Perspective terrain visualization—A fusion of remote sensing, GIS, and computer graphics

Abstract

Techniques are presented that are used for the perspective visualization of natural landscapes in the field of environmental planning and civil engineering. In order to obtain a photo-realistic visual simulation, we use digital elevation models (DEM) and images generated by remote sensing techniques. The remote sensing systems used in this work include Landsat Thematic Mapper, SPOT HRV, and aerial photography. To achieve high quality perspective views, we first have to pay attention to an appropriate preprocessing of the remote sensing imagery. This includes radiometric corrections and image enhancement procedures as well as a precise geometric correction that is executed to achieve accurate coregistration of the different images with the terrain model. A mosaic of several images at different resolutions is stored, together with the DEM, in a database covering an extensive area. Projection software permits the user to specify all interior and exterior orientation parameters of a virtual camera to compute any perspective view. To obtain greater realism, atmospheric effects can also be simulated. Our visual simulation approach using a virtual scene permits automated image montage of 3D simulated objects. The achieved results show that this technology can be used in many different domains where terrain visualization is required.