Spatial analysis

[kijunlee]

Hi!

I'm Kijun, ArcGIS user with educational license.

I'm working on my project in terms of road inspection using drone map.

So I construct DEM for is through drone assisted images. Now, I'm looking for a tools in arcmap for automatically visualizing some damages, debris or craters on the road.

What tools will be great a solution for me.

Kijun

[DanPatterson_Retired · Accepted solution]

The Spatial analyst extension in particular for DEM construction... arcmap or ArcGIS pro for handling both raster and vector data... but what do you want to analyze? There are no auto-identify tools to delineate potholes and the like, that would need a rule-set to follow... although variations in surface continuity could be assisted by edge enhancement techniques.  Some basic remote sensing image classification tools (Image Analyst) could be used to devise a probable classification based on road texture/structure which might have applicability in identifying similar features at other locations along a road stretch.

[kijunlee]

 Let me explain my project in more detail, I'm gonna do inspect damaged road with a digital elevation map to mark location of damaged area on the road. After some practice of ArcGIS spatial analyst tools, I was able to construct more remarkable models using Hydrology and contour, but still need to observe with my vision.

I think the elevation of a road relatively distributed continually flat and some damaged points have a rapid elevation deviation comparing to the neighbor raster. So, if I can model some python tools that is mark the raster with different raster collections, it might be more accurate tools for road inspection. I'll be happy you show me a short path to the answer.

Thanks.

[DanPatterson_Retired]

One way would be to calculate slope from the dem.  Flat areas are obviously going to be flat or with a small deviation from it.  If the resolution of the dem is small compared to the size of the holes, then you will have areas where the slope is not flat (approximately zero).  If the road surface has a gentle incline, then you will have an average slope which could be used as a threshold to delineate areas above this.  For instance, if the road slope were 5% on average... you just need to use the Raster Calculator to delineate those areas where slope is > than this.

I think before conjecture continues, an image or two of the DEM would be appropriate, along with full information on the cell sizes and anything else, even if you don't think it is relevant.  

Also... intonation of the image may enable you to depict shadows cast internally into a hole, relative to the surround.  This would bring in the realm of remote sensing and image classification.   More after you provide more details.