DEM generation from an IKONOS stereo pair using EpiMatch and Graph-Cut algorithms

In this paper, we report the development of two DEM (digital elevation model) generation algorithms over urban areas from an IKONOS stereo pair. One ("EpiMatch") is originally developed for SPOT images and modified for IKONOS images. It uses epipolar geometry for accurate DEM generation. The other is based on graph-cut algorithm in 3D voxel space. This algorithm is believed to work better on height discontinuities than EpiMatch. An IKONOS image pair over Taejon city area was used for tests. Using ground control points obtained from differential GPS, camera model was set up and stereo matching applied. As a result, two DEMs over urban areas were produced. Within a DEM from EpiMatch small houses appear as small "cloudy" patches and large apartment and industrial buildings are visually identifiable. Within the DEM from graph-cut we could achieve better height information on building boundaries. The results show that both algorithms can generate DEMs from IKONOS images although more research is required on handling height discontinuities (for "EpiMatch") and on faster computation (for "Graph-cut").