DEM Generation from Very High Resolution Stereo Satellite Data in Urban Areas Using Dynamic Programming

Abstract

In this article an attempt for improving an existing method creating DEMs fully automatically from stereoscopic image pairs is presented. Results applying this method to very high resolution (VHR) satellite imagery is shown. The herein discussed “column” algorithm is illustrated in brief and compared to a conventional algorithm frequently used in generating DEMs from satellite line scanner data. The presented algorithm is producing DEMs with an improved matching of steep objects as can be found in urban satellite imagery but introduces also some blunders in the generated DEMs. 1.