications. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is the current standard for these measurements but requires bulky instruments mounted on commercial aircraf...

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been designed in accordance with the way people have conceptualized space (Freundschuh & Egenhofer, 1997). While the reality is tridimensional in nature, paradoxically, its representation has been for long decades dominated by the metaphor of the paper map. This has resulted to two separate models: 2D GIS models and Digital Terrain Models (DTM). “The th...