scholarly journals An Iterative Coarse-to-Fine Sub-Sampling Method for Density Reduction of Terrain Point Clouds

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Fan ◽  
Peter M. Atkinson

Point clouds obtained from laser scanning techniques are now a standard type of spatial data for characterising terrain surfaces. Some have been shared as open data for free access. A problem with the use of these free point cloud data is that the data density may be more than necessary for a given application, leading to higher computational cost in subsequent data processing and visualisation. In such cases, to make the dense point clouds more manageable, their data density can be reduced. This research proposes a new coarse-to-fine sub-sampling method for reducing point cloud data density, which honours the local surface complexity of a terrain surface. The method proposed is tested using four point clouds representing terrain surfaces with distinct spatial characteristics. The effectiveness of the iterative coarse-to-fine method is evaluated and compared against several benchmarks in the form of typical sub-sampling methods available in open source software for point cloud processing.

Author(s):  
Y. Hori ◽  
T. Ogawa

The implementation of laser scanning in the field of archaeology provides us with an entirely new dimension in research and surveying. It allows us to digitally recreate individual objects, or entire cities, using millions of three-dimensional points grouped together in what is referred to as "point clouds". In addition, the visualization of the point cloud data, which can be used in the final report by archaeologists and architects, should usually be produced as a JPG or TIFF file. Not only the visualization of point cloud data, but also re-examination of older data and new survey of the construction of Roman building applying remote-sensing technology for precise and detailed measurements afford new information that may lead to revising drawings of ancient buildings which had been adduced as evidence without any consideration of a degree of accuracy, and finally can provide new research of ancient buildings. We used laser scanners at fields because of its speed, comprehensive coverage, accuracy and flexibility of data manipulation. Therefore, we “skipped” many of post-processing and focused on the images created from the meta-data simply aligned using a tool which extended automatic feature-matching algorithm and a popular renderer that can provide graphic results.


Author(s):  
Gülhan Benli

Since the 2000s, terrestrial laser scanning, as one of the methods used to document historical edifices in protected areas, has taken on greater importance because it mitigates the difficulties associated with working on large areas and saves time while also making it possible to better understand all the particularities of the area. Through this technology, comprehensive point data (point clouds) about the surface of an object can be generated in a highly accurate three-dimensional manner. Furthermore, with the proper software this three-dimensional point cloud data can be transformed into three-dimensional rendering/mapping/modeling and quantitative orthophotographs. In this chapter, the study will present the results of terrestrial laser scanning and surveying which was used to obtain three-dimensional point clouds through three-dimensional survey measurements and scans of silhouettes of streets in Fatih in Historic Peninsula in Istanbul, which were then transposed into survey images and drawings. The study will also cite examples of the facade mapping using terrestrial laser scanning data in Istanbul Historic Peninsula Project.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2476
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Masuda ◽  
Yuichiro Hiraoka ◽  
Kazuto Saito ◽  
Shinsuke Eto ◽  
Michinari Matsushita ◽  
...  

With the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in forest stands, surveys are now equipped to obtain dense point cloud data. However, the data range, i.e., the number of points, often reaches the billions or even higher, exceeding random access memory (RAM) limits on common computers. Moreover, the processing time often also extends beyond acceptable processing lengths. Thus, in this paper, we present a new method of efficiently extracting stem traits from huge point cloud data obtained by TLS, without subdividing or downsampling the point clouds. In this method, each point cloud is converted into a wireframe model by connecting neighboring points on the same continuous surface, and three-dimensional points on stems are resampled as cross-sectional points of the wireframe model in an out-of-core manner. Since the data size of the section points is much smaller than the original point clouds, stem traits can be calculated from the section points on a common computer. With the study method, 1381 tree stems were calculated from 3.6 billion points in ~20 min on a common computer. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, eight targeted trees were cut down and sliced at 1-m intervals; actual stem traits were then compared to those calculated from point clouds. The experimental results showed that the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are sufficient for practical use in various fields, including forest management and forest research.


Author(s):  
Hoang Long Nguyen ◽  
David Belton ◽  
Petra Helmholz

The demand for accurate spatial data has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Mobile laser scanning (MLS) systems have become a mainstream technology for measuring 3D spatial data. In a MLS point cloud, the point clouds densities of captured point clouds of interest features can vary: they can be sparse and heterogeneous or they can be dense. This is caused by several factors such as the speed of the carrier vehicle and the specifications of the laser scanner(s). The MLS point cloud data needs to be processed to get meaningful information e.g. segmentation can be used to find meaningful features (planes, corners etc.) that can be used as the inputs for many processing steps (e.g. registration, modelling) that are more difficult when just using the point cloud. Planar features are dominating in manmade environments and they are widely used in point clouds registration and calibration processes. There are several approaches for segmentation and extraction of planar objects available, however the proposed methods do not focus on properly segment MLS point clouds automatically considering the different point densities. This research presents the extension of the segmentation method based on planarity of the features. This proposed method was verified using both simulated and real MLS point cloud datasets. The results show that planar objects in MLS point clouds can be properly segmented and extracted by the proposed segmentation method.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-210
Author(s):  
Marek Bureš ◽  
Sergo Martirosov ◽  
Jiří Polcar

The paper is focused on point cloud data processing obtained by 3D laser scanning. The scanning devices are at a very advanced level and after reaching their possible maximum scanning speeds, manufacturers are now more focused on a minimization of the devices. However, there is still a lack of software solutions for a simple and successful model creation from point cloud data or data evaluation. This paper briefly describes the laser scanning principle and the process of production floor layout capturing. Furthermore, a newly developed algorithm for an extraction of specific areas of point cloud is introduced. The algorithm was tested and compared with other solutions for a production layout development. After testing, the standalone software application called CloudSlicer™ was programed and the user interface is also presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (04) ◽  
pp. 594-613
Author(s):  
Robert Klinc ◽  
Uroš Jotanović ◽  
Klemen Kregar

The use of point clouds in extracting data for building information modelling (BIM) has become common recently. Managers of older buildings are working to centralise information. Documentation about mechanical installations, plumbing, electricity, and previous interventions is often stored on scattered media, frequently still on paper. In the transformation of the material world into the digital world, the point cloud is the starting point, containing information about the material world obtained by various means such as photogrammetry, terrestrial or aerial laser scanning. Manual BIM modelling for management, maintenance and future use is a time-consuming and error-prone process. We would like to automate this process and avoid these errors. Recently, there have been developed an increasing number of stand-alone programmes and add-ons that provide automated, fast, and more accurate modelling based on point cloud data. In this paper we present an investigation into the possibilities for automating the creation of BIM models from point cloud data. The result is a semi-automated process for modelling individual BIM elements, which we have tested on specific examples of modelling individual elements (walls, pipes, and columns). We note that despite the automation of the process, a high level of user interaction is still required to produce good quality models.


Author(s):  
Hoang Long Nguyen ◽  
David Belton ◽  
Petra Helmholz

The demand for accurate spatial data has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Mobile laser scanning (MLS) systems have become a mainstream technology for measuring 3D spatial data. In a MLS point cloud, the point clouds densities of captured point clouds of interest features can vary: they can be sparse and heterogeneous or they can be dense. This is caused by several factors such as the speed of the carrier vehicle and the specifications of the laser scanner(s). The MLS point cloud data needs to be processed to get meaningful information e.g. segmentation can be used to find meaningful features (planes, corners etc.) that can be used as the inputs for many processing steps (e.g. registration, modelling) that are more difficult when just using the point cloud. Planar features are dominating in manmade environments and they are widely used in point clouds registration and calibration processes. There are several approaches for segmentation and extraction of planar objects available, however the proposed methods do not focus on properly segment MLS point clouds automatically considering the different point densities. This research presents the extension of the segmentation method based on planarity of the features. This proposed method was verified using both simulated and real MLS point cloud datasets. The results show that planar objects in MLS point clouds can be properly segmented and extracted by the proposed segmentation method.


Author(s):  
N. Hidaka ◽  
T. Michikawa ◽  
N. Yabuki ◽  
T. Fukuda ◽  
A. Motamedi

The existing civil structures must be maintained in order to ensure their expected lifelong serviceability. Careful rehabilitation and maintenance planning plays a significant role in that effort. Recently, construction information modelling (CIM) techniques, such as product models, are increasingly being used to facilitate structure maintenance. Using this methodology, laser scanning systems can provide point cloud data that are used to produce highly accurate and dense representations of civil structures. However, while numerous methods for creating a single surface exist, part decomposition is required in order to create product models consisting of more than one part. This research aims at the development of a surface reconstruction system that utilizes point cloud data efficiently in order to create complete product models. The research proposes using the application of local shape matching to the input point clouds in order to define a set of representative parts. These representative parts are then polygonized and copied to locations where the same types of parts exist. The results of our experiments show that the proposed method can efficiently create product models using input point cloud data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Piotr Tompalski ◽  
Nicholas C. Coops ◽  
Joanne C. White ◽  
Tristan R.H. Goodbody ◽  
Chris R. Hennigar ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose of Review The increasing availability of three-dimensional point clouds, including both airborne laser scanning and digital aerial photogrammetry, allow for the derivation of forest inventory information with a high level of attribute accuracy and spatial detail. When available at two points in time, point cloud datasets offer a rich source of information for detailed analysis of change in forest structure. Recent Findings Existing research across a broad range of forest types has demonstrated that those analyses can be performed using different approaches, levels of detail, or source data. By reviewing the relevant findings, we highlight the potential that bi- and multi-temporal point clouds have for enhanced analysis of forest growth. We divide the existing approaches into two broad categories— – approaches that focus on estimating change based on predictions of two or more forest inventory attributes over time, and approaches for forecasting forest inventory attributes. We describe how point clouds acquired at two or more points in time can be used for both categories of analysis by comparing input airborne datasets, before discussing the methods that were used, and resulting accuracies. Summary To conclude, we outline outstanding research gaps that require further investigation, including the need for an improved understanding of which three-dimensional datasets can be applied using certain methods. We also discuss the likely implications of these datasets on the expected outcomes, improvements in tree-to-tree matching and analysis, integration with growth simulators, and ultimately, the development of growth models driven entirely with point cloud data.


Author(s):  
R. Boerner ◽  
M. Kröhnert

3D point clouds, acquired by state-of-the-art terrestrial laser scanning techniques (TLS), provide spatial information about accuracies up to several millimetres. Unfortunately, common TLS data has no spectral information about the covered scene. However, the matching of TLS data with images is important for monoplotting purposes and point cloud colouration. Well-established methods solve this issue by matching of close range images and point cloud data by fitting optical camera systems on top of laser scanners or rather using ground control points. <br><br> The approach addressed in this paper aims for the matching of 2D image and 3D point cloud data from a freely moving camera within an environment covered by a large 3D point cloud, e.g. a 3D city model. The key advantage of the free movement affects augmented reality applications or real time measurements. Therefore, a so-called real image, captured by a smartphone camera, has to be matched with a so-called synthetic image which consists of reverse projected 3D point cloud data to a synthetic projection centre whose exterior orientation parameters match the parameters of the image, assuming an ideal distortion free camera.


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