A new approach for Lidar aided fast vision

Facets stereo vision (FAST Vision) is an image matching method, in which digital surface model (DSM) generation and ortho image computation are simultaneously done. DSM can also be generated by using airborne LiDAR points, from which LiDAR points on the interest surface must be first selected. It is often aided by manual image interpretation. Also, the thus interpolated DSM might have large interpolation errors due to the lack of break lines and larger interval between two neighboring laser scanning lines. This paper proposes a new approach for LiDAR aided FAST Vision. Test results demonstrate that FAST Vision is very available for accurate image matching, DSM determination and ortho image computation in areas with continuous gray-level surface and continuous geometric surface (DSM). FAST Vision becomes fast (less computation time) and more reliable after integration of LiDAR points. The a posteriori σ̂ ₀ is reduced, after LiDAR points are integrated into FAST Vision. The root mean square values of dZ _i (= Z _i ^FV - Z _i ^LiDAR), i, are also reduced from RMSD=17.969m (without LiDAR points) to RMSD=6.378m and 5.970m (with LiDAR points).