The necessity of cost efficient methos to generate highly accurate digital terrain models and digital surface models for various purposes such as natural hazard prevention (land slides, earth quakes, tsunami, flooding) and for estimating carbon stocks in forests and other vegetation types increased markedly in recent years.

In close cooperation with the German Space Agency (DLR), RSS develops new methods to generate highly accurate 3D data by using ultra-high resolution aerial imagery. By applying automated photogrammetric algorithms, 3-dimensional information can be extracted. This technology was successfully applied to high resolution 3D city- and landscape modelling for planning, monitoring and natural hazard prevention. Several projects were accomplished with the new and cost-effective 3D technology in Europe and Southeast Asia (see Last-Mile, Tsunami).

Link
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Robotik und Mechatronik