Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques

Automatic building change detection is essential for updating geospatial data, urban planning, and land use management. The objective of this study is to propose a transformer-based UNet-like framework for end-to-end building change detection, integrating multi-temporal and multi-source data to impr...

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Main Authors: Tee-Ann Teo, Pei-Cheng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/5/695
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author Tee-Ann Teo
Pei-Cheng Chen
author_facet Tee-Ann Teo
Pei-Cheng Chen
author_sort Tee-Ann Teo
collection DOAJ
description Automatic building change detection is essential for updating geospatial data, urban planning, and land use management. The objective of this study is to propose a transformer-based UNet-like framework for end-to-end building change detection, integrating multi-temporal and multi-source data to improve efficiency and accuracy. Unlike conventional methods that focus on either spectral imagery or digital surface models (DSMs), the proposed method combines RGB color imagery, DSMs, and building vector maps in a three-branch Siamese architecture to enhance spatial, spectral, and elevation-based feature extraction. We chose Hsinchu, Taiwan as the experimental site and used 1:1000 digital topographic maps and airborne imagery from 2017, 2020, and 2023. The experimental results demonstrated that the data fusion model significantly outperforms other data combinations, achieving higher accuracy and robustness in detecting building changes. The RGB images provide spectral and texture details, DSMs offer structural and elevation context, and the building vector map enhances semantic consistency. This research advances building change detection by introducing a fully transformer-based model for end-to-end change detection, incorporating diverse geospatial data sources, and improving accuracy over traditional CNN-based methods. The proposed framework offers a scalable and automated solution for modern mapping workflows, contributing to more efficient geospatial data updating and urban monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-8459ccd9a1cb404d82c32a207577356d2025-08-20T02:59:14ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-02-0115569510.3390/buildings15050695Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation TechniquesTee-Ann Teo0Pei-Cheng Chen1Department of Civil Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu City 300093, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu City 300093, TaiwanAutomatic building change detection is essential for updating geospatial data, urban planning, and land use management. The objective of this study is to propose a transformer-based UNet-like framework for end-to-end building change detection, integrating multi-temporal and multi-source data to improve efficiency and accuracy. Unlike conventional methods that focus on either spectral imagery or digital surface models (DSMs), the proposed method combines RGB color imagery, DSMs, and building vector maps in a three-branch Siamese architecture to enhance spatial, spectral, and elevation-based feature extraction. We chose Hsinchu, Taiwan as the experimental site and used 1:1000 digital topographic maps and airborne imagery from 2017, 2020, and 2023. The experimental results demonstrated that the data fusion model significantly outperforms other data combinations, achieving higher accuracy and robustness in detecting building changes. The RGB images provide spectral and texture details, DSMs offer structural and elevation context, and the building vector map enhances semantic consistency. This research advances building change detection by introducing a fully transformer-based model for end-to-end change detection, incorporating diverse geospatial data sources, and improving accuracy over traditional CNN-based methods. The proposed framework offers a scalable and automated solution for modern mapping workflows, contributing to more efficient geospatial data updating and urban monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/5/695buildingschange detectiondeep learningmap updating
spellingShingle Tee-Ann Teo
Pei-Cheng Chen
Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
Buildings
buildings
change detection
deep learning
map updating
title Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
title_full Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
title_fullStr Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
title_full_unstemmed Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
title_short Building Change Detection in Aerial Imagery Using End-to-End Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation Techniques
title_sort building change detection in aerial imagery using end to end deep learning semantic segmentation techniques
topic buildings
change detection
deep learning
map updating
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/5/695
work_keys_str_mv AT teeannteo buildingchangedetectioninaerialimageryusingendtoenddeeplearningsemanticsegmentationtechniques
AT peichengchen buildingchangedetectioninaerialimageryusingendtoenddeeplearningsemanticsegmentationtechniques