3D-city modeling with a digital one-eye stereo system

Abstract

3D-city information is crucial for a number of applications in city planning, environmental control or fortelecommunication. We describe a semiautomatic system for acquiring the 3D-shape of buildings as topographic objects. Buildings are either modeled as a freely structured union of basic shape primitives or asprisms with an arbitrary ground plan, covering a large percentage of existing buildings. Interaction takes place in only one image, requiring the operator to specify the approximate structure and shape of the buildings. 3D-reconstruction including both, height determination and form adaptation, is performed automatically using various matching tools. The paper describes the features of the system and reports on its e ciency based on an extensive test.