Presentation(s)

1. 3-D Scene Rendering of Urban Areas for Disaster Relief Efforts: LiDAR Case Study for Haiti [download]

   LiDAR data can be combined with spectral imagery sources to efficiently provide map and information support for relief and recovery in the aftermath of a disaster, such as an earthquake. This presentation will explain how LiDAR data can be used for crisis management, including the 3D reconstruction of urban areas in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, following the January 12, 2010 earthquake. 3D maps constructed from LiDAR data aid emergency managements teams in determining the location of collapsed and standing structures, as well as supporting landing and routing tasks. In this study, the E3De LiDAR processing tool was used to extract buildings and significant debris coverage from a dense LiDAR point cloud collection from the aftermath of the earthquake. ENVI was used to fuse image data with the processed LiDAR data for enhanced road extraction efforts. Debris information from E3De was combined with the extracted road layer and used to construct an intact road network for input in ArcGIS Network Analyst to support ground team routing. Debris coverage and 3D urban topography was also used as an input into a helicopter landing zone and to identify areas to focus rescue efforts.
    

   Presenters

   David Gonzalez

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2. Mobile Mapping - An Affordable Solution [download]

   Topic area: LiDAR Data Analysis & Remote Sensing Problem: Available systems cost roughly $1M! Solution: Use latest, smallest, lightest, affordable components. ScanLook is the result of extensive research and design. Competing mobile mapping systems cost $750K minimum. The upfront cost and the ROI on such systems is prohibitive to most users. ScanLook is a small, light, flexible and affordable solution at less than half the cost. Using good cameras, the revolutionary FARO FOCUS scanner, the Velodyne HD 32, and NovAtel GPS/IMU/Wheel sensor components, ScanLook can offer a mobile mapping solution to even a small firm. Integrating two scanners, one for high accuracy hard surface analysis, and the other for asset and inventory management, sets ScanLook apart from the crowd.
    

   Presenters

   Jeff Fagerman

   Daniel Fagerman

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3. Accuracy Assessment of NEXTMap Elevation Data for the State of Alabama [download]

   This paper presents the results of the vertical accuracy of NEXTMap derived bare ground elevation data (referred to as a digital terrain model (DTM)) over a variety of land cover types by comparing it against National Geodetic Survey (NGS) reference points and against the United States Geological Survey National Elevation Data (NED) for the State of Alabama. The results indicate a vertical accuracy expressed in RMSE of 0.55 m in barren terrain and a range of 1.27 – 3 m in obstructed terrain (e.g. vegetation and dense urban cover). A hydrological analysis demonstrated that the DTM elevation data given by NEXTMap data provided more accurate representation of water ways (e.g. lakes, ponds, rivers, streams) than the NED possibly due to the difference in DTM resolution of NEXTMap – 5 m ground sampling distance (GSD) compared to the 5 m GSD NED. Another possible explanation could be the temporal differences between the two dataset where the NED data is older than the NEXTMap data. Applications for use with NEXTMap data such as flood hazard, water management, geological and soil survey analysis conclude the paper.
    

   Presenters

   M. Lorraine Tighe, Ph.D.

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