Information extraction of building height and density based on quick bird image in Kunming, China

Information extraction of building's height and density is an important aspect of urban remote sensing researches. Based on Quick Bird image classification, information of buildings can be extracted, and the density and landscape pattern of buildings can be analyzed, the height of buildings can be measured by calculating the length of the shadow. The results could provide scientific basis for town planning, urban ecological construction. Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province, China. It is a key city in southwest China, and national historical and cultural city, an important tourism and trade city of China. For some reason the comprehensive strength of Kunming has obviously lagged behind the eastern coastal cities, even behind a number of western cities of China. A strategic decision called “Building modern and new Kunming” was put forward by the provincial government in May 2003. It aims to optimize and enhance urban functions, reduce population density and building density and relieve traffic pressure, improve the quality of the environment. In order to achieve governmental goals it needs some data like building height and density. On the other hand, there are no many good ways and methods to extract this information, especially in some typical geographic unit. Study on information extraction of building height and density in Kunming will help to do a good planning in core area of Kunming and will help to explore the new methods of remote sensing information extraction.