Utilizing airborne LiDAR data for building extraction and superstructure analysis for modeling

Processing LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data obtained from ALS (Airborne Laser Scanning) systems mainly involves organization and segmentation of the data for 3D object modeling and mapping purposes. The ALS systems are viable and becoming more mature technology in various applications. ALS technology requires complex integration of optics, opto-mechanics and electronics in the multi-sensor components, i.e. data captured from GPS, INS and laser scanner. In this study, digital image processing techniques mainly were implemented to gray level coded image of the LiDAR data for building extraction and superstructures segmentation. One of the advantages to use gray level image is easy to apply various existing digital image processing algorithms. Gridding and quantization of the raw LiDAR data into limited gray level might introduce smoothing effect and loss of the detail information. However, smoothed surface data that are more suitable for surface patch segmentation and modeling could be obtained by the quantization of the height values. The building boundaries were precisely extracted by the robust edge detection operator and regularized with shape constraints. As for segmentation of the roof structures, basically region growing based and gap filling segmentation methods were implemented. The results present that various image processing methods are applicable to extract buildings and to segment surface patches of the superstructures on the roofs. Finally, conceptual methodology for extracting characteristic information to reconstruct roof shapes was proposed. Statistical and geometric properties were utilized to segment and model superstructures. The simulation results show that segmentation of the roof surface patches and modeling were possible with the proposed method.