Novel Bridge over Water Detection Algorithm from LiDAR Data Based on Skinny Triangle.

It is significant to detect the bridge from LiDAR automatically and quickly, which is regarded as an important artificial building and transport hub. In this paper, a skinny triangle-based detection algorithm of bridge over water is proposed. First, Triangulated Irregular Network(TIN) is generated in LiDAR data, during which a skinny triangle is used to detect points on the river edge and bridge, and the elevation difference between them is used to separate those points. Second, a nonlinear classifier designed with TIN is used to separate the LiDAR points on the river edge. Points of bridge borders can be separated automatically and adaptively according to the collinear characteristics of the bridge border. Finally, creating fitted curves to obtain river bank and bridges borders respectively. The coordinate of bridge angular points can be obtained by solving the equations set, which is consists of the river bank curve and bridges borders curve simultaneous. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can perform well to extract bridge over water from LiDAR data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]