Combining BAG and AHN2 Point cloud data.

Data sources

In previous posts , I demonstrated how the BAG data and AHN2 rasters can be accessed by FME.

What I would like to demonstrate now, is how to fetch the AHN2 point cloud data and combine it with the BAG buildings.
This in effect will show how easy it is to add the elevation values to the BAG buildings.
The additional elevation information makes it possible for example to classify the buildings roof type (flat vs.slanting) and transform the 2D BAG buildings into 3D objects.

BAG

The BAG data was accessed for a small area of interest (AOI), this area contains 2D footprints of buildings.

AHN2 Point Cloud

Much like the AHN2 raster data, the on-line point cloud data can be easily accessed via FME. One of the differences in this workspace is that the FeatureReader transformer is used instead of the RasterReader.

 

Combining the data

For spatially relating features there are a few options, you can go for the 'old fashion' method by clipping the point cloud data for each building or by using the SpatialRelator, but my preferred way is to use the SpatialFilter.
Why? well mainly due to performance issues and the fact that no extra transformers are necessary as is the case with the SpatialRelator.
So after relating the features, the elevation information is in fact added to the buildings. (whether it represents the correct height is another matter, which is not addressed here).

There are lies, damned lies and statistics 

- Mark Twain.

So how to go about adding more than just the elevation information?

Well after spatially relating the point cloud to each building, a number of statistics can be computed with the help of the StatisticsCalculator.

This added information can be used for initial classification purposes, for example buildings with a low range value can be classified to have flat roofs.

The Workspace.

After creating the AOI (Creator) the BAG data is fetched off the Internet in the BAG custom transformer.
For more info on how to do that see this previous post.
The point cloud are, in much the same way, fetched from the web, unfortunately it is not possible to grab only the point cloud features of the AOI. 

Point cloud AHN2 custom transformer.

Once all data is read, combining it is done with the SpatialFilter and the StatisticsCalculator finishes the job by adding additional elevation statistics (don't forget the Group By setting)
Note that I have opted for the summary port of the StatisticsCalculator, since I am no longer interested in the points themselves. (tip for good practice, drop anything you don't need ASP!!)

To be able to share some results I have created a 3D pdf  that contains a building footprint (select it to view elevation statistics), point cloud data and additionally derived features (TIN, contours) (tip: download it, and open with Adobe, the web brouwser cannot display it correctly)
Notice the spikes in the point cloud data and derived features, some of them can be attributed to the roof material, others to windows and lastly to vegetation (trees), how do I know? well here is a hint (switch to satellite and head north)