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Barrios 4D: Semi-automated morphology analysis of human settlements using mobile laser scanning

Author

Listed:
  • Jason Alejandro Castaño-López
  • Juan C Perafán-Villota
  • Nicolas Llanos-Neuta
  • Simone Mora
  • Victor Romero-Cano

Abstract

Civil or government organizations base human settlement transformation decisions on limited and sparse data. However, broader and denser information is necessary. Camera and LiDAR data processing is a more effective, automatic, and affordable method to fully characterize the morphological structure of human settlements. This work presents a system for estimating metrics about relevant morphological characteristics of human settlements using LiDAR data. We provide a quantitative analysis of these metrics obtained in the city of Cali, Colombia. Additionally, we enable the automatic calculation of urban metrics such as the street canyon ratio, which relates building height to street width, a metric highly correlated with air quality. Moreover, we extrapolate findings from existing literature to compare our results and understand how indirectly measured variables, such as thermal sensation and perceived beauty of the environment, might behave Our system can potentially be used by civil and government organizations to develop informed and precise urban planning and transformation strategies, including land use zoning, infrastructure development, and addressing issues related to housing, transportation, and environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Alejandro Castaño-López & Juan C Perafán-Villota & Nicolas Llanos-Neuta & Simone Mora & Victor Romero-Cano, 2025. "Barrios 4D: Semi-automated morphology analysis of human settlements using mobile laser scanning," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 52(8), pages 1884-1902, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:52:y:2025:i:8:p:1884-1902
    DOI: 10.1177/23998083251315966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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