Automatically generating roof models from building footprints

Abstract

Modelling Large Urban Environments using traditional modelling techniques would prove too time consuming a process. Consequently a method is required for generating large urban environments quickly without requiring a labour intensive process or expensive data. Some approaches to resolve this problem have been undertaken through the use of procedural modelling or statistics. However the test subject is usually a dense urban environment where the primary buildings are of the skyscraper style. This paper presents the initial design and implementation towards a method for modelling a large environment based on building footprint information. It shows the use of the straight skeleton method with modifications to allow several different roof styles to be generated.