Three dimensional visualization of the built environment using digital orthophotography

Abstract

In this paper, different ways of performing large scale mapping of built up areas are discussed. Emphasis is placed on large scale representation through digital orthophotographs as the visualization medium of the real world. In an application, the process of creating perspective views of an orthophotograph draped on the digital terrain model of the study area is described; these views include the blocks of the built environment as three dimensional objects. The cartographic product is derived from a pair of overlapping aerial photographs processed through photogrammetric and GIS software packages. Finally, the perspective view of the digital orthophotograph is assessed as a large scale visualization tool for the communication of spatial information.