Detailed Building Reconstruction from Airborne Laser Data Using a Moving Surface Method

The increasing demand for a fast, efficient and low cost algorithm for extraction of 3D urban features was the motive behind this work. In this paper we present a new technique to reconstruct buildings with detailed roofs in urban areas using airborne laser scanning altimetry data. We have tried to show that dense airborne laser scanning data is sufficient for detailed 3D reconstruction of urban features such as buildings. This concept is based on local statistical inferences. Least squares moving surface analysis with variable window sizes and shapes of laser-derived points was the key in determining building roof details. The consistency of the data with those surfaces determines how they will be modelled. After obtaining the roof facet orientation and approximate location, the roof boundary will be extracted by intersecting those facets. Consequently a complete wireframe of buildings is constructed. Results from an actual dense airborne laser data set collected over the Purdue campus are presented in the paper.