Saifi, S and Anandakumar, R M (2025) Web-based visualization and rendering of aerial lidar point cloud for urban flood simulation. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 16(2), pp. 260-274. ISSN 1759-5908
Abstract
Purpose: In an era overshadowed by the alarming consequences of climate change and the escalating peril of recurring floods for communities worldwide, the significance of proficient disaster risk management has reached unprecedented levels. The successful implementation of disaster risk management necessitates the ability to make informed decisions. To this end, the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) visualization and Web-based rendering offers decision-makers the opportunity to engage with interactive data representations. This study aims to focus on Thiruvananthapuram, India, where the analysis of flooding caused by the Karamana River aims to furnish valuable insights for facilitating well-informed decision-making in the realm of disaster management. Design/methodology/approach: This work introduces a systematic procedure for evaluating the influence of flooding on 3D building models through the utilization of Web-based visualization and rendering techniques. To ensure precision, aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data is used to generate accurate 3D building models in CityGML format, adhering to the standards set by the Open Geospatial Consortium. By using one-meter digital elevation models derived from LiDAR data, flood simulations are conducted to analyze flow patterns at different discharge levels. The integration of 3D building maps with geographic information system (GIS)-based vector maps and a flood risk map enables the assessment of the extent of inundation. To facilitate visualization and querying tasks, a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) is developed. Findings: The efficiency of comprehensive 3D building maps in evaluating flood consequences in Thiruvananthapuram has been established by the research. By merging with GIS-based vector maps and a flood risk map, it becomes possible to scrutinize the extent of inundation and the affected structures. Furthermore, the Web-based GUI facilitates interactive data exploration, visualization and querying, thereby assisting in decision-making. Originality/value: The study introduces an innovative approach that merges LiDAR data, 3D building mapping, flood simulation and Web-based visualization, which can be advantageous for decision-makers in disaster risk management and may have practical use in various regions and urban areas.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | CityGML; disaster management; floods; lidar; web-based visualization |
| Index terms: | flooding, point cloud, user interface, maps, disaster risk, visualization, climate change, integration, mapping, urban area, decision-making, exploration, methodology, consortium, efficiency, urban flood simulation, India, geographic information system, disaster management, implementation |
| Subjects: | organizational analysis, partnership management, decision analysis, design practice, performance management, human-computer interaction, environmental hazards, geographical techniques and analysis, Geography, financial risk, digital design, urban form and morphology, research methods, spatial and geospatial analysis, contractual arrangements, environmental management and studies, environmental resource management, climate science |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Cost Management, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Sustainability, Procurement, Risk Management, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Quality Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here