Fast Image‐Space Silhouette Extraction for Non‐Photorealistic Landscape Rendering

Landscape illustration, a core visualization technique for field geologists and geomorphologists, employs the parsimonious use of linework to represent surface structure in a straightforward and intuitive manner. Under the rubric of non‐photorealistic rendering (NPR), automated procedures in this vein render silhouettes and creases to represent, respectively, view‐dependent and view‐independent landscape features. This article presents two algorithms and implementations for rendering silhouettes from adaptive tessellations of point‐normal (PN) triangles at speeds approaching those suitable for animation. PN triangles use cubic polynomial models to provide a surface that appears smooth at any required resolution. The first algorithm, drawing on standard silhouette detection techniques in surface meshes, builds object space facet adjacencies and image space pixel adjacencies in the graphics pipeline following adaptive tessellation. The second makes exclusive use of image space analysis without referencing the underlying scene world geometry. Other than initial pre‐processing operations, recent advances in the OpenGL API allow implementations for both algorithms to be hosted entirely on the graphics processing unit (GPU), eliminating slowdowns through data transfer across the system memory bus. We show that both algorithms provide viable paths to real‐time animation of pen and ink style landscape illustrations but that the second demonstrates superior performance over the first.     

Supporting Automated Pen and Ink Style Surface Illustration with B-Spline Models

This paper introduces a methodology for constructing pen and ink style landscape illustrations using B-spline surface models. Following a brief discussion of manual methods and recent developments in automated non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) techniques, the paper discusses polynomial models for surface rendering and their implementation in the OpenGL graphics interface. It then discusses the generation of silhouettes and form lines for topographic surfaces from a set of triangulated vertices obtained from polygonal tessellations. An implementation of the methodology outlined in the paper is described and tested. The results are analyzed and suggestions for further research are presented.     

Developing an optimized texture mapping for photorealistic 3D buildings

Texture mapping generates photorealistic representations of three‐dimensional (3D) geometric objects and enhances the spatial perception of areas of interest. Over the past two decades, even though various approaches for 3D urban models have been investigated, their use has been limited because of the lack of spatial accuracy, details, and the complex processes. It is difficult to maintain highly detailed texture information without using a hybrid of aerial image and ground‐based imaging techniques, which are costly. Furthermore, it is hard to develop a fully automated process for 3D urban mapping that achieves high spatial accuracy. With regard to the issues, this research aims to develop a semi‐automated process for 3D building models that would help image‐based approaches. It helps acquire qualified texture information and improve the appearance of building façades in a large city. In particular, this research first investigates an optimal overlap of consecutive aerial images that generates sufficient information to texture each façade, thus making this process more cost‐effective. Second, this research develops an application to semi‐automatically build 3D buildings and textured 3D buildings. The application is developed in C++. The textured 3D building models are quantitatively and qualitatively assessed to determine the usability of the semi‐automated process.     

建筑物3维模型在地籍管理中的应用

房屋作为地籍管理中最主要的研究对象之一,具有明显的几何特征。本文叙述了用于3DCM建模的几种方法及数据采集方式,着重讨论了基于规则几何体构建建筑物实体模型的方法,实现了建筑物3维模型的可视化。介绍了基于AUTOCAD建立房屋图像与外部数据库之间链接的过程与方法;为丰富地籍管理中的房屋信息,探讨建立房屋图像库的方法;通过建立图像库与图形的链接,实现了由图形对象浏览房屋3维模型的图像信息。     

Bundle Adjustment with Self–Calibration Using Straight Lines

Increased use of digital imagery has facilitated the opportunity to use features, in addition to points, in photogrammetric applications. Straight lines are often present in object space, and prior research has focused on incorporating straight–line constraints into bundle adjustment for frame imagery. In the research reported in this paper, object–space straight lines are used in a bundle adjustment with self–calibration. The perspective projection of straight lines in the object space produces straight lines in the image space in the absence of distortions. Any deviations from straightness in the image space are attributed to various distortion sources, such as radial and decentric lens distortions. Before incorporating straight lines into a bundle adjustment with self–calibration, the representation and perspective transformation of straight lines between image space and object space should be addressed. In this investigation, images of straight lines are represented as a sequence of points along the image line. Also, two points along the object–space straight line are used to represent that line. The perspective relationship between image– and object–space lines is incorporated in a mathematical constraint. The underlying principle in this constraint is that the vector from the perspective centre to an image point on a straight–line feature lies on the plane defined by the perspective centre and the two object points defining the straight line. This constraint has been embedded in a software application for bundle adjustment with self–calibration that can incorporate point as well as straight–line features. Experiments with simulated and real data have proved the feasibility and the efficiency of the algorithm proposed.     

Geopositioning Accuracy of Ikonos Imagery: Indications from Two Dimensional Transformations

Earth observation satellites with 1m resolution, such as Space Imaging's Ikonos system, offer the photogrammetric and remote sensing communities a significant new means for geospatial information collection. These satellites possess the potential for pixel-level geopositioning precision and promise timely, highly automated generation of two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) spatial information products. This paper concentrates on the pursuit of optimal accuracy and considers an essential first step in the evaluation of the Ikonos imaging system, namely the metric integrity of the sensor system. In the absence of sensor calibration information (the camera model), an empirical evaluation approach has been adopted. This involves an assessment of 2D transformations between image and planar object space. It is shown that based on results obtained in the Melbourne Ikonos Testfield, 2D geopositioning to 0.5 m accuracy is possible from the base-level "Geo"product when a modest amount of good quality ground control is available and sub-pixel image mensuration is achieved. These findings are applicable to both near-nadir imagery and oblique stereo images. Moreover, the results obtained suggest that there are no significant geometric perturbations in the sensor system and initial image processing, which augurs well for the successful application of non-collinearity based 3D orientation and triangulation models for Ikonos imagery.     

THE EVOLUTION OF DIGITALPHOTOGRAMMETRYFROM ANALYTICAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY

The evolution of digital photogrammetry from analytical photogrammetry is outlined, partly by considering the methods employed, but with the main emphasis on mathematical and physical principles. A fundamental distinction is obvious from the nature of the primary information measurement data: the image co-ordinates with analytical photogrammetry and the digital image grey values with digital photogrammetry. For both techniques, appropriate Gauss-Markov evaluation procedures are compared. The relevant relationships between image space data and object space models are presented; radiometric considerations play a more important role than before. The evaluation of digital image grey value data is no longer based on digital image correlation. Instead, a new principle of image inversion has been introduced by directly back-projecting grey values of an image on to object space models. The numerical procedures of digital photogrammetry need some stabilisation by appropriate regularisation elements. The new concept of digital photogrammetry may be applied to imagery from almost any sensor.     

Web-based visualization of large 3D urban building models

Adaptive rendering of large urban building models has become an important research issue in three-dimensional (3D) geographic information system (GIS) applications. This study explores a way for rendering web-based 3D urban building models. A client–server hybrid rendering approach is presented for large 3D city models, stored on a remote server through a network. The approach combines an efficient multi-hierarchical building representation with a novel image-based method, 3D image impostor generated on demand by a remote server. This approach allows transferring complex scenes progressively while keeping high visualization quality. We also evaluated the rendering and data transferring performance of the proposed approach.     

战场环境可视化中多源遥感影像数据处理

介绍了将多源遥感影像数据应用于战场环境可视化之前的主要预处理方法,如影像金字塔生成、纹理数据结构准备、纹理快速调用等.该过程中所用到的小波变换、四叉树数据结构与细节层次算法等关键技术,能够有效地提高战场建模的真实感和效率.     

战场环境可视化中多源遥感影像数据处理

介绍了将多源遥感影像数据应用于战场环境可视化之前的主要预处理方法,如影像金字塔生成、纹理数据结构准备、纹理快速调用等。该过程中所用到的小波变换、四叉树数据结构与细节层次算法等关键技术,能够有效地提高战场建模的真实感和效率。     

A hybrid measurement approach for close-range photogrammetry

Full automation in close-range photogrammetric measurement has long been a practical reality. However, constraints apply to the process such that automated 3D measurement is generally confined to targeted points in an environment of controlled illumination. The ready availability of consumer-grade digital cameras has made photogrammetric measurement accessible and more widely employed for a host of new applications, the majority of which call for 3D measurement of other than signalized object features. Process automation is therefore typically precluded. This paper discusses a hybrid measurement approach which involves fully automatic network orientation with targets, while at the same time supporting follow-up semi-automatic and manual operations such as feature point and line extraction and surface measurement via image matching. The topics discussed include camera calibration, the metric exploitation of colour attributes, issues related to image point correspondence determination, operator assisted feature measurement and surface extraction. All are important to the practical realisation of the hybrid measurement approach.     

一种顾及拓扑关系的室内三维模型组织和调度方法

针对室内空间三维导航、几何模型高质量渲染的需求与个人移动平台资源、计算能力有限之间的矛盾,在分析室内空间区域功能、明确室内单元类型的基础上,构建了能够表达室内空间各部分拓扑特征,且支持三维路径分析的室内空间网络拓扑关系模型,并在准确把握室内空间区域拓扑逻辑关系的前提下,探讨了顾及室内拓扑关系的空间分割和几何模型的组织和调度策略,以实现室内模型的动态遮断和剔除。实验结果表明,利用所提方法可以实现几何模型的实时遮断和剪裁,大幅度减少模型绘制的数量和数据量,提升数据传输和绘制的效率,为高逼真度的三维模型可视化绘制奠定了数据基础和保证。     

Automated analysis of ultra high resolution remote sensing data for biotope type mapping: new possibilities and challenges

The advent of very high-resolution satellite programs and digital airborne cameras with ultra high resolution offers new possibilities for very accurate mapping of the environment. With these sensors of improved spatial resolution, however, the user community faces a new problem in the analysis of this type of image data. Standard classification techniques have to be augmented with appropriate analysis procedures because the required homogeneity of landuse/landcover classes can no longer be achieved by the integration effect of large pixel sizes (e.g., 20–80 m). New intelligent techniques will have to be developed that make use of multisensor approaches, geographic information system (GIS) integration and context-based interpretation schemes.The ideal goal should be that GIS ‘intelligence’ (e.g., object and analysis models) should be used to automate the classification process. In return, GIS objects can be extracted from a remote sensing image to update the GIS database. This paper presents the development of an automated procedure for biotope type mapping from ultra high-resolution airborne scanner data (HRSC-A). The hierarchical procedure incorporates a priori GIS information, a digital surface model (DSM) and multispectral image data. The results of this study will serve as a basis for a continuous environmental monitoring process in the tidally influenced region of the Elbe River, Germany.     

一种具有抗弱边缘能力的航空影像房屋自动提取方法

在充分利用房屋影像特征和目标领域知识的基础上,构造了基于方向信息的弱边缘检测、大跨度直线桥线段提取、角点分析与检测、房屋轮廓推理与证实、房屋轮廓修整与表达等关键算法,以控制注意力焦点处理机制和影像级、符号级结合的运算方式,对大比例尺航空影像中的房屋目标进行提取。本文详细地描述了此方法,并给出了在提取被树荫等环境因素干扰的规整平顶、坡顶房屋方面所取得的效果。     

空间目标三维姿态估计方法

提出了一种利用天文观测图像对卫星及其子部件三维姿态进行估计的方法。该方法利用等积剖分格网建立多视角姿态模型数据库,利用基于混合噪声的最大似然算法对观测图像进行图像复原与滤波等预处理,然后进行分割和几何特征提取,提出了一种尺度不变的特征检索方法对卫星几何特征进行编码,并在姿态数据库中进行最小距离匹配,最终估计出空间目标的三维姿态。实验结果验证了本文姿态估计方法的有效性和准确性。     

Processing of Laser Scanner Data and Extraction of Structure Lines Using Methods of the Image Processing

激光扫描数据提供了一种新的手段用于获取高精度的数字地形表面模型. 原始的航空激光扫描数据表达的是一些非规则分布的"点云", 这些非规则分布的点需要进行有效的事后处理. 这种事后处理有2个目的:一是将那些分布在地表面上的点(即地面点)与分布在非地表面上的点(譬如树木、房屋或汽车上的点, 即非地面点)进行有效的分离;二是从分离后的地面点中提取结构线, 用于建立高精度的数字地面模型. 作者发展了一系列的基于数字形态学理论和稳健参数估计理论的方法用于分离和探测地面点. 这里所介绍和开发的提取结构线的算法建立在数字图像处理和表面曲率理论的基础上. 这些算法同样可以扩展地用于其他领域. 所介绍的基于数字图像处理理论处理原始的航空激光扫瞄数据和提取结构线的方法取得了很好的结果. 这一结论可以在本文中通过一系列的插图得到有力的证明.     

City model enrichment

The combination of mobile communication technology with location and orientation aware digital cameras has introduced increasing interest in the exploitation of 3D city models for applications such as augmented reality and automated image captioning. The effectiveness of such applications is, at present, severely limited by the often poor quality of semantic annotation of the 3D models. In this paper, we show how freely available sources of georeferenced Web 2.0 information can be used for automated enrichment of 3D city models. Point referenced names of prominent buildings and landmarks mined from Wikipedia articles and from the OpenStreetMaps digital map and Geonames gazetteer have been matched to the 2D ground plan geometry of a 3D city model. In order to address the ambiguities that arise in the associations between these sources and the city model, we present procedures to merge potentially related buildings and implement fuzzy matching between reference points and building polygons. An experimental evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the presented methods.     

广义点摄影测量在建筑物立面轮廓重构中的应用

采用广义点摄影测量理论对建筑物立面框架轮廓进行重构。广义点是对当代线摄影测量以及无穷远点（灭点）理论的升华。实验结果表明,采用线面基元进行立面重构相比于经典的点云重构方法,不仅简洁、高效,还能获得清晰的三维边缘轮廓,且自动化程度较高。     

Cartography-Oriented Design of 3D Geospatial Information Visualization – Overview and Techniques

In economy, society and personal life map-based interactive geospatial visualization becomes a natural element of a growing number of applications and systems. The visualization of 3D geospatial information, however, raises the question how to represent the information in an effective way. Considerable research has been done in technology-driven directions in the fields of cartography and computer graphics (e.g., design principles, visualization techniques). Here, non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) represents a promising visualization category – situated between both fields – that offers a large number of degrees for the cartography-oriented visual design of complex 2D and 3D geospatial information for a given application context. Still today, however, specifications and techniques for mapping cartographic design principles to the state-of-the-art rendering pipeline of 3D computer graphics remain to be explored. This paper revisits cartographic design principles for 3D geospatial visualization and introduces an extended 3D semiotic model that complies with the general, interactive visualization pipeline. Based on this model, we propose NPR techniques to interactively synthesize cartographic renditions of basic feature types, such as terrain, water, and buildings. In particular, it includes a novel iconification concept to seamlessly interpolate between photorealistic and cartographic representations of 3D landmarks. Our work concludes with a discussion of open challenges in this field of research, including topics, such as user interaction and evaluation.