tumgis/citymodel-compare repository overview

⁠citymodel-compare

⁠What it is

A tool to map and match CityGML datasets, as well as interpret their changes, all by using graphs.

• MAPPING: CityGML datasets are represented as graphs and stored in the graph database Neo4j. The mapping process is very flexible and can support both versions 2.0 and 3.0 of CityGML (as it uses citygml4j⁠).

• MATCHING: The graph representations of the mapped CityGML datasets are matched based on both their semantic and geometric properties. Spatial indexing (such as R-Tree) is used to accelerate matching time in massive datasets.

• INTERPRETING: The change detection process often results in a high number of low-semantic-level changes. This interpretation process reduces this number, while simultaneously increasing the semantic contents of changes.

The ultimate goal of this tool is to provide a precise, expressive, and human-centered interpretation of changes in CityGML.

⁠Contents

• How to run it⁠
• How to cite it⁠
• License⁠
• Contact⁠

⁠How to run it

This tool can be used in two ways: either via Gradle or via Docker. For testing purposes, Docker is recommended.

What is needed:

• Docker⁠
• Neo4j Desktop⁠

1. Make sure Docker is up and running.

2. Pull the following image from Docker Hub:

   docker pull tumgis/citymodel-compare:1.0.0
   

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   To use latest (experimental) functionalities, pull the following image instead:

    docker pull tumgis/citymodel-compare:1.0.0-dev
   

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3. Run the image:

   # Linux 
   docker run \
      -it --rm \
      -p 7474:7474 -p 7687:7687 \
   tumgis/citymodel-compare:1.0.0-dev
   

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   # Windows
    docker run ^
       -it --rm ^
       -p 7474:7474 -p 7687:7687 ^
    tumgis/citymodel-compare:1.0.0-dev
   

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   This will start a Neo4j instance with all necessary dependencies installed. The parameters are as follows:

   • -it: Interactive mode.
   • --rm: Remove the container after it exits.
   • -p 7474:7474: Expose port 7474 of the container to port 7474 of the host machine. This is the port used by the Neo4j browser (such as visualization and inspecting Cypher queries).
   • -p 7687:7687: Expose port 7687 of the container to port 7687 of the host machine. This is the port used by the Neo4j Bolt connector (such as for RESTful services).

   Notes: To simplify the process for testing purposes, the Docker container has already been loaded with a test dataset. This dataset includes an older and a newer tiled CityGML dataset of Hamburg, from 2016 and 2022, respectively, which are publicly available here⁠.

   Notes: Once started, the datasets will be automatically mapped and matched, and their changes will be interpreted and stored in the graph database. All from scratch, no existing Neo4j database instance is contained in the Docker container beforehand. Please refer to this section⁠ for more details on how to use your own datasets.

That's it! The old and new CityGML datasets have been mapped, matched, and interpreted. You are now ready to use the tool.

⁠How to cite it

This tool is part of the following publications:

Nguyen, Son H.; Kolbe, Thomas H.: Identification and Interpretation of Change Patterns in Semantic 3D City Models⁠. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography - Recent Advances in 3D Geoinformation Science - Proceedings of the 18th 3D GeoInfo Conference, Springer, 2023.

Nguyen, Son H.; Kolbe, Thomas H.: Path-tracing Semantic Networks to Interpret Changes in Semantic 3D City Models⁠. Proceedings of the 17th International 3D GeoInfo Conference 2022 (ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences), ISPRS, 2022.

Nguyen, Son H.; Kolbe, Thomas H.: Modelling Changes, Stakeholders and their Relations in Semantic 3D City Models⁠. Proceedings of the 16th International 3D GeoInfo Conference 2021 (ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences), ISPRS, 2021, 137-144.

Nguyen, Son H.; Kolbe, Thomas H.: A Multi-Perspective Approach to Interpreting Spatio-Semantic Changes of Large 3D City Models in CityGML using a Graph Database⁠. Proceedings of the 15th International 3D GeoInfo Conference 2020 (ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences), ISPRS, 2020, 143–150.

Nguyen, Son H.; Yao, Zhihang; Kolbe, Thomas H.: Spatio-Semantic Comparison of Large 3D City Models in CityGML Using a Graph Database⁠. gis.Science (3/2018), 2018, 85-100.

Nguyen, Son H.; Yao, Zhihang; Kolbe, Thomas H.: Spatio-Semantic Comparison of Large 3D City Models in CityGML Using a Graph Database⁠. Proceedings of the 12th International 3D GeoInfo Conference 2017 (ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences), ISPRS, 2017, 99-106.

Nguyen, Son H.: Spatio-semantic Comparison of 3D City Models in CityGML using a Graph Database⁠. Master thesis, 2017.

⁠License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE⁠ file for details.

⁠Acknowledgement

The development of these methods and implementations were supported and partially funded by the company CADFEM⁠ within a dedicated collaboration project in the context of the Leonhard Obermeyer Center (LOC)⁠ at the Technical University of Munich (TUM)⁠.

⁠Contact

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact:

Son H. Nguyen, M.Sc.

PhD Candidate, Research Associate

Chair of Geoinformatics | Department of Aerospace and Geodesy

TUM School of Engineering and Design | Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Arcisstr. 21, 80333 Munich, Germany

Email: [email protected]⁠

Homepage⁠ | LinkedIn⁠ | ResearchGate⁠