An Improved Method of Building Rapid 3D Modeling Based on Digital Photogrammetric Technique - Advances in Image and Graphics Technologies - page 175

An Improved Method of Building Rapid 3D Modeling
Based on Digital Photogrammetric Technique

Zimin Zhang, Ying Zhou, Jian Cui, and Hao Liu

Department of Civil Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University,
Shandong, 250101, China

Abstract. Building 3D modeling is a fundamental but expensive works to
digital city engineer. For cutting off the workload of that, an improved rapid
modeling method based on digital photogrammetric technique is proposed. Two
main issues are resolved in the method. The first is how to trace and recognize
the roof surfaces of a building according to its profile lines, and the second is
how to create right solid models for complicated buildings usually with multiple
parts. The paper gives a detailed description about the solutions and involved
algorithms. Finally, multiple buildings with different roof styles are selected to
test the improved method. Results show that it can get right 3D models for
common buildings, and reduce the workload of delineating roof lines and
possible model mistakes.

Keywords: Rapid modeling, Building, 3D modeling, Digital Photogrammetry,
Digital city.

1 Introduction

The establishment of city's 3D Model is the foundation of digital city that is widely
carried out in China at present, and buildings constitute the main body of the model.
Therefore, building 3D modeling has become an important task for urban surveying
and mapping bureau of China.
Building 3D modeling consists of two main steps: making the structure models of
buildings and pasting the texture pictures for building surfaces. The structure model is
usually name “white model” for its surfaces assigned with a uniform color. After the
pasting of true texture pictures on the surfaces by image cutting, correcting and
mapping, a realistic building 3D model is finished. Presently, the process is primarily
done by manual works, and consequently demand high costs. A introduce of rapid
modeling methods and computer systems to improve the efficiency of that is significant.
At present, rapid modeling systems are immature. Some methods proposed by
researchers include: 1) using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) point cloud data
to extract the outlines of buildings and make a wireframe model[1]. 2) Constructing
building model with the parametric information extracted from images by
morphological scale space image processing [2]. 3) Using tilt image to extract
building's texture in four directions [3]. This paper presents a method utilizing
structural vector line extracted by digital photogrammetric technique to generate
building models automatically.