ELiT, Multifunctional Web-Software for Feature Extraction from 3D LiDAR Point Clouds

Abstract

Our research presents a complete R&D cycle—from the urban terrain generation and feature extraction by raw LiDAR data processing, through visualizing a huge number of urban features, and till applied thematic use cases based on these features extracted and modeled. Firstly, the paper focuses on the original contribution to algorithmic solutions concerning the fully automated extraction of building models with the urban terrain generation. Topography modeling and extraction of buildings, as two key constituents of the robust algorithmic pipeline, have been examined. The architectural scheme of the multifunctional software family—EOS LIDAR Tool (ELiT) has been presented with characteristics of its key functionalities and examples of a user interface. Both desktop, and web server software, as well as a cloud-based application, ELiT Geoportal (EGP), as an entity for online geospatial services, have been elaborated on the base of the approach presented. Further emphasis on the web-visualization with Cesium 3D Tiles has demonstrated the original algorithm for efficient feature visualizing though the EGP locations. Summarizing presentation of two thematic use-cases has finalized this research, demonstrating those applied tasks, which can be efficiently resolved with the workflow presented. A necessity of a conclusive workflow elaboration for use cases, which would be based on the actual semantics, has been emphasized.

Urbogeosystemic Approach to Agglomeration Study within the Urban Remote Sensing Frameworks

“…Such perspectives can be opened if we accept simulated sets of building models as the aggregations of elementary functional features of an urbogeosystem. The reasonability of such an assumption has been proved by the authors in some previous publications [3,9,39].…”

“…Traditionally being within the frameworks of our original multifunctional approach to LiDAR point cloud processing [27,31,38,39] we have to consider only those methods, which use exclusively LiDAR data, so that to utilize the building geometric and topological properties only, and not any other urban landscape characteristic except urban topography. In this way we have to pass through the mentioned above trinity of steps: building detection, segmentation, and reconstruction ones, while topography is generated upon the first step from these three while discriminating so-called "ground" and "non-ground" points when processing LiDAR datasets.…”

“…In our original approach to LiDAR point cloud processing with the intention to separate "ground" and "non-ground" point as a mandatory premise for further nonground features detection, segmentation, and reconstruction, we have provided the following steps, which can be introduced in the following summarized way proceeding from several relevant references [27,31,39]. The initial unique step assumes the delineation of both DEM and a DSM from the airborne point cloud raw data, in which point density should be preferably within a range of 10-80 points per square meter.…”

“…The initial unique step assumes the delineation of both DEM and a DSM from the airborne point cloud raw data, in which point density should be preferably within a range of 10-80 points per square meter. The proposed method of DEM generation accomplishes a classification of the original data as "ground" points versus "non-ground" points by robust estimating procedure, which has been described in detail in one of our latest papers [39]. In all consequent algorithmic steps of modeling UE, the heavyweight models generated by triangulation and interpolation, and lightweight models generated by clustering and segmentation are used, but not the original data points.…”

“…Corresponding functional tools of both ELiT-software platforms, which are set within the HPM frameworks are BE, BEF, CD, and DEM-G tools. The BE/BEF tools extract original building footprints from point clouds while modeling [39,43].…”