Urban Scene Analysis from SAR Image Sequences

Abstract:
This paper considers the problem of automatically extracting building dimensions from SAR image sequences of urban scenes. An algorithm based on the delineation of shadows using active contours constrained by a simple wire-frame building model has been developed. The algorithm is demonstrated using SAR imagery of a village on Salisbury plain and the resulting estimates of building dimensions are compared with the actual building dimensions obtained from architectural drawings. Finally, the incorporation of the algorithm into a software tool allowing rapid interactive building dimension estimation is briefly described.