Projects / Programmes
Lidar-facilitated volunteered geographic information for topographic change detection
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.17.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Geodesy |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P515 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geodesy |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.07 |
Engineering and Technology |
Environmental engineering
|
volunteered geographic information, topographic map, updating, lidar, amateur photography, single image restitution
Researchers (9)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Lidar-facilitated volunteered geographic information for topographic change detection
Acquisition of volunteered geographic information (VGI) or geographic crowdsourcing has gained increased attention from academia in the last decade, especially for topographic change detection, collaborative mapping and natural hazard monitoring. By means of VGI we can collect positional data and georeferenced text, messages, photos or other information, e.g. by tagging existing information with geographical location.
Different approaches can be used to motivate citizens and professionals to participate in VGI, while the main motivation is usually a desire to cooperate in a worthy cause. Better data quality can be achieved, if together with laymen as data contributors, experts are cooperating.
Topographic maps and data cover entire states. In the A4C4 quality requirements scheme (Authority, Accuracy, Availability, Actuality; Completeness, Coverage, Consistency, Correctness), VGI wins in comparison with expert topographic data only in Actuality and conditionally in Correctness, but this is very significant for the Surveying and Mapping Authorities (SMAs). European SMAs renew topographic data periodically, e.g. once in every 3 years. In order to achieve high and geographically homogeneous Actuality of VGI input at any time (i.e. continuously), SMAs have to attract data contributors all over their countries. Therefore, the main goals of this research are (1) to empower volunteers for easy and quick data collection, and (2) to empower geodetic professionals to process these data with photogrammetric quality. A term facilitated volunteered geographic information was introduced, which describes the fact that the collection of VGI can be accelerated if the beneficial institution like SMA, supports volunteers e.g. with simple and user-friendly applications such as digital mapping interfaces or topographic data browsers.
When VGI, especially volunteered photos are crossed with complementary georeferenced big data, e.g. with lidar point clouds or photogrammetrically derived digital surface models (lidar-like data) of whole countries or satellite images, new research directions emerge. Given the potentials offered by VGI and volunteered photos collection, the following three beyond state-of-the-art research problems arise:
CENTRAL PROBLEM – How to optimize the methodology of topographic map updating to involve arbitrary VGI, single volunteered non-metric photos, lidar or lidar-like data and satellite images?
CONTEXTUAL PROBLEM – How to support volunteers in the facilitated VGI, and in the volunteered non-metric photo collection for the purpose of full quality photogrammetric map updating, (1) for different topographical changes e.g. of road network, buildings, land use and land cover, and (2) at different national topographic map scales of e.g. 1:5000 vs. 1:50.000?
TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEM – Specifically, (1) how to photogrammetrically orientate and georeference a single non-metric volunteered photo made by amateur camera or mobile phone, and (2) how to extract and map 3D topographic changes from such an amateur photo only with the help of lidar or lidar-like data?
Topographic map updating is usually done by photogrammetric survey, where imagery used to detect changes is professional, i.e. metric, orientated, stereo (in pair), and vertical (aerial - from an airplane). The main objective of the proposed research is the development of optimal methodology for a topographic map updating based on a mashup of volunteered geographic data, volunteered amateur photos and professional lidar or lidar-like data. We can summarize this with the following hypothesis:
A topographic mashup of arbitrary VGI, volunteered photos, professional lidar or lidar-like data and/or satellite images can provide a professional standard quality input for 3D topographic change detection and mapping in the process of topographic map updating.
Significance for science
Scientific relevance
The scientific impact of the project will be achieved by the development of new methodology for topographic map updating based on a mashup of arbitrary VGI input, and the contextual introduction of supporting prototype applications for (1) facilitated VGI collection and for (2) photogrammetric mapping from amateur photos coupled with lidar or lidar-like data. The originality and beyond state-of-the-art of the project will be demonstrated by novel methodology, where the contextual roles of volunteers (non-experts) and professionals (experts) involved in map updating will be complementary joined. For this purpose, we need to study and assess optimal cognitive strategies of spatial reasoning when engaging volunteers and professionals in the same undertaking. A set of new quality measures and indicators for the quality assessment and control of topographic map updating is also a significant scientific contribution since amateur data have not been acceptable for professional cartography until now.
The second prototype application developed in this proposal, the lidar-facilitated single image orientation, will enable more accurate extraction of 3D-data from a single non-metric amateur image with the help of lidar or lidar-like data. While developing this application, various data fusion models will be applied. The following adwanced data extraction strategies, data classification, and annotation procedures will be used: the development of structured patterns for geospatial entities (e.g. distinct terrain features) in a form of geometric templates, spatially embedded graphs, etc. The findings of this project will open new perspectives and possibilities for the development and optimisation of algorithms when combining big data, VGI and large amount of unstructured non-metric images in the scientific community.
Professional relevance
As national lidar data are becoming open data throughout Europe, the proposed research could be applied in other European SMAs, i.e. National Mapping Administrations, NMAs (EU relevance; organizational impact). Namely, most of the European SMAs have similar (photogrammetric) approach to topographic map production and updating. Most SMAs have limited, but very positive experience with VGI. It was shown that VGI can save up to 20 % of financial resources for updating [10, 11] (financial impact). Additionally, crowdsourcing at SMAs is considered potentially important also in real estate and land cadastre updating (legal relevance; social impact), geographical names collection (educational relevance), spatial education (educational relevance) [11]. A completely new horizon is also opening in the field of VGI applications in land use/land cover detection (LU/LC), e.g. for agricultural subventions to farmers in EU (EU relevance; economic impact). With some adaptation, the methodology in this proposal could be applicable also for other thematic purposes like professional environmental monitoring with the aid of VGI (environmental relevance).
Significance for the country
Direct impact for the economy
The co-operation of experts and laymen (citizens) in collecting spatial data is of great importance for the development of new high-tech jobs and start-ups. The Location Based Services (LBS) market is an extremely fast growing industry worldwide, which can fail without quality and up-to-date spatial data, as they are widely used on mobile devices and on web applications (for example in navigation). According to the Allied Market Research, the current value of the LBS market is around 12 billion USD today, and by 2022 it will increase by more than five times, to 62 billion USD. For continuous up-to-date and better quality of national topographic and real-estate data, voluntary VGI data, obtained through various social media, is of key importance. They can be used in virtually all sectors of the economy, e.g. in real estate trading, infrastructure management, construction, multimodal transport, health care, smart agriculture, food industry, forest management, environmental protection and tourism. Since public sector spatial data is open data, the significance of the project is therefore even greater.
In the area of public administration, up-to-date and detailed collaborative VGI data are important for projects related to e-space, e-building and e-planning, as they shorten and simplify administrative procedures. Participation (also: collaboration) is a new paradigm that involves citizens in spatial planning processes. They can contribute both opinions and criticism as well as new data. The ongoing EU and national smart specialization projects, including the development of smart cities, need even more detailed spatial data in all processes, as are now standardly available at national geodetic administrations.
Direct impact for the society
The direct benefit to society is most evident in the performance of the functions of state security, the police, the army, the protection of the state border, civil protection, protection against natural disasters, protection of the environment and ensuring legal security of real estate. In these activities, topographic information is especially important, which can be changed on a daily basis, so as eg. in the case of floods, earthquakes, droughts, landslides and other environmental disasters. In these, the participation of citizens with voluntary geographic data (VGI) in real time and at the location of the event is particularly important, as it facilitates rescue, assessment of the current situation and actual damage. State geodetic services can not record, observe and measure such topographical changes due to various objective reasons in such events, which can be permanent or temporary, but have a direct negative effect on the economy and the quality of life of the inhabitants.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
