Streamlining Digital Elevation Model Construction from Historical Aerial Photographs: The Impact of Reference Elevation Data on Spatial Accuracy

Xin Hong, Koc University
Christopher H. Roosevelt, Koc University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Open Geosciences

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

This study proposes a streamlined workflow for producing historical digital elevation models (hDEMs) from scanned 1950s aerial photographs using structure-from-motion and multi-view-stereo (SfM-MVS) techniques along with co-registration methods. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of DEM references with varying spatial resolutions on the SfM-MVS process and co-registration accuracy. The DEM references included a 30 m SRTM DEM (low resolution), a 12 m TanDEM-X DEM (medium resolution), and a 5 m DEM provided by the General Directorate of Mapping of the Ministry of National Defense, Republic of T & uuml;rkiye (high resolution). Results indicate that higher resolution reference DEMs lead to improved accuracy and precision of the final hDEMs, particularly evident in reduced errors and finer spatial resolution. This study contributes to streamlining the hDEM construction process and offers a nuanced understanding of the significance of elevation and reference DEM selection in ensuring hDEM accuracy.

ISSN

2391-5447

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Volume

17

Issue

1

Disciplines

Computer Sciences | Geography

Keywords

DEM co-registration, SfM-MVS, General Directorate of Mapping (HGM) DEM, TanDEM-X DEM, SRTM DEM, historical aerial photographs

Indexed in Scopus

no

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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