Automated first floor height estimation for flood vulnerability analysis using deep learning and Google Street View

Flood events can cause extensive damage to physical infrastructure, pose risks to human life, and necessitate the reoccupation and rehabilitation of affected areas. A key parameter for flood vulnerability assessment is the first floor height (FFH), which also plays an important role in setting insurance premiums. Traditional methods for FFH estimation rely on ground surveys and site inspections, yet these approaches are both time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this study, we propose an alternative approach based on measurements derived from Google Street View (GSV) images and Deep Learning (DL). We employ the YOLOv5s algorithm, which belongs to a family of compound-scaled object detection models trained on the COCO dataset, for the detection of crucial building elements such as the Front Door (FD), stairs, and overall building extent. Additionally, we utilized the YOLOv5s algorithm to identify basement windows and assess the existence of basements. To validate our methodology, we conducted tests in both the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the state of Virginia in the United States. The results demonstrate an achievement of RMSE and Bias values of 81 cm and −50 cm for GTA, and 95 cm and −20 cm for the Virginia region, respectively.