Building Detection from High Resolution Digital Elevation Models in Urban Areas

This paper describes an algorithm which aims at deriving digital terrain models (DTM) from dense digital elevation models (DEM). This algorithm takes place in a processing chain for building detection and modelling in urban areas from high resolution aerial imagery. DEM either come from stereophotogrammetry, or from direct measures such as airborne laser data. DTM are computed as low order frequency models, which exclude “high frequencies” such as buildings and other man-made structures. Above-ground regions are then detected by differences between DEM and DTM. Our processing chain ends with the 3D building modelling.