UAV-based 3D modelling of disaster scenes for Urban Search and Rescue

Natural or man-made disasters often result in trapped victims under rubble piles. In such emergency response situations, Urban Search and Rescue (USaR) teams have to make quick decisions to determine the location of possible trapped humans. The fast 3D modelling of collapsed buildings using images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can significantly help the USaR operations and improve disaster response. The apriori establishment of a proper workflow for fast and reliable image-based 3D modelling and the careful parameterization in every step of the photogrammetric process are crucial aspects that ensure the readiness in an emergency situation. This paper evaluates powerful commercial and open-source software for the creation of 3D models of disaster scenes using UAV imagery for rapid response situations and conducts a thorough analysis on the parameters of the various modelling steps that may lead to the desired results for USaR operations. The main result of our analysis is the establishment of optimized photogrammetric procedures with the scope of fast 3D modelling of disaster scenes, to assist USaR teams and increase survival rates.