Point Density Effects on Digital Elevation Models Generated from LiDAR Data

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA501602 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The use of Airborne LiDAR Systems ALS to obtain topographical information of the earths surface and generate Digital Elevation Models DEMs has grown extensively in the field of Remote Sensing. Selected areas of point cloud LiDAR data collected from Honduras in 2008 was used to produce DEMs with varying densities to show the effects of lower resolution LiDAR data. An IDL code was utilized to reduce the selected LiDAR point cloud data to 90, 66, 50, 30, 10, 5, 3, 1, 0.5, 0.3, 0.1, 0.05, 0.03, and 0.01 of its original density to obtain lower resolution data sets. The software Quick Terrain Modeler QTM and its ILAP Bare Earth Extractor Plug-in was used to generate DEMs from the varying point cloud density data sets and the software ENVI was used to perform DEM analysis. It was found that LiDAR point cloud density data set of at least 0.6 points per square meter is necessary to generate an accurate Digital Elevation Model for the test environment.

Author(s):
Duldulao, Richard L.
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Supplementary Note:
The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0073

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
NPS
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_2.2.2_Imagery Collection; JCA_2.2_Collection; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned
Modernization Areas:
Directed Energy
Communities of Interest:
Materials and Manufacturing Processes
Descriptor(s):
*TOPOGRAPHY, *TERRAIN, *COMPUTER PROGRAMS, *DIGITAL SYSTEMS, *AIRBORNE, *OPTICAL RADAR, THESES, ACCURACY, REMOTE DETECTORS, DENSITY, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, DATA BASES, EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Field(s)/Group(s):
Military Aircraft Operations, Optical Detection and Detectors
Keyword(s):
*DEM(DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL), ILAP BARE EARTH EXTRACTOR, QUICK TERRAIN MODELER, LIDAR(LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING)
Report Date:
2009 Jun 01
Creation Date:
2009 Jul 29