A feature-preserving point cloud denoising algorithm for LiDAR-derived DEM construction

Abstract

To attenuate positional errors of LiDAR-derived datasets for constructing digital elevation models (DEMs), a feature-preserving point denoising algorithm (F-PDA) is developed in this paper. F-PDA includes three main steps: surface normal estimation, normal filtering and point position update. Numerical tests with two simulated surfaces indicate that F-PDA is always more accurate than kriging and natural neighbour. Furthermore, F-PDA has a high effectiveness of preserving feature lines. Real-world examples of interpolating LiDAR samples demonstrate that F-PDA can best retain both prominent and subtle terrain features, while faithfully removing errors in mountainous and flat regions. Moreover, it outperforms some well-known interpolation methods.

Keywords:

• Denoise
• DEM
• LiDAR
• Interpolation

Notes on contributors

Chuanfa Chen is a professor in Shandong University of Science and Technology. He is major in digital terrain modelling and LiDAR point cloud classification.

Yuan Gao is a postgraduate in Shandong University of Science and Technology. He is major in digital terrain modelling.

Yanyan Li is a lecturer in Shandong University of Science and Technology. The focus of her current research lies in high-rate GPS data processing.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 41804001, 41371367), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (grant number ZR2019MD007, ZR2019BD006), A Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Youth Innovation Science and Technology Program (grant number 2019KJH007), SDUST Research Fund, and Scientific Research Foundation of Shandong University of Science and Technology for Recruited Talents (grant number 2019RCJJ003). The datasets were respectively provided by Cold and Arid Regions Science Data Center at Lanzhou (http://westdc.westgis.ac.cn) and OpenTopography (http://opentopo.sdsc.edu/lidarDataset?opentopoID=OTLAS.082018.2193.1).