Automatic Extraction of Man-Made Objects from Aerial Space Images

Advancements in digital sensor technology, digital image analysis techniques, as well as computer software and hardware have brought together the fields of computer vision and photogrammetry, which are converging towards sharing objectives and algorithms. The potential for mutual benefits by the close collaboration and interaction of these two disciplines is great, as photogrammetric know-how can be aides by image analysis developments in computer vision, while modern quantitative photogrammetric approaches can support vision activities. Devising methodologies for automating the extraction of man-made objects (such as buildings, roads) from digital aerial or satellite imagery is an application where this co-operation and mutual support is already reaping benefits. The spatial information collected using these interdisciplinary techniques is of improved qualitative and quantitative accuracy. This text offers a selection of contributions, treating theoretical as well as implementational issues, and representing the state-of-the-art on this subject among the photogrammetric and computer-vision communities.