An improved vehicle-pedestrian near-crash identification method with a roadside LiDAR sensor

Problem: Potential conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles represent a challenge to pedestrian safety. Near-crash is used as a surrogate metric for pedestrian safety evaluations when historical vehicle–pedestrian crash data are not available. One challenge of using near-crash data for pedestrian safety evaluation is the identification of near-crash events. Method: This paper introduces a novel method for pedestrian-vehicle near-crash identification that uses a roadside LiDAR sensor. The trajectory of each road user can be extracted from roadside LiDAR data via several data processing algorithms: background filtering, lane identification, object clustering, object classification, and object tracking. Three indicators, namely, the post encroachment time (PET), the proportion of the stopping distance (PSD), and the crash potential index (CPI) are applied for conflict risk classification. Results: The performance of the developed method was evaluated with field-collected data at four sites in Reno, Nevada, United States. The results of case studies demonstrate that pedestrian-vehicle near-crash events could be identified successfully via the proposed method. Practical applications: The proposed method is especially suitable for pedestrian-vehicle near-crash identification at individual sites. The extracted near-crash events can serve as supplementary material to naturalistic driving study (NDS) data for safety evaluation.     

基于LiDAR、SRTM DEM的祁连山黑河流域十一冰川2000-2012年物质平衡估算

以祁连山黑河流域十一冰川为例,利用机载三维激光扫描数据（Light Detection And Ranging, LiDAR）和SRTM DEM数据,在LiDAR点云数据预处理、高程数据配准、校正、误差评估的基础上,建立基于大地测量法的冰川物质平衡计算流程。表明：2000-2012年十一冰川冰面高程变化为-7.47±0.92βm,变化率为-0.62±0.08 m·a^-1,估算十一冰川的年均物质平衡为 -0.53±0.07βm w.e.,累积物质平衡为-6.35±0.78βm w.e.,折合水当量约为（330.4±40.8）×10^4βm³;与其他典型监测冰川物质平衡进行对比和分析,论证了估算结果的可靠性;LiDAR数据具有非常高的精度和空间分辨率,目前关于其在冰川物质平衡研究中的应用很少,论文尝试将其应用于冰川物质平衡变化研究中,具有广阔的发展前景。     

灰霾污染和清洁过程中污染物垂直结构特征

针对无锡地区2013年11月6—13日经历的灰霾污染和清洁过程,采用地基遥感激光雷达对空气中的气溶胶颗粒物垂直分布进行垂直探测,发现污染时段气溶胶颗粒物主要积聚在1.8 km以下,消光系数的日均值统计表明,从近地面至高空1.5 km,颗粒物产生的峰值消光系数稳定在0.2 km~(-1);而清洁时段,由于垂直扩散条件改善,颗粒物随高度增加明显减少,1.5 km处的消光系数不足0.05 km~(-1)。同时发现污染时段中,近地面PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、碳黑(BC)的平均浓度分别是清洁时段的2.48、2.76、3.66倍;大气氧化剂(O3和NO_x的总和)平均值水平是清洁时段的1.73倍。气象条件分析发现,锋面的移动使大气水平、垂直对流运动加剧,污染物得以迅速扩散,空气质量转好,这也是此次污染清除的主要原因。     

Beach topography mapping—a comparsion of techniques

A comparison of current techniques for measuring elevations in the beach and near-shore zones is presented. Techniques considered include traditional methods such as ground survey along transects and airborne stereophotogrammetry, and also newer methods based on remote sensing such as airborne scanning laser altimetry (LiDAR). The approach taken was to identify a representative group of users of beach elevation data, elicit their requirements regarding these data, then assess how well the different methods met these requirements on both technical and financial grounds. Potential users of beach height measurements include those concerned with coastal defence, coastal environmental management economic exploitation of the intertidal zone, and coastal flood forecasting. Three test areas in the UK were identified covering a range of such users and also different beach types. A total of 17 basic user requirements were elicited. For each requirement each method was scored according to the degree to which it could meet the requirement. Total scores were calculated and each method ranked. This was undertaken for all the requirements together, for a subset relating to survey of narrow beaches, and for a subset relating to survey of wide beaches. Approximate costs were also established for the top six methods. Airborne stereophotogrammetry proved to be the best method technically, but was also the most expensive. Ground survey provides very good technical performance on narrower beaches at moderate cost. Airborne LiDAR can achieve good technical performance on both narrow and wide beaches at lower cost than ground survey. The satellite-based waterline method was also inexpensive and gave good results on wide beaches. An overall conclusion is that, while the traditional methods of ground survey and airborne stereophotogrammetry remain the best for engineering-related surveys requiring high levels of accuracy, airborne LiDAR in particular looks set to have a significant impact on beach survey for applications for which a vertical accuracy of 20 cm is acceptable, provided that its technology evolves satisfactorily.     

Efficient Delineation of Nested Depression Hierarchy in Digital Elevation Models for Hydrological Analysis Using Level‐Set Method

In terrain analysis and hydrological modeling, surface depressions (or sinks) in a digital elevation model (DEM) are commonly treated as artifacts and thus filled and removed to create a depressionless DEM. Various algorithms have been developed to identify and fill depressions in DEMs during the past decades. However, few studies have attempted to delineate and quantify the nested hierarchy of actual depressions, which can provide crucial information for characterizing surface hydrologic connectivity and simulating the fill‐merge‐spill hydrological process. In this paper, we present an innovative and efficient algorithm for delineating and quantifying nested depressions in DEMs using the level‐set method based on graph theory. The proposed level‐set method emulates water level decreasing from the spill point along the depression boundary to the lowest point at the bottom of a depression. By tracing the dynamic topological changes (i.e., depression splitting/merging) within a compound depression, the level‐set method can construct topological graphs and derive geometric properties of the nested depressions. The experimental results of two fine‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging‐derived DEMs show that the raster‐based level‐set algorithm is much more efficient (~150 times faster) than the vector‐based contour tree method. The proposed level‐set algorithm has great potential for being applied to large‐scale ecohydrological analysis and watershed modeling.     

Runoff Storage Potential of Drained Upland Depressions on the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa

We present estimates of the volumetric storage capacities of currently drained upland depressions and catchment depressional specific storage and runoff storage indices for the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa (DML‐IA) subregion of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Storage capacities were determined using hydrologically enforced Light Detection and Ranging‐derived digital elevation models, and a unique geoprocessing algorithm. Depressional specific storage was estimated for each 12‐digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC12) watershed in the region from total catchment‐specific depressional storage volume and catchment area. Runoff storage indices were calculated using catchment depressional specific storage values and estimates of the amount of rainfall likely to fall within each watershed during sub‐annual and 1‐, 2‐, 5‐, and 10‐year 24‐h events. The 173,171 identified drained depressions in the DML‐IA can store up to 903.5 Mm³ of runoff. Most of this capacity is in depressions located in the north of the region. Specific storage varies from nearly 109 mm in the younger landscapes to <10 mm in older more eroded areas. For 95% of the HUC12 watersheds comprising the region, depressional storage will likely be exhausted by rainfall‐derived runoff in excess of a 1‐year 24‐h event. Rainfall amounts greater than a 5‐year 24‐h event will exceed all available depressional storage. Therefore, the capacity of drained depressions in the DML‐IA to mitigate flooding resulting from infrequent, but large, storm events is limited.     

基于小光斑激光雷达数据的稀疏林地冠层高程重建

探讨在稀疏林地的条件下,利用小光斑激光雷达获取的多次回波点云数据估算冠层高度,研究不同的高度重建方法包括反距离权重、样条插值以及普通克里格等方法的冠层和地面高度重建的精度。研究发现,在地面和林冠层,不同的重建方法的表现是不一样的,其中样条方法在冠层重建中的精度较高,误差绝对值的平均值为0.95m,并且整体偏差也较小,方差为3.42。而在地面高程重建则是普通克里格方法具有较小的误差,误差绝对值的平均值为0.35m,而样条方法的整体偏差要优于其他两种方法,方差为0.48。经过综合考虑,利用样条方法重建的冠层高程和普通克里格方法重建的地面高程实现了实验区冠层高度的提取。     

颗粒物激光雷达在大气复合污染立体监测中的应用

针对由于局地污染、沙尘输入、外源性输入与局地污染物相互叠加所导致的3种灰霾污染发生过程,分别选取3个典型案例,采用颗粒物激光雷达对污染物的时空分布特征进行解析。研究发现,在局地污染发生时,污染物从地面开始垂直向上扩散,扩散高度约1 km。重度污染过程中,气溶胶的日均垂直消光系数随高度的变化背离指数衰减特征,800 m高度处出现消光系数的极大值层,极大值超过2.5 km-1,800 m以下消光系数近乎常数,约为0.3 km-1。这说明,重污染过程中,有一层较厚重的颗粒物分布,使近地面污染物在垂直方向的扩散能力减弱,形成积累效应,造成大面积空气混浊。当有外源性沙尘输入时,激光雷达能够清晰地监测到污染团输入的全过程。沙团突然出现在高空2~3 km。污染团退偏振度较大,超过0.3。随着沙尘粒子的重力沉降,沙团的轮廓在垂直方向上不断地增大。沙团的输入,导致近地面粗颗粒质量浓度的增加幅度明显大于细颗粒。在第3个案例中,激光雷达清晰地监测到高空1.8~3 km突然出现含有大量球形细颗粒的污染团,同时还发现此污染团与近地面的污染物有不同的演化特征。近地面污染物随时间垂直向上扩散,12:00左右扩散高度超过1.8 km。而高空的污染团逐渐沉降进入边界层内,与近地面扩散的污染物相互混合,共同导致本地的灰霾天气。综上所述,激光雷达可以清晰地捕获污染物的垂直结构特征,对不同的致霾过程进行立体解析,实现对大气复合污染的监测和机理研判。     

Hydrography Change Detection: The Usefulness of Surface Channels Derived From LiDAR DEMs for Updating Mapped Hydrography1

Abstract: The 1:24,000‐scale high‐resolution National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) mapped hydrography flow lines require regular updating because land surface conditions that affect surface channel drainage change over time. Historically, NHD flow lines were created by digitizing surface water information from aerial photography and paper maps. Using these same methods to update nationwide NHD flow lines is costly and inefficient; furthermore, these methods result in hydrography that lacks the horizontal and vertical accuracy needed for fully integrated datasets useful for mapping and scientific investigations. Effective methods for improving mapped hydrography employ change detection analysis of surface channels derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation models (DEMs) and NHD flow lines. In this article, we describe the usefulness of surface channels derived from LiDAR DEMs for hydrography change detection to derive spatially accurate and time‐relevant mapped hydrography. The methods employ analyses of horizontal and vertical differences between LiDAR‐derived surface channels and NHD flow lines to define candidate locations of hydrography change. These methods alleviate the need to analyze and update the nationwide NHD for time relevant hydrography, and provide an avenue for updating the dataset where change has occurred.     

结合激光雷达分析2014年春季南京地区一次大气污染过程

利用环境监测数据、气象数据以及数值模拟结果,结合激光雷达数据反演的气溶胶消光系数,分析了2014年5月26日至6月1日南京地区一次典型的大气污染过程.本次污染过程受到外源性沙尘和烟尘输入以及本地污染排放叠加影响.气象因素对污染物的生消起到了重要作用,低压、逆温等因素阻碍污染物扩散,最终强降雨的出现使本次污染过程终结.整个污染过程中大气边界层高度偏低且变化不大,大气形势稳定,污染物扩散困难.激光雷达可以有效探测气溶胶的垂直分层结构,能直观准确地反映出污染物的分布聚集情况以及时空变化,对大气污染监测具有重要意义.