An Effective Texture Mapping Approach for 3D Models Obtained from Laser Scanner Data to Building Documentation

Obtaining virtual models from real buildings, terrains, or building works is a matter of increased interest in construction. The application of such models ranges from technical use in architecture and civil engineering, to multimedia presentation, or remote visits through the web. This is becoming possible thanks to recent advances in laser scanning technology and related 3D processing algorithms. Moreover, real texture mapped onto 3D models is often required for communication, cataloguing, or digital documentation projects. In this article, an effective methodology to obtain digital building documentation based on 3D textured models is presented. First of all, a brief presentation of laser scanners is given as their data are used. An approach for mapping photographic images onto 3D models is also presented. The proposed approach, based on a camera registration method, offers high flexibility as it is based on hand-held cameras and can be implemented in a computing-effective way. A method for automatic image selection in overlapped areas is also presented. Finally, some hints are given concerning the automatic extraction of sections, orthophotos, and feature lines from the models. Experimental results focused on heritage buildings are shown, which demonstrate the suitability of the proposed techniques.