A method of comparative spatial analysis of a digitized (lidar) point cloud and the corresponding gis database

Abstract

Creation of a consistent 3D model of a city requires accurate data. Usually, accuracy assurance problems of data are solved by time consuming and expensive process of collecting and aligning with ground control points (GCP). Therefore, alternative methods become important. Using existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases may decrease the time and cost of creating a reference dataset by reducing the number of GCPs required for producing high quality 3D data or GIS databases can serve as reference data. For this purpose, new spatial data analysis methods are needed to assure that GIS databases are of high-quality. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology and its sample development for comparative spatial analysis of digitized point cloud and the corresponding GIS database in order to statistically assess opportunities to align Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) data with existing GIS databases or to improve involved datasets. The method is evaluated using LiDAR data provided by Estonian company Reach-U Ltd. and GIS database layers from different Estonian open and closed databases.