An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies

The PlanetScope satellite constellation has over 130 Dove satellites running 24/7, which collect weekly and even daily images globally at 3–5 m resolution. It has global data coverage and high temporal resolution, which constitute the most attractive features for medium-resolution 3D reconstruction...

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Main Authors: Debao Huang, Yang Tang, Rongjun Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022-12-01
Series:GIScience & Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2022.2060595
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author Debao Huang
Yang Tang
Rongjun Qin
author_facet Debao Huang
Yang Tang
Rongjun Qin
author_sort Debao Huang
collection DOAJ
description The PlanetScope satellite constellation has over 130 Dove satellites running 24/7, which collect weekly and even daily images globally at 3–5 m resolution. It has global data coverage and high temporal resolution, which constitute the most attractive features for medium-resolution 3D reconstruction and change detection in remote sensing applications. One shortfall of the PlanetScope images is that they are often captured at very small off-nadir angles to minimize relief differences for 2D time-series image analysis, which is not intended for classic stereo 3D reconstruction due to the very small base-to-height ratios of stereo pairs. However, considering the abundant PlanetScope images, the multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction approach leveraging a large number of images may drive the possibility of achieving more accurate 3D reconstruction, and consequently, 3D change detection on a global scale. In this paper, a multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction pipeline was adopted to comprehensively evaluate the 3D potential of PlanetScope images by performing accuracy analysis for both 3D reconstruction and change detection in semi-randomly selected regions with ground truth data. Three case studies using the PlanetScope images were performed: (1) a case study on multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction, (2) a case study on 3D change detection of buildings and trees, and (3) a case study on volumetric estimation for natural disaster monitoring. Our experiments showed that the PlanetScope images provided sufficient coverage for multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction given an area of interest. It could achieve a reasonably acceptable accuracy with root-mean-square errors of 4–6 m in our test regions and detect significant 3D changes. The capability of estimating the volumetric changes was also evaluated for the recent avalanche in Chamoli, India, and the estimated volume favorably matched the results from existing studies using data with higher resolution.
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spelling doaj.art-2fe3d819c30d4ada95c38bf5ca5d77902023-09-21T12:43:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGIScience & Remote Sensing1548-16031943-72262022-12-0159174476110.1080/15481603.2022.20605952060595An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studiesDebao Huang0Yang Tang1Rongjun Qin2The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityThe PlanetScope satellite constellation has over 130 Dove satellites running 24/7, which collect weekly and even daily images globally at 3–5 m resolution. It has global data coverage and high temporal resolution, which constitute the most attractive features for medium-resolution 3D reconstruction and change detection in remote sensing applications. One shortfall of the PlanetScope images is that they are often captured at very small off-nadir angles to minimize relief differences for 2D time-series image analysis, which is not intended for classic stereo 3D reconstruction due to the very small base-to-height ratios of stereo pairs. However, considering the abundant PlanetScope images, the multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction approach leveraging a large number of images may drive the possibility of achieving more accurate 3D reconstruction, and consequently, 3D change detection on a global scale. In this paper, a multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction pipeline was adopted to comprehensively evaluate the 3D potential of PlanetScope images by performing accuracy analysis for both 3D reconstruction and change detection in semi-randomly selected regions with ground truth data. Three case studies using the PlanetScope images were performed: (1) a case study on multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction, (2) a case study on 3D change detection of buildings and trees, and (3) a case study on volumetric estimation for natural disaster monitoring. Our experiments showed that the PlanetScope images provided sufficient coverage for multi-view stereo 3D reconstruction given an area of interest. It could achieve a reasonably acceptable accuracy with root-mean-square errors of 4–6 m in our test regions and detect significant 3D changes. The capability of estimating the volumetric changes was also evaluated for the recent avalanche in Chamoli, India, and the estimated volume favorably matched the results from existing studies using data with higher resolution.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2022.2060595multi-view stereo 3d reconstructionaccuracy assessment3d change detection
spellingShingle Debao Huang
Yang Tang
Rongjun Qin
An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
GIScience & Remote Sensing
multi-view stereo 3d reconstruction
accuracy assessment
3d change detection
title An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
title_full An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
title_fullStr An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
title_full_unstemmed An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
title_short An evaluation of PlanetScope images for 3D reconstruction and change detection – experimental validations with case studies
title_sort evaluation of planetscope images for 3d reconstruction and change detection experimental validations with case studies
topic multi-view stereo 3d reconstruction
accuracy assessment
3d change detection
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2022.2060595
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