3D building reconstruction and validation using high-resolution stereo data

In recent times, due to advancement in satellite sensor technology and acquisition of very high resolution image data (0.3–1 m), high-resolution elevation models can be generated using satellite photogrammetry. High-resolution and precise digital elevation model (DEM) is an essential requirement for many applications like city modelling, terrain modelling, population estimation, resources estimation, visibility analysis, solar energy calculation, etc. Using high-resolution DEM and digital terrain model (DTM), heights of objects (buildings and trees) over the earth can be extracted for various applications. For visualization purpose, ortho image, building shapes with height information and important geographic information system information are used. This study mainly discusses the generation of high-resolution DEM from satellite stereo data, and processing of DEM and DTM. It also discusses extraction and validation of building heights using reference ground control points and visualization of highly accurate three-dimensional city model over the study area. This has been carried out using indigenous copy­righted software ‘Generation of virtual 3D city model’ of Space Applications Centre/Indian Space Research Organisation.