New Tools or Trends for Large-Scale Mapping and 3D Modelling (Second Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

Topographic surveys are used to capture the shape of the earth’s surface, which provide the information needed for 2D or 3D representations. The general trend focuses nowadays on 3D models that facilitate management and semantic information extraction. Large-scale topographic maps are essential for (a) the design and construction of the infrastructure in the urban and rural areas, (b) vegetation analysis and monitoring, (c) 3D and city modelling, and (d) general-purpose mapping. Topographic surveys are normally carried out with traditional surveying, photogrammetry, LiDAR/laser scanning, and satellite remote sensing. Mobile mapping using terrestrial vehicles or airborne aircraft accelerates data acquisition process. The integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in measurement operations not only increases the efficacity of data collection and improves the resolution, but also adds a new aspect concerning cost, speed, availability, and safety.

Very-high-resolution 3D information can be used to create  Digital Twins , which have become popular and useful tool for creating virtual representations of physical objects and systems. Indeed, they improve the performance of thematic systems such as City Information Modelling (CIM), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Land Information Modelling (LAM), and Tree Information Modelling (TIM). These systems sustain real-time monitoring and management of spatial items to realize sustainable development in a fast-varying world.

Remote sensing tools have shown their efficacy in exploring the natural, human, and social systems at unprecedented resolutions. These tools have been used for acquiring the spatial data needed for mapping since the early 1970s because they are rapid, cost-effective, and reliable.

Meanwhile, the use of machine learning techniques for data classification as well as data modelling plays a major role simultaneously with rule-based approaches for increasing the automatization of data processing.

Now, the demand for geospatial data has increased exponentially, coupled with the need for high-quality large-scale maps and 3D models. The recent developments in remote sensing sensors have opened the door for the high-quality, large-scale mapping of our environment, 3D/city modelling, as well as many useful applications such as infrastructure monitoring and crack measurement.

This is the second volume of the Special Issue of Remote Sensing on "New Tools or Trends for Large-Scale Mapping and 3D Modelling". In this Special Issue, we aim to compile research articles that address various aspects of large-scale mapping and 3D modelling with remote sensing sensors from field data acquisition used to map or 3D-model, and their applications. Review contributions and papers describing new sensors/concepts are also welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Tarig Ali
Prof. Dr. Jorge Delgado García
Dr. Fayez Tarsha Kurdi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• remote sensing
• topographic mapping
• mobile mapping
• data acquisition
• sensors
• LiDAR
• UAVs (drone)
• feature extraction
• 3D modelling
• machine learning
• data classification
• forests modelling
• digital twins
• city information modelling (CIM)
• building information modelling (BIM)
• land information modelling (LAM)
• tree information modelling (TIM)
• processing quality

• New Tools or Trends for Large-Scale Mapping and 3D Modelling in Remote Sensing (10 articles)