Constructing compact three-dimensional building models

A device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• obtaining a light detection and ranging point cloud of a building, wherein the light detection and ranging point cloud comprises a plurality of points, and wherein each point in the plurality of points is associated with a set of (x,y,z) coordinates;
• assigning a first point of the plurality of points to a subset of the plurality of points that is associated with the building, wherein the subset comprises points whose (x,y) coordinates fall within a footprint of the building;
• grouping the first point into a first cluster according to at least one of:
• a (z) coordinate of the first point or a gradient to which the first point belongs;
• constructing a first prism formed by the first cluster, wherein the constructing comprises:
• computing a convex hull of the first cluster, wherein the convex hull comprises the first prism;
• and
• intersecting the convex hull with the footprint of the building;
• and
• storing a model of the building as a plurality of connected prisms, wherein the plurality of connected prisms includes the first prism.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing system including at least one processor, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• obtaining a light detection and ranging point cloud of a building, wherein the light detection and ranging point cloud comprises a plurality of points, and wherein each point in the plurality of points is associated with a set of (x,y,z) coordinates;
• assigning a first point of the plurality of points to a subset of the plurality of points that is associated with the building, wherein the subset comprises points whose (x,y) coordinates fall within a footprint of the building;
• grouping the first point into a first cluster according to at least one of:
• a (z) coordinate of the first point or a gradient to which the first point belongs;
• constructing a first prism formed by the first cluster, wherein the constructing comprises:
• computing a convex hull of the first cluster, wherein the convex hull comprises the first prism;
• and
• intersecting the convex hull with the footprint of the building;
• and
• storing a model of the building as a plurality of connected prisms, wherein the plurality of connected prisms includes the first prism.