Development and comparison of aerial photograph aided visualization pipelines for LiDAR datasets

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology generates dense and precise three-dimensional datasets in the form of point clouds. Conventional methods of mapping with airborne LiDAR datasets deal with the process of classification or feature specific segmentation. These processes have been observed to be time-consuming and unfit to handle in scenarios where topographic information is required in a small amount of time. Thus there is a requirement of developing methods which process the data and reconstruct the scene in a small amount of time. This paper presents several pipelines for visualizing LiDAR datasets without going through classification and compares them using statistical methods to rank these processes in the order of depth and feature perception. To make the comparison more meaningful, a manually classified and computer-aided design (CAD) reconstructed dataset is also included in the list of compared methods. Results show that a heuristic-based method, previously developed by the authors perform almost equivalent to the manually classified and reconstructed dataset, for the purposes of visualization. This paper makes some distinct contributions as: (1) gives a heuristics-based visualization pipeline for LiDAR datasets, and (2) presents an experimental design supported by statistical analysis to compare different pipelines.     

融合RGB-D深度图像和LiDAR点云的石油管线BIM建模

建筑信息模型(BIM)已经被广泛用于提高复杂管线系统的管理效率,但已有石油管线的BIM建模,往往依靠设计图纸或现场测绘手工完成,耗时费力。为此本文提出了一种融合RGB-D深度图像和LiDAR点云数据的石油管线BIM重建方法。首先利用RGB-D图像提供的丰富语义信息和LiDAR点云精确几何信息,对深度相机采集的RGB图像进行分割,生成三维语义地图;然后通过点云粗匹配和精确匹配实现数据融合;最后给出了不同结构管线构件的BIM模型制作方法。试验结果表明,与以往的管线BIM重建方法相比,该方法更准确、高效,有助于石油企业对含有复杂管线的计转站等实施信息化管理。     

Out‐of‐Core GPU‐based Change Detection in Massive 3D Point Clouds

If sites, cities, and landscapes are captured at different points in time using technology such as LiDAR, large collections of 3D point clouds result. Their efficient storage, processing, analysis, and presentation constitute a challenging task because of limited computation, memory, and time resources. In this work, we present an approach to detect changes in massive 3D point clouds based on an out‐of‐core spatial data structure that is designed to store data acquired at different points in time and to efficiently attribute 3D points with distance information. Based on this data structure, we present and evaluate different processing schemes optimized for performing the calculation on the CPU and GPU. In addition, we present a point‐based rendering technique adapted for attributed 3D point clouds, to enable effective out‐of‐core real‐time visualization of the computation results. Our approach enables conclusions to be drawn about temporal changes in large highly accurate 3D geodata sets of a captured area at reasonable preprocessing and rendering times. We evaluate our approach with two data sets from different points in time for the urban area of a city, describe its characteristics, and report on applications.     

机载激光雷达航带平差实验研究——基于参数模型和地面控制点数据

机载激光雷达测量获取的地表点云数据在经过预处理解算后仍会残余部分航带性系统误差,因此,在利用点云数据生成DEM等相关数字产品之前,必须检查并改正这部分航带性系统误差.以此为主要目标,选择“十二参数模型”进行航带平差,总结航带平差的一般技术流程,并对航带平差过程中是否引入地面控制点的结果进行对比分析.结果表明,引入地面控制点进行航带平差,数据的内外部精度均得到有效改善.     

Extraction and motion estimation of vehicles in single-pass airborne LiDAR data towards urban traffic analysis

Airborne LiDAR data are characterized by involving not only rich spatial but also temporal information. It is possible to extract vehicles with motion artifacts from single-pass airborne LiDAR data, based on which the motion state and velocity of vehicles can be identified and derived. In this paper, a complete strategy for urban traffic analysis using airborne LiDAR data is presented. An adaptive 3D segmentation method is presented to facilitate the task of vehicle extraction. The method features an ability to detect local arbitrary modes at multi scales, thereby making it particularly appropriate for partitioning complex point cloud data. Vehicle objects are then extracted by a binary classification using object-based features. Furthermore, the motion analysis for extracted vehicles is performed to distinguish between moving and stationary ones. Finally, the velocity is estimated for moving vehicles. The applicability and efficiency of the presented strategy is demonstrated and evaluated on three ALS datasets acquired for the propose of city mapping, where up to 87% of vehicles have been extracted and up to 83% of moving traffic can be recovered together with reasonable velocity estimates. It can be concluded that airborne LiDAR data can provide value-added products for traffic monitoring applications, including vehicle counts, location and velocity, along with traditional products such as building models, DEMs and vegetation models.     

机载LiDAR数据逐航带平差与航带区域网平差对比

机载LiDAR系统获取的点云数据在经过预处理解算后仍会残余部分系统误差,因此,在利用点云数据生成DEM等相关数字产品之前,必须检查并改正这部分系统误差。以此为主要目标,本文对机载LiDAR数据的逐航带平差与航带区域网平差展开研究,并以Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 C++为开发平台、基于实测数据对比了两者在完成多航带构成的测区平差时的精度,结果表明:机载LiDAR数据的航带区域网平差方法相较于LZD算法可有效降低逐航带平差导致的误差累积,精度更高。     

CO-Kriging Approach for Cartosat-1 Height Product with ICESat/GLAS Data for Digital Elevation Surface Generation

Nowadays, Geostatistics and its various interpolation techniques have become a major threshold area in the field of research in GIS. In this research work poorly sampled (less accurate height data relative to ICESat/GLAS height data) Cartosat-1 height data has been used with well sampled (more accurate height data relative to Cartosat-1 height data) ICESat/GLAS LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) height point data using Cokriging Interpolation technique, to study the effect of ICESat/GLAS on Cartosat-1 height data. Space borne LiDAR data has led researchers to explore its utilities in many applications. Space borne LiDAR data can be acquired through space borne LiDAR sensors also, like; GLAS (Geoscience Laser Altimeter System) system onboard ICESat (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite) satellite. In this study, it has been tried to apply Cokriging interpolation on two different sources of data sets, with a common variable (elevation) to generate DES and assessment of this surface has been conducted by DGPS data. After optimizing Cokriging parameters, results of digital elevation surface (DES) generated using Cokriging showed that RMSE has been second least than global polynomial in comparison to Kriging interpolation RMSE after being evaluated by GPS values. So, global polynomial as well as cokriging interpolation technique out performs while comparing with kriging technique for DES generation.     

基于密集匹配点云的DEM生产可行性研究

无人机倾斜摄影直接生产的成果通常包括三维模型、TDOM、DSM等,然而规划设计通常不能直接利用倾斜数据输出的DEM,需要辅以人工编辑。作为倾斜摄影影像处理的过程成果,密集匹配点云未得到充分利用。其与激光雷达点云具备相似的结构,且点云密度可自由选择,在不考虑数据量的情况下,密集匹配点云的点密度可数倍于激光雷达点云。此外,密集匹配点云无需单独赋色,即具有纹理信息,对人工目视编辑自动分类后的地面点具有一定的辅助作用。本文对比分析了同一测区的密集匹配点云与激光雷达点云,验证了密集匹配点云用于房屋建筑区及稀疏林区地面点滤波并生产DEM的可行性。     

机载Lidar技术在高速公路勘测中的应用

机载Lidar系统主要由激光发射系统、POS系统、CCD相机、计算机及存储设备等组成,能够快速获取高精度的地面点三维坐标信息以及影像数据,利用Terrasolid软件能够生产DEM、DOM及DLG产品。本文结合文莱高速公路项目详细阐述了机载Lidar系统在高速公路勘测中的应用。     

基于移动LiDAR点云数据的室内全要素三维重建

精确的室内三维模型在古遗产保护、公共场所的精细化管理和室内导航等领域有着重要作用,而激光雷达正被逐步应用到室内三维重建中。文中采用移动激光雷达对室内所有附属设施进行高精度激光扫描,得到融合CCD影像色彩信息的彩色点云数据。给出室内全要素三维重建的技术流程,并利用Autodesk CAD等三维建模平台对点云数据进行有效处理,最终得到高精度且带有大地坐标的室内三维模型。实验结果表明,采用移动激光雷达能快速获取高精度的室内三维点云数据。通过文中提出的流程,可快速得到真三维、真尺寸、真纹理的室内全要素模型。     

激光雷达森林参数反演研究进展

激光雷达通过发射激光能量和接收返回信号的方式,来获取高精度的森林空间结构和林下地形信息。全波形激光雷达通过记录返回信号的全部能量,得到亚米级植被垂直剖面;离散回波激光雷达记录的单个或多个回波,表示来自不同冠层的回波信号。星载激光雷达一般采用全波形或光子计数激光剖面系统,仅能获取卫星轨道下方的单波束或多波束数据,用于区域/全球范围的森林垂直结构及变化观测。机载激光雷达多采用离散回波或全波形激光扫描系统,能够获取飞行轨迹下方特定视场范围内的扫描数据,用于林分/区域范围的森林结构观测。地基激光雷达多采用离散回波激光扫描系统,获取以测站为中心的球形空间内扫描数据,用于单木/样地范围的森林结构观测。激光雷达单木因子估测方法可分为CHM单木法、NPC单木法和体元单木法3类。CHM单木法通过局部最大值识别树冠顶点,采用区域生长或图像分割算法识别树冠边界或树冠主方向,NPC单木法一般通过空间聚类或形态学算法识别单木,体元单木法在3维体元空间采用区域生长或空间聚类算法识别树冠。根据激光雷达冠层高度分布可以估测林分因子,冠层高度分布特征来自于离散点云或全波形。多时相激光雷达可用于森林生长量、生物量变化等监测,以及森林采伐、灾害等引起的结构变化监测。随着激光雷达技术的发展,它将在森林调查、生态环境建模等生产与科学研究领域中得到更为广泛的应用。     

Automatic registration of optical imagery with 3D LiDAR data using statistical similarity

The development of robust and accurate methods for automatic registration of optical imagery and 3D LiDAR data continues to be a challenge for a variety of applications in photogrammetry, computer vision and remote sensing. This paper proposes a new approach for the registration of optical imagery with LiDAR data based on the theory of Mutual Information (MI), which exploits the statistical dependency between same- and multi-modal datasets to achieve accurate registration. The MI-based similarity measures quantify dependencies between aerial imagery, and both LiDAR intensity data and 3D point cloud data. The needs for specific physical feature correspondences, which are not always attainable in the registration of imagery with 3D point clouds, are avoided. Current methods for registering 2D imagery to 3D point clouds are first reviewed, after which the mutual MI approach is presented. Particular attention is given to adoption of the Normalised Combined Mutual Information (NCMI) approach as a means to produce a similarity measure that exploits the inherently registered LiDAR intensity and point cloud data so as to improve the robustness of registration between optical imagery and LiDAR data. The effectiveness of local versus global similarity measures is also investigated, as are the transformation models involved in the registration process. An experimental program conducted to evaluate MI-based methods for registering aerial imagery to LiDAR data is reported and the results obtained in two areas with differing terrain and land cover, and with aerial imagery of different resolution and LiDAR data with different point density are discussed. These results demonstrate the potential of the MI and especially the CMI methods for registration of imagery and 3D point clouds, and they highlight the feasibility and robustness of the presented MI-based approach to automated registration of multi-sensor, multi-temporal and multi-resolution remote sensing data for a wide range of applications.     

Harnessing the power of immersive virtual reality - visualization and analysis of 3D earth science data sets

ABSTRACT

The availability and quantity of remotely sensed and terrestrial geospatial data sets are on the rise. Historically, these data sets have been analyzed and quarried on 2D desktop computers; however, immersive technologies and specifically immersive virtual reality (iVR) allow for the integration, visualization, analysis, and exploration of these 3D geospatial data sets. iVR can deliver remote and large-scale geospatial data sets to the laboratory, providing embodied experiences of field sites across the earth and beyond. We describe a workflow for the ingestion of geospatial data sets and the development of an iVR workbench, and present the application of these for an experience of Iceland’s Thrihnukar volcano where we: (1) combined satellite imagery with terrain elevation data to create a basic reconstruction of the physical site; (2) used terrestrial LiDAR data to provide a geo-referenced point cloud model of the magmatic-volcanic system, as well as the LiDAR intensity values for the identification of rock types; and (3) used Structure-from-Motion (SfM) to construct a photorealistic point cloud of the inside volcano. The workbench provides tools for the direct manipulation of the georeferenced data sets, including scaling, rotation, and translation, and a suite of geometric measurement tools, including length, area, and volume. Future developments will be inspired by an ongoing user study that formally evaluates the workbench’s mature components in the context of fieldwork and analyses activities.     

Spectral Schemes: Controversial Color Use on Maps

Cartographers have long discouraged the use of spectral, or rainbow, color schemes on thematic maps of quantitative geographic data, though such color use is common in GIS and scientific visualization. Recent research, however, has shown that spectral schemes are preferred and are interpreted accurately when used as multi-hue renditions of diverging schemes. Both spectral and diverging schemes can emphasize a critical point within a data range with light colors and emphasize both high and low extremes of the data with dark colors. Although spectral schemes include multiple saturated hues, they can be designed to accommodate map reading by people with red-green impaired color vision by skipping over the yellow-greens in the spectral sequence. Cartographers should encourage use of spectral color schemes for depicting diverging quantitative data, rather than insisting that these schemes should not be used.     

融合航空影像的LiDAR地物点云分类

点云滤波分类是LiDAR后续应用的基础工作,在点云滤波的基础上,以航空影像为辅助条件,结合点云高程信息,设计一套地物点云的分类方法。该方法首先融合航空影像与LiDAR数据,将对应RGB值赋予每个点,根据植被的光谱特征提取出部分植被点云;然后再根据文中定义的点云高程纹理,在剩余地物点云中提取出建筑物点,最后根据回波次数信息分离出剩余植被点,完成地物点云的分类。采用北京凤凰岭地区一组机载LiDAR数据进行实验。实验结果表明,该方法能够有效地将地物点云进行分类并且满足一定的精度要求,具有一定的实用价值。     

“针孔”模拟成像下的单航空影像与LiDAR点云配准

以摄影测量共线方程为严格配准模型,提出了一种引入针孔成像模拟过程的单张航空影像LiDAR点云配准迭代方法,共分为3个阶段:第一,利用航空影像内参数及初始外方位元素对LiDAR点云针孔模拟成像,生成与航空影像空间分辨率、几何形变相接近且具有相同幅面大小的透视影像-LiDAR深度影像;第二,以梯度互信息作为影像相似性测度依据,实施影像金字塔、分块处理策略实现LiDAR深度影像与航空影像几何变换参数快速估计,进而依据估计参数及LiDAR深度影像、激光脚点投影关系建立LiDAR点云航空影像概略相关;第三,以LiDAR点云影像概略相关下的近似同名像点为观测值,以像点梯度互信息为权重,实施摄影测量空间后方交会计算获得优化的影像外方位元素,生成新的LiDAR深度影像并重复上述过程,直至满足给定的迭代计算条件,实现单张航空影像与LiDAR点云数据的自动空间配准。实验表明,本文方法配准精度达亚像素级且自动化程度高。     

Assessing the potential for leaf-off LiDAR data to model canopy closure in temperate deciduous forests

Estimates of canopy closure have many important uses in forest management and ecological research. Field measurements, however, are typically not practical to acquire over expansive areas or for large numbers of locations. This problem has been addressed, in recent years, through the use of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology which has proven effective in modeling canopy closure remotely. The techniques developed to use LiDAR for this purpose have been designed and evaluated for datasets acquired during leaf-on conditions. However, a large number of LiDAR datasets are acquired during leaf-off conditions since their primary purpose is to generate bare-earth Digital Elevation Models. In this paper, we develop and evaluate techniques for leveraging small-footprint leaf-off LiDAR data to model leaf-on canopy closure in temperate deciduous forests.We evaluate three techniques for modeling canopy closure: (1) the canopy-to-total-return-ratio (CTRR), (2) the canopy-to-total-pixel-ratio (CTPR), and (3) the hemispherical-viewshed (HV). The first technique has been used widely, in various forms, and has been shown to be effective with leaf-on LiDAR datasets. The CTRR technique that we tested uses the first-return LiDAR data only. The latter two techniques are new contributions that we develop and present in this paper. These techniques use Canopy Height Models (CHM) to detect significant gaps in the forest canopy which are of primary importance in estimating closure.The techniques we tested each showed good promise for predicting canopy closure using leaf-off LiDAR data with the CTPR and HV models having particularly high correlations with closure estimates from hemispherical photographs. The CTRR model had performance on par with results from previous studies that used leaf-on LiDAR, although, with leaf-off data the model tended to be negatively biased with respect to species having simple and compound leaf types and positively biased for coniferous species. The CTPR and HV models also showed some slight negative biases for compound-leaf species. The biases for the CTPR and HV models were mitigated when the CHM data were smoothed to fill in small gaps. The CHM-based models were robust to changes in the CHM model resolution which suggests that these methods may be applicable to a variety of small-footprint LiDAR datasets. In this research, the new CTPR and HV methods showed a strong ability to predict canopy closure using leaf-off data, however, future work will be needed to test the applicability of the models to variations in LiDAR datasets, forest types, and topography.     

三维激光扫描点云数据处理研究进展、挑战与趋势

三维激光扫描直接对地球表面进行三维密集采样,可快速获取具有三维坐标(X,Y,Z)和一定属性(反射强度等)的海量、不规则空间分布三维点云,成为数字化时代下刻画复杂现实世界最为直接和重要的三维地理空间数据获取手段,在全球变化、智慧城市、全球制图等国家重大需求和地球系统科学研究中起到十分重要的作用。目前,在传感器技术和国家需求的双重驱动下,三维激光扫描在硬件装备、三维点云数据处理以及应用3个方面取得了巨大的进步,同时也面临新的挑战。本文以三维激光扫描的发展历史为线索,总结了三维激光扫描系统的现状、三维点云数据处理的关键进展以及在测绘地理信息等领域的典型应用,并分析了三维点云数据处理面临的挑战,最后展望了三维激光扫描与点云处理的发展趋势。     

LiDAR技术在钱塘江海塘工程安全监测上的应用研究

LiDAR作为一种主动式对地观测系统,可快速获取地物的三维点云数据,显示地物特点。文中利用LiDAR系统平台,获取钱塘江海塘三维点云数据,通过点云处理软件,对三维点云进行后续处理,生成海塘工程三维模型;分析模型数据,对海塘工程进行剖面分析、沉降监测等,探索LiDAR技术在海塘工程安全监测上的应用。     

线扫描式机载LiDAR系统误差影响分析研究

机载LiDAR系统会受到多种误差源的影响,系统误差会给激光脚点的坐标带来系统偏差。针对安置向量误差、安置角误差、激光测距误差以及扫描角尺度因子误差这几种重要误差源,从机载LiDAR系统几何定位方程出发,推导了机载LiDAR系统误差影响计算公式,并结合模拟实验,分别研究了这几类误差源对激光脚点定位精度的影响规律,从理论上分析了各类误差对机载LiDAR系统定位精度的综合作用。文中的结果为设计系统检校方法并消除这些系统误差的影响提供理论依据,具有重要的参考价值。