Assessment of Dem Quality for Characterizing Surface Roughness Using Close Range Digital Photogrammetry

This paper presents a procedure for assessing the quality of a digital elevation model (DEM) which has been applied to the output of a normalized cross correlation based stereomatching algorithm. Using semimetric photography of natural gravel river bed surfaces acquired in the field, digital photogrammetry was used to extract DEMs automatically for use in characterizing surface roughness properties. The procedure for assessing DEM quality involves examination of (i) ortho-images, to provide a qualitative check on stereomatching performance; (ii) DEM collection statistics which quantify the percentage of correctly matched pixels as a function of those interpolated; and (iii) height differences between check points, measured using independent field survey, and corresponding DEM points. The concepts of precision, accuracy and reliability are defined in the context of DEM quality assessment and methods are outlined which can be used to assess these variables. The assessment is conducted for two adjacent stereopairs with similar characteristics, considering the effects of both DEM collection parameters and different lens models upon DEM quality. Results show that digital photogrammetry, in conjunction with independent field survey, can be used successfully for extracting high resolution, small scale DEMs from natural gravel surfaces. Components (i) and (ii) of the quality assessment suggest the need to optimize DEM collection parameters, although the effects of not using a properly specified lens model were minimal at this scale. Method (iii) showed that increasing stereomatching success does not necessarily lead to more accurately estimated DEM points. However, the use of method (iii) remained difficult because of the scale of the photogrammetric application being used; check point positioning within the photogrammetric co-ordinate system was only possible to ±10 mm which, for a gravel bed surface, was associated with elevation variance of a similar, sometimes greater, magnitude. The next stage of this research will require the use of higher quality check data, possibly from laser profiling.     

Through-Water Close Range Digital Photogrammetry in Flume and Field Environments

Measurement of the structure of gravel-bed river surfaces is crucial for understanding both bed roughness and the sediment entrainment process. This paper describes the use of close range digital photogrammetry to measure and monitor change occurring in submerged river gravel-beds in both flume and field environments. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) were obtained and two-media (through air and water) techniques were used to correct for the e.ects of refraction at the air/water interface. Although suitable refractive models have been developed, the use of proprietary software to generate DEMs automatically introduces the problem of how to re-establish collinearity. A simple refraction correction algorithm based upon analytical geometry was developed and is described. This algorithm was designed for use after initial DEM acquisition and allows any photogrammetric software package to be used for data acquisition. Application of this algorithm led to improvements in DEM accuracy by reducing the systematic, depth-dependent bias caused by refraction
Research carried out in a flume environment allowed the algorithm to be tested by measuring a flooded and drained bed surface. Non-systematic differences between the "dry" and "wet" DEMs arose from reductions in stereomatching success in the two-media case. This effect was thought to be due to light attenuation and the introduction of residual parallax. Results suggest that close range digital photogrammetry can be used to extract high quality DEMs of submerged topography in both flume and field fluvial environments, which represents a particularly exciting development for fluvial geomorphologists     

Evaluation of Information Loss in Digital Elevation Models With Digital Photogrammetric Systems

Information loss is caused when a surface is sampled with a finite interval, such as in the production of a digital elevation model (DEM). This information loss can become the dominant part of the error in a DEM. The ability to quantify information loss enables guidance to be provided for an appropriate choice of grid interval and better accuracy assessment for the DEM. With the use of digital photogrammetric systems, evaluation of information loss has become much easier. This paper describes three methods of evaluating information loss. An example is given of the method which is most appropriate for use with a digital photogrammetric system, based on rock cliff surface data and the VirtuoZo system.     

Digital photogrammetry based automatic measurement of sandstone roof of a mine

Automatic close range photogrammetric measurements are of immense importance for a hazardous industry like mining. Unfortunately, available stereomatching techniques fail for high resolution close range images due to the large variation of object depth. In this paper a diffraction grating based laser dot-matrix projector along with a CCD camera is used for automatic close range measurement of a textureless and featureless object like massive sand stone strata. Targeting of object’s surface with large number of laser dots simultaneously solved two major problems: identification of conjugate points and precise image co-ordinate measurement. Least squares based template matching is used for centroid location of images of laser dots which provided 0.03 (mean) pixels accuracy. Using analytical techniques, camera model of the projector was developed by placing it rigidly on the teleseope of a geodimeter Bundle adjustment procedure is adopted for accurate estimation of interior orientation parameters of the projector which resulted precise co-ordinates of the object space during a test scan by the developed system.     

Digital close range photogrammetry for measurement of soil erosion

Many of the processes involved in soil erosion have dimensions on the millimetre scale. Modelling and quantification of such processes require information on soil surface topography with adequate resolution. The purpose of this study was to generate digital elevation models (DEMs) from soil surfaces with high spatial and temporal resolution. Digital photogrammetry was applied for measuring erosion rates on complex-shaped soil surfaces under laboratory rainfall conditions. A total of 60 DEMs were generated, covering a planimetric area of 16 m². The DEMs had a grid resolution of 3 mm. A vertical precision of approximately 1 mm was desired for DEM analysis. A consumer-grade digital camera was used for image acquisition. The camera was calibrated using BLUH software. Homologous points in overlapping images were identified with least squares matching software. Irregularly spaced object coordinates were interpolated to a regular grid in a geographic information system. The resulting DEMs represented the soil surface well. A precision of 1·26 mm in the vertical was attained. The precision of DEM production was limited to camera calibration. Improvements of the setup presented could include the use of better control points and more advanced image matching strategies for identification of homologous points. The DEMs allowed for detailed analysis of soil surface evolution.     

Mapping small areas using a low-cost close range photogrammetric software package with aerial photography

Generating maps of small areas using conventional aerial photography is of great interest for small engineering firms. The main problem is the high cost of the sophisticated digital photogrammetric workstations usually employed. In this paper, a low-cost close range photogrammetric software package is used to measure the three-dimensional coordinates of points on the land surface from a photogrammetric flight at a scale of approximately 1:5000. Furthermore, the influence of the type of scanner used to digitise photographs (consumer-grade or photogrammetric scanner), the resolution of the digital images and the number of control points required are examined. The root mean square errors obtained at the check points, using a low-cost close range software package, scanning aerial images with a photogrammetric scanner and 24 ground control points, were around 116 mm for X and Y coordinates, and 191 mm for Z. These levels of accuracy allow the generation of planimetric maps at a scale of 1:1500 and topographic maps with a contour interval of around 1 m. When the images were scanned with a consumer-grade scanner, the root mean square errors were around 150 mm for X and Y, and 271 mm for Z.     

Pavement Deformation Monitoring in a Rolling Load Facility

This paper describes work undertaken to measure deformation of a pavement within the Newcastle University Rolling Load Facility (NUROLF). Precise three dimensional measurements of the pavement have been produced from stereo-imagery taken with diVerent cameras, using both analytical and digital photogrammetric instrumentation. The photogrammetric measurements, and those from the existing system consisting of an array of linear voltage displacement transducers, have been compared with measurements produced using a digital level. Encouraging results have been achieved and photogrammetry has been shown to be capable of producing a similar accuracy to the existing system. There are many advantages associated with a photogrammetric survey but attempts to establish a permanent, automated photogrammetric system for the rolling load facility at a reasonable cost have so far been unsuccessful. It is anticipated that, with the falling cost of high resolution digital sensors, such a system will soon be possible.     

Evaluation and Comparison of Multi Resolution DEM Derived Through Cartosat-1 Stereo Pair – A Case Study of Damanganga Basin

The study evaluates and compares Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data of various grid spacing derived using high resolution Cartosat 1 stereo data for hydrologic applications. DEM is essential in modeling different environmental processes which depend on surface elevation. The accuracy of derived DEM varies with grid spacing and source. The CartoDEM is the photogrammetric DEM derived from stereo pairs. Damanganga basin lying in the Western Ghats was analysed using 11 Carto stereo pairs. The process of triangulation resulted in RMSE of 0.42. DEM was extracted at 10 m, 20 m, 30 m, 40 m, 50 m and 90 m grid spacing and compared with ASTER GDEM (30 m) and SRTM DEM (90 m). DEM accuracy was checked with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) statistic for random points generated in different elevation zones. Extracted stream networks were compared based on Correctness Index and Figure of Merit index, calculated for all the Digital Elevation Models at varying cell sizes. In order to further evaluate the DEM’s, a simple flood simulation with no water movement and no consideration of real time precipitation data was carried out and relationship between heights of flood stage and inundation area for each Digital Elevation Model was also established.     

Creating high-resolution bare-earth digital elevation models (DEMs) from stereo imagery in an area of densely vegetated deciduous forest using combinations of procedures designed for lidar point cloud filtering

For areas of the world that do not have access to lidar, fine-scale digital elevation models (DEMs) can be photogrammetrically created using globally available high-spatial resolution stereo satellite imagery. The resultant DEM is best termed a digital surface model (DSM) because it includes heights of surface features. In densely vegetated conditions, this inclusion can limit its usefulness in applications requiring a bare-earth DEM. This study explores the use of techniques designed for filtering lidar point clouds to mitigate the elevation artifacts caused by above ground features, within the context of a case study of Prince William Forest Park, Virginia, USA. The influences of land cover and leaf-on vs. leaf-off conditions are investigated, and the accuracy of the raw photogrammetric DSM extracted from leaf-on imagery was between that of a lidar bare-earth DEM and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission DEM. Although the filtered leaf-on photogrammetric DEM retains some artifacts of the vegetation canopy and may not be useful for some applications, filtering procedures significantly improved the accuracy of the modeled terrain. The accuracy of the DSM extracted in leaf-off conditions was comparable in most areas to the lidar bare-earth DEM and filtering procedures resulted in accuracy comparable of that to the lidar DEM.     

采样数据密度及栅格尺寸对高程中误差的影响分析

利用全数字摄影测量得到的高精度点数据,获取不同密度的点数据,建立基于ANUDEM和TIN方法的两种DEM,比较两种DEM的高程中误差,分析数据密度、栅格尺寸与高程中误差的关系。研究结果表明,建立1∶100 00比例尺,具有高程中误差2m左右、栅格尺寸5m以下的ANUDEM,需要的点密度水平为大于7 000个/km2,而TINDEM则为8 500个/km2。同时,当栅格尺寸小于20m、数据密度介于7 000～9 400个/km2时,无论是ANUDEM还是TINDEM,高程中误差都处于一个较稳定的状态。     

Some Thoughts on the Emergence of Digital Close Range Photogrammetry

This presentation offers some thoughts on the emergence (that is essentially to say the commercial acceptance and exploitation) of close range digital photogrammetric systems. The discussion is restricted to systems based on standard photogrammetric processes involving digital frame imagery. Systems are classified into three tiers which are distinguished not only by accuracy and cost, but also by the degree to which a technology transfer has taken place from the specialist photogrammetrist to the non-specialist user. This technology transfer, it will be argued, has facilitated dramatic growth in the application of low accuracy, low cost three dimensional modelling systems in areas such as heritage recording, multimedia, process plant documentation and forensic photogrammetry. Along with automation, this technology transfer has also largely accounted for the wider use of high accuracy, high cost, off line and real time vision metrology systems in large scale industrial metrology. Rapid growth in these two system categories is then contrasted against the more modest advances being witnessed in the traditional close range photogrammetric service sector. Prospects for the future are also touched upon.     

Practical Influences of Geometric and Radiometric Image Quality Provided By Different Digital Camera Systems

Imaging systems founded on current digital camera technology are finding widespread use in high precision measurement applications. A single digital CCD camera, or an array of such cameras, equipped with ring lighting equipment is commonly used to acquire imagery of high contrast retroreflective targets placed on the object at discrete locations to signalize points of interest. The precise and accurate measurement of each imaged target location is a fundamental requirement if suitable measurement tolerances are to be obtained. Whilst such systems are undoubtedly capable of producing excellent results, the practical effects of target image quality on the photogrammetric measurement process is in need of careful consideration. This paper revisits some fundamentals of the optical imaging of retrotargets and investigates some abilities of a range of digital camera systems to provide images of retrotargets that are appropriate to the measurement process. Some experimental results are presented including the imaging of planar arrays of differing sized retrotargets at differing angles and exposures and a series of network analyses in which the level of target image intensity has been varied systematically.     

Panoramic imaging and virtual reality — filling the gaps between the lines

Close range photogrammetry projects rely upon a clear and unambiguous specification of end-user requirements to inform decisions relating to the format, coverage, accuracy and complexity of the final deliverable. Invariably such deliverables will be a partial and incomplete abstraction of the real world where the benefits of higher accuracy and increased complexity must be traded against the cost of the project. As photogrammetric technologies move into the digital era, computerisation offers opportunities for the photogrammetrist to revisit established mapping traditions in order to explore new markets. One such market is that for three-dimensional Virtual Reality (VR) models for clients who have previously had little exposure to the capabilities, and limitations, of photogrammetry and may have radically different views on the cost/benefit trade-offs in producing geometric models. This paper will present some examples of the authors' recent experience of such markets, drawn from a number of research and commercial projects directed towards the modelling of complex man-made objects. This experience seems to indicate that suitably configured digital image archives may form an important deliverable for a wide range of photogrammetric projects and supplement, or even replace, more traditional CAD models.     

Low Cost Digital Rectification on A PC

Digital photogrammetric techniques have opened fresh horizons and have enabled photogrammetry to become a more user friendly tool for a wide range of applications. However cost remains a critical issue, because new digital photogrammetric workstations and their related software are considered expensive. This paper examines the problem of digital rectification and presents low cost solutions involving the use of commercial off the shelf software packages, which include graphics and painting software, image processing tools and a CAD system. Additionally, specially developed software performing vector rectification is described and discussed. All the packages have been used for rectifying digital images and the results are presented. An attempt is also made to assess the accuracy and reliability of the results. Finally, several alternative digital products are presented, mainly concerning the use of the methods described in the restitution of cultural monuments.     

基于高分辨率影像的城市三维建模

介绍了利用倾斜摄影影像和垂直摄影影像相结合的三维城市重建方法，分析了利用有理多项式(RPC)恢复IKONOS立体影像的模型，在VirtuoZo上实现了基于有理多项式(RPC)恢复IKONOS立体影像的模型方法，并利用其快速影像匹配技术，实现了数字地面模型DEM和正射影像，实现了手动和半自动人工地物的采集，如房屋等三维几何坐标和结构的采集；自动获取了基于不同传感器所获得影像的建筑物表面纹理，从而实现了基于多种影像快速三雏城市建模。     

On the geoid–quasigeoid separation in mountain areas

The separation between the reference surfaces for orthometric heights and normal heights—the geoid and the quasigeoid—is typically in the order of a few decimeters but can reach nearly 3 m in extreme cases. The knowledge of the geoid–quasigeoid separation with centimeter accuracy or better, is essential for the realization of national and international height reference frames, and for precision height determination in geodetic engineering. The largest contribution to the geoid–quasigeoid separation is due to the distribution of topographic masses. We develop a compact formulation for the rigorous treatment of topographic masses and apply it to determine the geoid–quasigeoid separation for two test areas in the Alps with very rough topography, using a very fine grid resolution of 100 m. The magnitude of the geoid–quasigeoid separation and its accuracy, its slopes, roughness, and correlation with height are analyzed. Results show that rigorous treatment of topographic masses leads to a rather small geoid–quasigeoid separation—only 30 cm at the highest summit—while results based on approximations are often larger by several decimeters. The accuracy of the topographic contribution to the geoid–quasigeoid separation is estimated to be 2–3 cm for areas with extreme topography. Analysis of roughness of the geoid–quasigeoid separation shows that a resolution of the modeling grid of 200 m or less is required to achieve these accuracies. Gravity and the vertical gravity gradient inside of topographic masses and the mean gravity along the plumbline are modeled which are important intermediate quantities for the determination of the geoid–quasigeoid separation. We conclude that a consistent determination of the geoid and quasigeoid height reference surfaces within an accuracy of few centimeters is feasible even for areas with extreme topography, and that the concepts of orthometric height and normal height can be consistently realized and used within this level of accuracy.     

Topographic correction of ALOS-PALSAR images using InSAR-derived DEM

Topographic corrections of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images over hilly regions are vital for retrieval of correct backscatter values associated with natural targets. The coarse resolution external digital elevation models (DEM) available for topographic corrections of high resolution SAR images often result into degradation of spatial resolution or improper estimation of backscatter values in SAR images. Also, many a times the external DEMs do not spatially co-register well with the SAR data. The present study showcases the methodology and results of topographic correction of ALOS-PALSAR image using high resolution DEM generated from the same data. High resolution DEMs of Jaipur region, India were generated using multiple pair SAR images acquired from ALOS-PALSAR using interferometric (InSAR) techniques. The DEMs were validated using differential global positioning system measured elevation values as ground control points and were compared with photogrammetric DEM (advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer – ASTER) and SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DEM. It was observed that ALOS-PALSAR images with optimum baseline parameters produced high resolution DEM with better height accuracy. Finally, the validated DEM was used for topographic correction of ALOS-PALSAR images of the same region and were found to produce better result as compared with ASTER and SRTM-DEM.     

煤矿开采地表移动变形自动化采集终端系统设计与实现

煤矿开采地表移动变形实时数据采集终端系统以Mobile GIS作为系统数据采集、管理、分析的平台,将PDA、全站仪、数字水准仪、GNSS接收机等测量设备集成于一体,形成了一种支持多种测量仪器、多种连接方式、可视性强、数据管理集中和数据传输网络化的数据采集终端系统。该系统实现了野外实时跟踪测量,现场数据快速采集及成图,省去了手工录入数据,增强了系统的移动性和实时性,保证了信息的准确性和可靠性,实现了矿区地表监测信息采集内、外业一体化。     

数字水深模型建模技术研究进展与展望

水深是反映海底地形起伏形态的基本要素,是人类认识和利用海洋并进行科学决策的重要依据。数字水深模型是用离散水深数据实现对海底地形起伏变化的一种数字化表达。数字水深模型建模技术与所构建模型的质量、特点及应用领域密切相关,直接决定了海底地形表达的真实可靠性和精度,并将对舰船航行的安全性及其他相关应用产生重要影响,一直是海道测量和海图制图人员科学研究与海洋测绘地理信息产品生产实践关注的核心内容。本文在总结数字水深模型概念内涵的基础上,结合国内外数字水深模型建模技术现状,重点阐述了数字水深模型在航海和非航海领域的研究进展及取得的成果,并对数字水深模型建模技术的未来发展方向做出了展望。     

基于MapStar软件在作业应用中的问题探讨

MapStar软件是在数字摄影测量的基础上进行采集、编绘及属性建库;达到了建库与出图并举,基本上实现了生产一体化的作业过程。着重分析了建库数据的质量检查、修改等质量管理工作,为完善MapStar软件提出了建议。