Representing 3D model of building from TLS data scanning in CityGML

Abstract

Nowadays, 3D city models are used by the increasing number of applications. Most applications require not only geometric information but also semantic information. As a standard and tool for 3D city model, CityGML, provides a method for storing and managing both geometric and semantic information. Moreover, it also provides the multi-scale representation of 3D building model for efficient visualization. In CityGML, building models are represented in five LODs (Level of Detail), start from LOD0, LOD1, LOD2, LOD3, and LOD4. Each level has different accuracy and detail requirement for visualization. Usually, for obtaining multi-LOD of 3D building model, several data sources are integrated. For example, LiDAR data is used for generating LOD0, LOD1, and LOD2 as close-range photogrammetry data is used for generating more detailed model in LOD3 and LOD4. However, using additional data sources is increasing cost and time consuming. Since the development of TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanner), data collection for detailed model can be conducted in a relative short time compared to photogrammetry. Point cloud generated from TLS can be used for generating the multi-LOD of building model. This paper gives an overview about the representation of 3D building model in CityGML and also method for generating multi-LOD of building from TLS data. An experiment was conducted using TLS. Following the standard in CityGML, point clouds from TLS were processed resulting 3D model of building in different level of details. Afterward, models in different LOD were converted into XML schema to be used in CityGML. From the experiment, final result shows that TLS can be used for generating 3D models of building in LOD1, LOD2, and LOD3.