Automated texture mapping CityJSON 3D city models from oblique and nadir aerial imagery

Abstract

The incorporation of detailed textures in 3D city models is crucial for enhancing their realism, as it adds depth and authenticity to the visual representation, thereby closely mimicking the surfaces and materials found in actual urban environments. Existing 3D city models can be enriched with energy-related roof and façade details, such as the material type (such as windows, green façades, bricks) and sunlight reflectance which can be derived from texture information. However, a common limitation of these models is their lack of very high resolution textures, which which reduces their realism and detail. Manually mapping textures onto each surface of a building is an exceptionally time-consuming and labor-intensive process, making it unfeasible for large-scale applications involving thousands of buildings. Therefore, an automated method is essential for texture mapping of 3D city models from aerial imagery. In this paper, we present CityJSON texture mapper – a python-based software tool for automated texture mapping of CityJSON-based 3D city models from oblique and nadir aerial imagery. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in generating high-quality textured 3D city models, showcasing the potential for broader applications in geospatial analysis and decision-making. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in enhancing the realism and usability of CityJSON-based 3D city models by enhancing them with their real textures from oblique aerial imagery. Texture mapped model can be explored at https://bit.ly/textured3dbag.