Arthur's Feature Extraction from LiDAR, DEMs and Imagery

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10-24-2018 10:43 AM
ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor
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7/26/2019: Added how to make a tree inventory 3D without lidar or height (hint DBH).

10/24/2018: Added link and instructions to create 3D buildings using lidar from Microsoft Building Footprints US.

10/4/2018:  Added an update to the tools in the 3D mapping with Lidar Point Clouds below called ArthursLidarBuildingExtractionTools_10_04_2018.zip.   This fixes issues with the Unclassified approach to building collection from lidar,  a tool to clip buildings extracted to parcels, and Jagged tool which help to identify jagged buildings that come as a result of regularization.   These tools are improvements that I have tested with many cities/counties for building extraction.   These updates will eventually be applied to the 3D mapping with Lidar Point Clouds.   For creating 3D buildings from the extracted 2D building footprints, please use the latest version of the Local Government 3D Basemaps solution.

9/28/2017: Please see 3D mapping with Lidar Point Clouds, this are ArcGIS Pro Tools, example data and workshop exercises from the IMF workshop we developed for this year's Imagery and Mapping Forum before the ESRI UC.   This covers Extracting Building Footprints from Classified Lidar for buildings, Extracting Building Footprints from Unclassified Lidar for Buildings,  and the 3D Basemaps for taking the footprints to 3D and adding trees.  This replaces the methodology with Geoff Taylor showed in Extracting Building Footprints from Classified LiDAR using some of my older techniques.  

12/5/2016:  Added extensively to the Regularize Building Footprint tool suggestions.

12/8/2016: Changed 1200 to 12000 in the Regularize Building Footprint tool suggestions.

12/21/2016:  Added Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool

12/22/2016:  Corrected error in models for Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool due to bug in Regularize Building Footprint tool (inputting empty featureclass).

01/03/2017:  Issue found with Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool not working if there are no large buildings (over 25,000 sq. feet), looking into.

This blog will be dedicated to feature extraction from raster or point clouds to vector.    I have been generating content for the World Topo Map Basemaps including the Contours, Spot Elevations, Vegetation and even buildings from Lidar.   Lately, I have been focused on extracting buildings and trees from Lidar and/or imagery.    I wrote a tool to extract Trees from Lidar 5 years ago and it's published here.

 

Instructions to create 3D Buildings from Microsoft US Building Footprints:

Microsoft recently released a free set of deep learning generated building footprints covering the United States of America. In support of this great work and to make these building footprints available to the ArcGIS community, Esri has consolidated the buildings into a single layer and shared them in ArcGIS .  Microsoft US Building Footprints are not perfect, but do give a community without building footprints and having lidar a way to create a 3D city.  The age of the building footprints are variable. 

1. Use JSON to Features or Spatial ETL tool Import Building GeoJSON (ArcGIS Data Interoperability) to import the Microsoft US Building Footprints for your State.   Another option would be to use the Microsoft US Building Footprints feature class on ArcGIS.com.   You can add it to ArcGIS Pro using the url: https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/arcgis/rest/services/MSBFP2/FeatureServer/0, select the buildings you would like to use and export to a new feature class.   If you are selecting a large area, change the In beyond to <None> to see the buildings at a scale over 1:24,000.https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/arcgis/rest/services/MSBFP2/FeatureServer
2. Go to the The National Map TNM Download or, if that fails, the United States Interagency Elevation Inventory site to find if you have lidar over the area you want and find out where to download it at.
     a. The National Map TNM Download click on Elevation Source Data (3DEP) - Lidar, IfSAR and then on Lidar Point Cloud.
      b. Go in the map to the area you wish to download from the TNM.   Then click on Find Products, add to Cart and download your lidar.   
      c. If laz format is only available, then use Laszip.exe tool and instructions from the USGS to convert to LAS format.
 
3. Open the las file in ArcGIS and identify the projection.   Reproject a clipped portion of the Microsoft Building Footprints in the area where the las files are to the same projection as the las files.   Projection units should be in feet or meters.
4. If you have Parcel data, you can use Union with the Microsoft Buildings and then put a definition query on the divided buildings to select only where the buildings intersect (FID Parcel and FID Buildings <> -1) to export to new featureclass.
5. Install the Local Government 3D Basemaps and follow tasks to use the Microsoft Buildings/las files as inputs.  Be sure to use the new tool for Roof Segmentation that improves the buildings greatly.

An example of this is at:  http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=3f3de2298e27408689cb71b92340db7f 

Here's a link to see it in 3D:  Scene Viewer 

Semi-automatic extraction of building footprints from Imagery

 

Attached is the tool for ArcGIS Pro 1.3 for Extract Buildings From Imagery.   You will need 3D Analyst and Spatial Analyst for this tool.   It takes imagery segmented with the Segment Mean Shift tool and converted to vectors.    You then select the vectors, run the tool.  It uses a model to convert into corrected buildings from the raw raster vectors and append to a feature class.   Below is an example of segmentation vectors selected and then run through the tool to get building footprints.   I suggest selecting multiple buildings and then running the tool.  The tool is attached at the bottom as ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3v4.zip. After unzipping the data, be sure to use define projection on the building featureclass in the output.gdb to match the projection of your imagery.

There was an issue with the pathways not coming through correctly.   I believe this is now fixed as the workspace is defined as in_memory. If you get an error for pathway not found, open the model and change the pathways in the model for C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb\seg to in_memory\seg.  You will have to do this for all the temporary files in the model.   Thanks to those who reported this error.

  1. Download the tool from my blog.
  2. Unzip the tool.
  3. Get high resolution imagery of the area you wish to extract buildings from (6 inch is best).
  4. Open ArcGIS Pro (1.3 or better) Map
  5. Add your imagery to the Map
  6. Under the Insert Tab, use Add Toolbox to add the ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3.tbx toolbox.
  7. Run the Imagery Segmentation to Vector tool against your imagery. This takes time (5 minutes for a 349mg file). If four band, enter 4 2 1 into the Band Indexes.
  8. Change the symbology of the output to red and put on top of the segment mean shift image.   It should look like this:
  9. Turn off the Segmentation image and with the original imagery underneath, select polygons for houses you want to convert to building polygons.
  10. For the first time, run Define Projection to the building featureclass to match your imagery.
  11. Open the Segmentation Vectors to feature tool and run after setting your parameters.
  12. Inspect your results:

Regularize Building Footprint Tool - Clean up raw extracted features extracted from lidar or imagery.

Raw Lidar and Raster extracted buildings need to be cleaned up and the Regularize Building Footprint tool does a good job, but it's difficult to know what to enter in the parameters for the tool.    I have been working on models to do so and now have added a model to run the Regularize Building Footprint tool against raster extracted buildings call Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool.   

The Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool requires ArcGIS ArcMap 10.4 with ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced and requires the 3D Analyst extension.   This is the first version released is derived from the processes below.    The input for this tool can be rasterized building auto extracted from imagery/digital maps/hard copy scanned map.    I have used similar processes to extract the buildings from OS maps, lidar rasters generated and even classified imagery for buildings.  This goes beyond the tool above in the clean up of features using the Regularize Building Footprint tool.  

Time to run both operations (Warning: The tool will use most of the computing power on your system):

Intel Core i7 - 4600 CPU @ 2.10 GHz 2.70 GHz U with 8GB memory (64bit) - 25 minutes for 10,000 features

Intel Xeon CPU E5 -1620 0 @ 3.60GHz 3.60GHz with 32GB memory (64bit) - 8 minutes for 10,000 features

Below in white is the original raw lidar extracted buildings and Aqua Green is the CircleBuildings extracted.  The Red are the Buildings output.   The buildings under the circlebuildings will need to be deleted

1. To use this tool, first run a Dissolve on your features with multipart turned off.

2. Download and unzip the attached file Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool.zip

Run the "1. Regularize Building Footprints For Circle (Feet Projection)" tool inside first. 

3. Run the "2. Regularize Building Footprints All Non-Circle (Feet Projection)" next.

4. Review your CircleBuildings output first, the should not be that many and you need to check to see if they are actually

circles.   If not, delete.  This should collect tanks, round buildings, gazebos, etc.   If a building is not completely round,

but is like a hexagon or something similar, try using the generalize button in editing with a 1 or 2 or 3 to get the sides

straight as a hexagon or octagon.   Add addition circle structures you see, often they are near each other.  Save when

done.

5. Add your Buildings featureclass and select by location those with there centroid in the CircleBuildlings, then delete.

6. Review your buildings.   If you have general extraction issues, please look at the type of building.   Go into the "2.

Regularize Building Footprints All Non-Circle (Feet Projection)" tool and adjust those settings using the

Regularize Building Footprint tool help.

Included is some sample data and the output before being reviewed manually.    You can see some stair stepping in the

features comes through.   This is due to the tool only set to handle Right and Diagonal Angles for Large and Medium

buildings types (See field call Type).   The TotalProcess field in the Buildings featureclass shows you the processes

used.   Example:  "Regularized, Simplified, Simplified, Simplified, Simplified"  means that it had a Regularized Building

Footprint tool with an output of Regularized, then it was simplified using a 2, 4, 6 and 8 Simplify Buildings tool.

* Issue found with Clean Extracted Buildings Using Regularize Building Footprint Tool not working if there are no large buildings (over 25,000 sq. feet), looking into how to fix this.

Manual Process outlined to help you if you want to better understand what the tool is doing:

First start with extracting the circles from your data.   I usually run a county or two at a time with this.

Run Circles first seven times – Regularize Building Footprint with Tolerance 2, 4, 5, 6, 8,  and Tolerance 12 and

the definition queries below:

Tolerance 1.6 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 220  AND Shape_Area > 175

Tolerance 1.8 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 240  AND Shape_Area > 220

Tolerance 2 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 1400  AND Shape_Area > 240

Tolerance 4 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 2500  AND Shape_Area > 1400

Tolerance 5 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 3000  AND Shape_Area > 2500

Tolerance 6 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 8000  AND Shape_Area > 3000

Tolerance 8 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area <= 12000  AND Shape_Area > 8000

Tolerance 12 with the raw vectors using a definition query of Shape_Area > 12000

 

Merge the output to BuildingsCircle and then apply a definition query of STATUS = 0.    This should work to auto extract circles.

I suggest reviewing the circles to make sure they are correct, deleting any that are not.  

You will want to start editing on the merged circles, select all and using the generalize with a input of 0.1 foot.

This turns the perfect circles to ones with vertices that are used as input for Local Government Scenes.

Select the raw extracted buildings that are not circles using Select by Location.   Run a Dissolve with Create mulitpart features clicked off.    

Divide into three groups by size below and run through Regularize Building Footprint with the values below:

Small: "Shape_Area"< 5000 sq. feet

          Right_ANGELS Tolerance2, Densification2, Precision 0.25 

Medium: "Shape_Area" >= 5000 AND "Shape_Area" <= 25000 Right_ANGLES_AND_DIAGONAL Tolerance3, Densification3,
Precision 0.25, Diagonal Penalty 1.5
  

Large: "Shape_Area">= 25000   Right_ANGLES_AND_DIAGONAL
     Tolerance 4, Densification 4,
  Precision 0.25, Diagonal Penalty 1.5

After running these groups, merge the result to BuildingsNonCircle and run dissolve on the features.   Run a Eliminate Polygon Part on the features with at least a 20 Square Feet and Eliminate contained part only.   This is to get rid of interior holes in the cleaned polygons.   Run a Simplify Buildings with Simplification Tolerance 2 and then again with that as the input with a Simplification Tolerance 4.

 

Merge your circle buildings and the BuildingsNonCirclesb4 to get your finished buildings.   Start reviewing buildings against imagery/lidar to find errors (there will always be errors it seems like).

Extracting Buildings and Trees from Lidar

Here is also a tool for Building and Tree Identification from Lidar developed by Joe McGlinchy and Roslyn Dunn.   It's a work in progress and only works with ArcGIS Desktop 10.3.1 currently.   It collects building footprints and circle trees that can be run through the Regularize Building Footprint Tool above.

Another tool for extracting trees I developed uses Lidar and NAIP imagery is here.    A version for Pro is attached (Trees From LIDAR and NAIP_Pro).

Adding Color to Roofs of Buildings for display in ArcGIS Pro (Scene Viewer)

Adding color to roofs in ArcGIS Pro really makes the scenes look more realistic with Local Government Scenes.  Over a year ago, I developed a model to add hex colors to buildings as a field to display in ArcGIS Pro.   With the Local Government Scenes process, you can use a field with a Hex Color to get colors added to display in ArcGIS Pro using their layers.     I often use two sources of imagery from different times and use one for the roof, then another for the side color (add another field called side color).  Though using it for the side color is ideal, it's an easy way to color buildings in mass.

Instructions:

1. Clip leaf off high resolution imagery to the area where you have buildings you wish to add color.

2. Resample to 3ft or so, this will allow the Segment Mean Shift tool to run much faster.

3. Run Segment Mean Shift on the leaf-off imagery with defaults parameters.

4. Run the Add Hex Color From Imagery to Roofs 10.4 or ArcGIS Pro Add Hex Color to Roofs (attached below).

5. Download the Old Local Government Scenes layer files (attached below zipped) and unzip.

6. Move your buildings to the 3D in scene in Pro and click on properties to set elevation to absolute.

7. In Pro, run the Apply Symbology from Layer using the LOD2BuildingShellsFloors_feet.lyrx or LOD2BuildingShells_meters.lyrx in the OldLocalGovernmentScenesLayerFiles directory that you unzipped.   The new version of the Local Government Scenes does not have color for building roofs or building sides, this will likely be changed in future versions.

7.    Set the roof color to your hex color field in the symbology and apply.

Below is St. Louis in 3D with color added to the buildings.   The Arch was the only feature drawn.   All building colors were applied through imagery using the process above.  Trees were extracted using the Trees From LIDAR (here).  Buildings were segmented using Segment Mean Shift tool on a reclassified DEM clipped to the building footprints and then converted to polygons.  This gives the 3D buildings multiple heights for different sections.  Add Hex Color From Imagery to Roofs was run on individual polygons for the different roof parts.

StLouis.jpg

Here's an another example over St. Charles, County, MO.   They recently made their data Open Data through MSDIS and the next weekend I processed 160,000 buildings to 3D using Local Government Scenes with a model around it to run in batch(Scene Viewer).   For the Building Side colors, I used this formula to calculate a color off the roof colors.   The side colors are not correct, but it gives it a more realistic view.

"#" + hex(int(((int(!HexColor![1:3],16))-random.randrange(30)+20)*-1))[-2:] + hex(int(((int(!HexColor![3:5],16))-random.randrange(30))*-1)+20)[-2:]+ hex(int(((int(!HexColor![5:7],16))-random.randrange(30))*-1)+20)[-2:]

Another option is to use real side of buildings color.   To do this, start with an image search on a web browser for houses in the area you are doing.   You can then capture the images, georeference them side by side in ArcMap and mosaic them together.  Run Segment Mean Shift on the mosaicked image and then create a featureclass to put fake buildings over the areas you want to get colors from.   Run the Add_Hex_Color_From_RGB_Imagery_to_Roofs_10.4 tool on those buildings and then export it out to a table.   Look at how many records are in the table, add a field to buildings called join and calculate it with a random number equal to the number of records in the table (import random  in code block, random.randint(1,100) , 100 being the number of records).   Then add a field to your building called side color and calculate it after doing a join with the table using the objectid and join field.  Use this field as input to the symbology fo the sides of the buildings.   An example is below of this for Fort Bend, TX, where we extracted the buildings footprints from lidar, ran them through the Local Government Scenes and then applied color to roofs from imagery and the side colors randomly.

Fort Bend County, TX, in 3D:

http://arcg.is/2efCU6r

St. Charles in 3D Scene Viewer

Taking your Tree Inventory and Displaying it in 3d in ArcGIS Pro:

A while back a local park asked me about what to do with their new Tree Inventory to their board that was delivered as a point featureclass with genus.    I suggested to show it off it using ArcGIS Pro in 3D.   Below are instructions for adding a height to the tree points from Lidar and then calculating a field for the Genus from the scientific name.   By calculating the height and a field with just the Genus, you can display the trees in 3D in Pro easily.   Here's a link to all the trees available:

Supported tree genus types—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS for Desktop

With the trees, having it driven by Genus means that a Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) will be show in the field as just "Acer" to drive symbology.   With the link above, you can see that Acer will be shown as a Sugar Maple tree.   It's close enough usually to give a good representation of the tree type.

Looking through research, it seems getting the height of a tree from the DBH does not work great.   So, I would suggest to use the Lidar or the height if it's in the Tree Inventory.     The only issue with this I came across was newly planted trees that the lidar did not have in it or we smaller when the lidar was done.

  1. Review the points, you will likely want to reproject the points to the same as your lidar.     
  2. First step was to download the LAS file of the area
         (lidar format of data).  
  3. Second Step was to create a las dataset with the las
         files.
  4. Next we used the LAS Point as Statistics as Raster using Z_Range
         method to get a DEM of the heights of the trees.
  5. I ran a Focal Statistics tool with Max of 3 circle to
         get the spread of the highest point so it intersects the point.
  6. Ran Add Surface information to get the Z from the
         raster to the Tree Inventory points, this is the height of the tree.
  7. Add a field call Genus and calculated the field using
         the Scientific name.   ArcGIS needs
         an input of the Genus only, so I used the this vb script in 10.4 to do this from the Scientific name in python (ArcGIS Pro) !BOTANICAL!.split(' ',1)[0] or vb script Split([BOTANICAL] , " ",2)(0)

  8. Opened ArcGIS Pro Scene and add the trees as Add Preset layers
      Realistic Trees using that field Genus, you get a more correct symbology
         for the trees and the height field. This does not work with all of your
         trees, but many are supported. 
         Again, you can see the ones supported at this link: Supported tree genus types—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS for DesktopAddPresetData.jpgAddPresetTreesRealistic.jpg
  9. Add imagery and review your trees to make sure they look correct.   A common error is the height may be in meters or feet, but I had choose the wrong one.

Here's some data I tried it with from Amherst, MA with the source data and a subset processed attached called SubsetOfAmherstMATreeInventory2010.zip :

     Tree Inventory: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=4eaa4f8ceecf47cc89ea5726ddbcaad7

     Lidar: http://www.arcgis.com/apps/Legend/main/index.html?appid=d6226fcfd1844e9fb45303e5aa41b730

Another one to look at is Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, MO.    The scene has over 6,000 trees rendered.  Some trees do not come in with the correct genus and show as white.

Tower Grove Park

Making your tree inventory become 3D without lidar? (hint DBH)

I received some tree inventory data from Bellefontaine Cemetery here in St. Louis, MO.   I used a join with similar trees to the scientific genus name the Missouri Botanical Garden has done for their trees to render in 3D.   Esri supports about 60 genus of trees for 3D rendering.  Then I had used the lidar to get a simple formula to convert the DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) to tree Height.   It's not accurate, but rendered the trees fairly well.   There are very complex formulas out there I might investigate further to tie DBH to height, this might allow many tree inventories to be come 3D easily.  The table to calculate a similar genus is below with the other downloads called MissouriBotanicalGardenSubstitutesForTreeGenus.txt.

Scene showing trees made 3D using a formula applied to the DBH ((DBH x 2)+20).   5,150 of the 9,153 tree's genus were supported using the 63 genus types supported by Esri ArcGIS Pro.   2,120 trees did not match the support genus for rendering, but a table was used supplied by the Missouri Botanical Garden for like trees genus.   The trees in white were not supported or mapped over for genus symbology, this included 1,883 trees and shrubs.  To Calculate Genus, I used the SPP field (Scientific Name) with  !SPP!.split(' ',1)[0]

Scene Viewer - Be sure to turn on the lidar to see how close or not close the trees are in height.

Arthur Crawford - Esri

Special thanks to St. Charles County, Monica Balestreri, MSDIS, Michael Owen, Town of Amherst (MA), Dan Hedges, Joe McGlinchy, Roslyn Dunn, Thomas Maurer, Hua Wei, Jeff Liedtke, J. D. Overton, Khalid Duri, David Altergott, Tower Grove Park, Andy Watson and the others who have help me.

47 Comments
RobertFord1
Occasional Contributor

Hi Arthur!

Do you have a source for McGlinchy and Dunn?

Thanks!

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hi Robert,

By source, do you mean if they both work here at Esri?    If you have any questions, I contact them to get a response.

Thanks,

Arthur

RobertFord1
Occasional Contributor

Thanks Arthur!

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Questions are welcome on these tools or processes, we are trying to improve these.   If you run into issues, we would like to know.

PhilLarkin1
Occasional Contributor III

Arthur-

Thanks for the informative post. What zipfile contains the Regularize Building Footprint Tool? If you have not published it yet, when do you expect to do so?

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hi Phil, the tool is a model that goes around the Regularize Building Footprint tool that is currently in ArcGIS 10.4 or Pro 1.3 or 1.4.   I offered my best advice above on how to use it by dividing buildings into different sizes.   I plan on adding a the model built around it, but am still doing testing with versions of it to get the best outcome.

PhilLarkin1
Occasional Contributor III

Ah, I see. I thought you might have published an improved version. Thanks again for this post.

I ran the Version 3 of McGlinchy/Dunn and then ran your suggestions through the Regularize Building Footprint tool without first running the Circle method. Here are my results:  http://arcg.is/2c4B75R

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hi Phil,

The building footprints and trees would not show up in the link provided.   Could you send me the results (zipped) or share your layers/build a new map?  

Arthur Crawford

acrawford@esri.com

enricobonansea
Occasional Contributor

Really great Work Arthur!

running the "segmentation vector to feature" to extract buildings the tool give us always the same error regarding a schema problem

ERROR 000466: C:\Users\enribona\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\segmentation\segmentation.gdb\Buildingstemp_EliminatePolyg0 does not match the schema of target c:\users\enribona\documents\arcgis\projects\segmentation\Segmentation.gdb\Buildings
Failed to execute (Append).

To run the tool  I first created a Building feature class in the segmentatin.gdb with tid, shape, gridcode, shapearea, shapelenght

Thank you very much

Enrico

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Enrico,

I replaced the ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3.zip with a new one.   It has sample data, a geodatabase with sample output and an empty building featureclass to use for your output.   I also am adding instruction in a work document.   Thanks to Enrico Bonsansea and Leilei Duan for finding this issue.    Please let me know if you run into any other problems.

Arthur Crawford

acrawford@esri.com

enricobonansea
Occasional Contributor

Hi Arthur and thank you for the update. I followed the tuorial using my image but I received a different  error while i run the "segmentation o vector " tool.

The error is:

Start Time: martedì 30 agosto 2016 17:14:15
Executing (Copy Features): CopyFeatures seg041053sub C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb\seg # # # #
Start Time: martedì 30 agosto 2016 17:14:16
ERROR 000210: Cannot create output C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb\seg
Failed to execute (Copy Features).

but i havent a "student" user on my PC

Thank you for your Help!!

enrico

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Enrico,

I think when I fixed the tool it change the paths from in_memory to the path for the project.   I think it is fixed.   Let me know if this works for you now.   Being in_memory as storage speeds up the tool.

Thanks Enrico,

Arthur

enricobonansea
Occasional Contributor

Hello Arthur, I got this new error maybe due to the same path problem 

thank you

Enrico

Executing (Copy Features): CopyFeatures Seg037_062sub C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb\seg # # # #
Start Time: mercoledì 31 agosto 2016 11:48:33
ERROR 000210: Cannot create output C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb\seg
Failed to execute (Copy Features).
Failed at mercoledì 31 agosto 2016 11:48:33 (Elapsed Time: 0,41 seconds)
Failed to execute (Model1).
Failed at mercoledì 31 agosto 2016 11:48:34 (Elapsed Time: 1,76 seconds)

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Enrico,

I added a new version of the tool with the workspace as a variable.   I believe this should fix the problem of in_memory being substituted with C:\Users\student\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\ImageryExtraction\ImageryExtraction.gdb.   I tested in on another system and it appears to work.   Let me know if this works for you now.

 

Thanks again for you testing of the tool, it's still in prototype.

 

Arthur

enricobonansea
Occasional Contributor

Hello Arthur , thank you.
I just tried the new version  and the path error disappear, the "segmentation to feature" process finish ok.

However at the end no building layer is added in the contents.
I added the building feature class manually  but it  dosn't show me any polygon.
Opening the attribute table  I see that new records are added but they seems empty (lenght , area are  equal to zero).

I think that the problem  coudl be due to difference in   spatial reference system between image and feature class in output.gdb

My images infact are in WGS84(utm) while the geodatabase is in NAD.

I tried to projected the Seg037_062sub and Building feature classes in  geographic (4326), then i deleted oll the records in the new feature classes 

With these feature classes I re-executed the tools and now i have buildings!

I'm not sure about the process but it works...

Thank You
Enrico

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Enrico,

I'm going to add that you need to use define projection on the output building featureclass in the output.gdb.

Thanks,

Arthur

JasonGillow1
New Contributor II

What extansions does this tool require? I go to add the tool and I get a message "Tool is not Licensed".

What to do?

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Jason,

I believe you need Spatial Analyst (for Segment Mean Shift) and 3D Analyst (for Regularize Building Footprint).

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

JasonGillow1
New Contributor II

So to at least create building footprints you need both extensions then? I just have spatial analyst - would there be a workaround to get the footprints at least?

Thanks

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Jason, 

For using this process that is semi-automatic feature extraction you do need both.   If you have just spatial analyst, you can get rough polygons by bypassing the Regularize Building Footprints in the model.    The polygons will not have the right angles and will have rough edges.   You might want to ask your account manager at Esri for a temporary license to test it to see if it is worth it in saving you time on extraction.

I know St. Charles County (Missouri) that has been using this tool increased the number of licenses so more could use this process on extracting building footprints.

To make sure we are talking about the same tool, is ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3v4.zip the one you are trying to use?

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

JasonGillow1
New Contributor II

Yes that is the tool.

JoanBiediger
New Contributor III

This looks like a great tool.  Would it be possible to create a similar process to extract clouds on high resolution 4 band imagery?

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hi Joan,

I would likely use the method in Understanding segmentation and classification. Then you could convert to polygon.   Using this tool is good for building extraction as is.

GigiB910
New Contributor II

Hi Arthur-

I have both licenses installed (3D Analyst is a trial), but I'm still getting the "Tool is not licensed" message when trying to run "Segmentation Vectors to feature". Any idea what the issue may be? The license is active under the Project tab. Thanks!

MeherChelbi1
New Contributor

Hi Arthur,

I would like to test your method to extract building from imagery but I'm operating on ArcMap 10.3 so I can't run the tool as it is.Can you please tell us what are the parameters that you use in the image segmentation: Do you use the Segment mean shift tool and if so what are the parameters you are using (Spectral detail, Spatial detail and Minimum segment size in pixel)

Thank you,

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Meher,

If you are current on your license, you should be able to use ArcGIS Pro to do this, it installs separately.   If you use ArcMap 10.3, the settings I used are the defaults which are Spectral detail 15.5, Spatial detail 15 and Minimum segment size in pixel 20.   Originally, I did this tool in 10.3.    There were issues with the way it interfaced with the client that caused me to use Pro.

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Gigi,

I would call the Esri help desk, it might be a issue with not having Advanced ArcGIS Pro.

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

StephenMorgan1
New Contributor

Hi Arthur, this looks fantastic! 

Are the Lidar tools available for Pro 1.3? I downloaded the "3DMappingWorkshop_IMF2017.zip" and tried using them in Pro 1.3, but the tools fail (cannot open/read script/script not found) and I assume this is because of versioning issues (Pro and Python). Are the extract buildings from Lidar tools in lower versions of python/pro? I would love it use these! Unfortunately I cannot upgrade to 2.0 because of work.

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Stephen,

Sorry, but the tools were developed for 2.0.   I'm not sure how much work it would take to get it at 1.3.   You might try the ArcGIS for Personal Use Program to try it at home and then see if the results can convince your management to upgrade.  You will require Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions.

Arthur Crawford - Esri Content

AkhilChhibber2
New Contributor

I used your model i.e. the first tool "Segmentation to vector" and I am facing the error as shown in the screenshot.This is the error which I am facing while using the tool "Segmentation to vector"

How should I fix this error and how should I proceed

My tif image is in Projected coordinate system i.e. "WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_44N"

Please let me know regarding any possible solution for this error

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Akhil,

I see it's set to 4 2 1 band combination.  First question is if your imagery is 4 Band, try 3 2 1 if it is not.

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri Content

AkhilChhibber2
New Contributor

My imagery i.e. the tif which I am using is 3 band and I tried using 3 2 1 but faced the similar error as shown in the screenshot in the previous comment

AkhilChhibber2
New Contributor

I tries using 3 2 1 but still the similar error

Whats should I do??

Please help me out regarding this building extraction?

CyrusBlankinship1
New Contributor III

Hi Arthur, 

I just went through the workflow in Pro and it has some very promising results. However, my company would need to add a bit more detail to the top of larger commercial buildings. In exercise 2, it's mentioned that the bonemap approach can potentially be used to extract different roof levels... is there any material available that specs this out a bit more?

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Cyrus, 

Currently, the best way to do this is manually split the buildings using the DSM as a background for the building footprints.   You divide as shown in blue an then run the roof form tool.   These building footprints were intersected with parcel data before regularizing (in Red), which helps some.    We have been working on a solution for using segment mean shift using DSM and Bonemap as an input, but are not there yet.   There is a tool we are waiting on to regularize the parts together.

Dividing a building

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

AkhilChhibber1
New Contributor II

error

I used your model i.e. the first tool "Segmentation to vector" and I am facing the error as shown in the screenshot.

My imagery i.e. the tif which I am using is 3 band and I tried using 3 2 1 but faced the similar error as shown in the screenshot in the previous comment. 

My tif image is in Projected coordinate system i.e. "WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_44N"

Please let me know regarding any possible solution for this error

MikiYAMAMOTO
New Contributor II

Hi Arthur,

Id' like to ask about exercise 3D mapping with Lidar Point Clouds.

I usually work with Drone2Map and the point cloud data can be created on the app doesn't have class code in it, so I'm keen to the solution how to extract the building footprint from unclassified point cloud.

So I tried the exercise 2, however I encountered errors.

After opening project (.aprx), I can see point clouds on map. But an error appears when I try the first tool (1) Create DSM and DTM Raster Tiles With Buffer) in the ExtractBuildingFootprintsFromLidarUnclassifiedForBuildings_6_2_2017 tool box.

[DSM_Rasters] and [DTM_Rasters] folders are created in the project folder but its empty inside. Hence I cannot proceed to the second tool (2) DSM and DTM to Composite Mosaic Dataset.)

Would you have any ideas of causes?

MikiYAMAMOTO
New Contributor II

It's Japanese edition by the way. 

I also read through the thread below;

Feature extraction from LiDAR and derived rasters 

Please let me know if i should ask about this to another places or pages.

Thank you!

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Akhil,

Sorry for the delay.   Can you try to run the tool Segment Mean Shift outside of my model to see if you get the same issue on one of your images?

Arthur Crawford - Esri

ArthurCrawford
Esri Contributor

Hello Miki,

For using Drone2Map data, your results will not be as good as using lidar.    The main issue currently with the Drone2Map working with this workflow with the point clouds is that it does not have LAS return values as the tools used the Last Return option to create the DSM.     Create a DTM by using the Classify LAS Ground on the point cloud, then filter for only the ground and create a DTM using the LAS Dataset To Raster.    Be sure to use the DSM created by Drone2Map as the Snap Raster and use the same Cell Size.  Take the DTM and DSM create by Drone2Map, rename them in a DTM_rasters and DSM_rasters directories with a prefix of dsm_ or dtm_.    Run the tool "2) DSM and DTM to Composite Mosaic Dataset" and from then on follow the normal procedure for ExtractBuildingFootprintsFromLidarUnclassifiedForBuildings_6_2_2017 tools.  

The main problem you will find in areas with heavy canopy is that the areas covering buildings will not come through.   There is another approach that is semi-automatic that has the same issues that Mario D'Alessio did when he was an intern at Esri (http://bit.ly/Drone2MapCascadeStoryMap), but has some of the same issues with trees over buildings.

   2. The main issue currently with the Drone2Map working with this workflow with the point clouds is that it does not have LAS return values as the tools used the Last Return option to create the DSM.

Thanks,

Arthur Crawford - Esri

MikiYAMAMOTO
New Contributor II

Hello Arthur,

Sorry that I have kept in silence for long time. and I'd appreciate to your help!

Yes I understand that pointcloud data that d2m can create is calculated by photogrammetry and ain't able to have values. But it would be great if we can classify the pointclouds with easy steps.

I've still failing to finish the exercise and the other approach you have shared, however that seems great solutions. I have to stuck with releasing the new d2m in japan till next month, so I will try these approaches later again.

Have a great Christmas n' new year!

Miki

MichealArel
New Contributor
Hello,
Regarding colorizing the buildings’ roof, you mentioned that the Old Local Government Scenes layer files should be used, for colorizing the roofs, as the new version of the Local Government Scenes does not have color option for buildings’ roofs or buildings’ sides. However, the old version of local Government Scenes just support a limited number of roof forms and does not cover “Dome”, “Spherical”, and “vault” roof forms.
In my project, I have many buildings with the forms of “Dome” and “spherical” and I would like to colorize the roofs as well.  Do you have any idea how to colorize roof buildings and have all the supported roof forms in the new version of local government scenes at the same time? 
by Anonymous User
Not applicable

Arthur, 

I am presenting a case study on your process for extracting building footprints from LiDAR point clouds in ArcGIS Pro at EWUG 2018. I just wanted to get in contact to let you know that was taking place. Feel free to reach out with questions/comments. 

Thanks!

Christine 

ThanhCao3112
New Contributor

Hello everyone 

I am newbie. I don't know what this error when I run "Segmentation Vectors to Feature"

ERROR 000466: in_memory\Buildingstemp_EliminatePolyg does not match the schema of target D:\Thanh Cao\ARCGIS\DU LIEU\ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3v4\ExtractBuildingsFromImageryPro1_3\Output.gdb\Buildings
Failed to execute (Append).
Failed to execute (Model1).

I don't know what is the "in memory" in Workspace? Could anyone explain for me, please? Thanks

I use ArcGIS Pro 2.6 

Could you help me?

Thanks you so much

Mokwena9
New Contributor III

@ArthurCrawford Besides buildings and tree extraction, what else can LiDAR be used for/ Applications of LiDAR?

ArthurCrawford01
New Contributor II

Hello Mokwena, lidar can be used to extract power lines, tree canopy polygons, measurements, flooding and much more.  You can even collect lidar with newer iphones.  If you do a google search for uses for lidar, hundreds of ideas come up.

 

ImranAzizTunio
New Contributor II

Dear, Lidar can also be used to scan buildings, rock formations, and geology, with applications in surveying, geomatics, forestry, geodesy, archaeology, geography, geomorphology, seismology, and atmospheric physics to produce a 3-D model.

About the Author
I have been with Esri since 2000 when I came here from the Army. Since 2009, I have been working on the World Topo Map for Esri. My contributions are contours, tree canopy, spot elevations, hillshades and various other layers. I have create these layer or helped contributors on hundreds of cities, counties, states and countries through out the globe. I'm responsible for the spot elevations across the globe and most of contours. I use satellite imagery, lidar, DEMs and many other sources to accomplish this. Here are some highlights of my career and things I have worked on: Community Basemap (World Topo Map) training, support and prototyping from start of program to now. Prototyping the processing and the production of the contours used in the World Topo Map globally. Prototyping the processing and produced the World Tree Canopy for World Topographic Map globally. Development of auto extraction of features such as buildings or trees from lidar. I have extracted millions of buildings and trees from lidar. Development of tool to help with semi-automatic extraction of buildings and other features from imagery using Segment Mean Shift. Developed Trees from LiDAR for ArcGIS (extracted 3 million trees in St. Louis region in first run 5 years ago). Developed several innovative ways of extracting Spot Elevations from DEMs globally and locally using LiDAR Developed a new global DEM using ASTERGDEMv2 and SRTMv3 with mosaic dataset functions. One of the tech leads on mapping an entire country after 911 in 30 days. Onsite support for NGA for many years and production of their products (Prototyped the current ICM production. Worked and supported production of in production of TLM, JOGs, DNC, TPCs and Urban databases/products. Taught classes to NGA, Harris, Boeing, Digital Globe, Community Maps Contributors 10 years in the U.S. Army, over 5 as a Terrain Analyst (Geospatial Intelligence). Worked at Joint Analysis Center in the UK, 4th ID, III Corps, and 1-116th in the 29th Light Infantry. Worked as a Surveyor for a year. Graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Geography with a minor in Art. Illustrated 6 books. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-crawford-73a1748