Densification of Digital Terrain Elevations Using Shape from Shading with Single Satellite Imagery

Abstract

Abstract. Numerous geoscience and engineering applications need denser and more accurate Digital Terrain Model (DTM) height data. Collecting additional height data in the field, if not impossible, is either expensive or time consuming or both. Stereo aerial or satellite imagery is often unavailable and very expensive to acquire. Interpolation techniques are fast and cheap, but have their own inherent difficulties and problems, especially in rough terrain. Advanced space technology has provided much single (if not stereo) high-resolution satellite imageries almost worldwide. This paper discusses the idea of using Shape From Shading (SFS) methods with single high resolution imagery to densify regular grids of heights. Preliminary results are very encouraging and the methodology is going to be implemented with real satellite imagery and parallel computations.

Terrain Super‐resolution through Aerial Imagery and Fully Convolutional Networks

“…Bors et al [BHW03] deriving from the principles of the SfS algorithms reconstructed terrain topography from a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image. Where very high resolution images are available but Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) are much less detailed, SfS can serve as a tool for densifying height data [RB01]. The same process can be applied to a single multispectral image [CSQZ11].…”

Improvement of Digital Terrain Model Interpolation Using SFS Techniques with Single Satellite Imagery

“…They are used for the analysis of topographical features in GISs and numerous engineering computations. Rajabi and Blais [1] briefly reviewed and referenced a number of sources for DTM and their applications in engineering as well as science.…”