Project Overview & Basic Rules

Summary
• Project introduction
–Overview of project tasks
–Workflow
–Working area
–Basic rules
• Drawing rules
–Single layer
–Multi-layer
•Multi-layer drawing skills for adjoining
buildings
 Project introduction
• Overview of project tasks
Content : from 2D imagery, draw the 3D building structure
using the rooftop as a starting point
 Project introduction
• Workflow
Online system

finish task, submit passed, submit

labeller checker Judger Final approval

errors exist, pushed errors exist, pushed
back back

Labeler’s task: draw images following project requirements; then revise results
based on checkers feedback.
Checker’s task: check labeler’s drawing result, and also add revision comments

The loop will be complete when the task is approved by the Checker.
 Project introduction
• Working area

Task area (“assistant grid”) 1 2 3

• Buildings entirely located
in your own task area
must be drawn; No
• Buildings partially located
(one pixel or more) in Task area
4
your task area and any
other region besides
1,2,3,4, must also be
drawn.
• Any buildings partially
located in areas 1, 2, 3, or
4 are not to be drawn;
 Project introduction
• Basic rules
• Shape: The geometric shape of building rooftops is a polygon. Usually the
opposite lines are parallel; adjacent lines are perpendicular (ie. residential
houses & industrial buildings). Some buildings might have unique shapes,
such as oval, diamond, or other irregular shapes (ie. shopping malls, office
buildings, high rise apartments).

• Accuracy: Drawings of building rooftops must be accurate within 3 pixels.

Small angles/corners within 3 pixels can be simplified (no matter drawn or
not is acceptable). However, redundant angles/corners are not allowed.

• Multi-layer structures (3D structures): If a building side-wall is visible, drag

the rooftop to the base of the building to capture 3D structure
 Project introduction
• Basic rules
– Shape: The geometric shape of building rooftops is a
polygon. Usually the opposite lines are parallel; adjacent
lines are perpendicular.
 Project introduction
• Basic rules
– Accuracy: Drawings of building rooftops must be accurate within 3
pixels. Small angles within 3 pixels can be simplified (no matter
drawn or not is acceptable). However, drawing non-
existing/redundant angles are not allowed.
Sample 1: Small angles within 3 pixels can be passed (no matter drawn or not).
 Project introduction
• Basic rules
– Accuracy: Drawings of building rooftops must be accurate within 3
pixels. Small angles within 3 pixels can be simplified (no matter
drawn or not is acceptable). However, redundant angles are not
allowed.
Sample 2: Small angles within 3 pixels can be passed (no matter drawn or not).
 Project introduction
• Basic rules
– Accuracy: Drawings of building rooftops must
be accurate within 3 pixels. Small angles
within 3 pixels can be simplified (no matter
drawn or not is acceptable). However,
redundant angles are not allowed.
Sample 3: Redundant angles are not allowed
 Drawing rules
• There are two types of buildings by using different drawing methods:
1. Single layer buildings : Single layer building has consistent height (rooftop is
all one constant height)
2. Multi-layer buildings : Buildings with inconsistent height (multi-layer rooftop)

single layer multi layer

Drawing rules
1. Buildings with consistent height (single layer)
• If only rooftop visible:
• Draw the rooftop contour in terms of the basic rules of
building construction (ie. perpendicular corners,
parallel sides, etc.)
• If building side-wall is also visible:
• First draw rooftop contour in terms of the basic rules
• Then, shift the rooftop contour to the base of the
building to capture the 3D structure: along the visible
side-wall direction, drag rooftop polygon to the
bottom (only necessary if the width of the visible side-
wall is greater than 3 pixels)
Please watch the training material video for more details
Drawing rules
1. Buildings with consistent height (single layer)
• Only rooftop visible: draw rooftop contour in terms
of the basic rules

Simple shape complicated shape

Draw the rooftop only

 Drawing rules
1. Buildings with consistent height
(single layer)
• If building side-wall is visible (no
less than 3 pixels), draw 3D
structure:
• First, draw the rooftop in
terms of the basic rules
• Then, shift the rooftop to
the bottom of the building:
along visible side-wall
direction, drag rooftop
outline to the bottom (see
yellow auxiliary lines
created)

Tips: A real 3D building structure is Draw the rooftop, then shift

generated.
Please watch the building training video
for more details
Drawing rules
2. Building with inconsistent height (multi-layer)
• We need to draw multi-layer structures (3D structure) for building
with inconsistent height. Please read “building interpretation guide”
to figure out which type of building need to draw multi-layer
structures.
• First, draw the top-level rooftop, then along the visible side-wall
direction drag the rooftop polygon to the second highest rooftop
level;
• Second, draw the second level rooftop in a new polygon, then
along the visible side-wall direction drag the second level
rooftop polygon to the third highest rooftop level;
• Based on this “top to bottom” sequence, the rest rooftops can
be drawn in the same manner.
Tips: A real 3D building structure is generated.
Please watch the multi-layer building training video for more details.
Drawing rules
2. Building with inconsistent height (multi-layer)
• We need to draw multi-layer structures (3D structure) for building
with inconsistent height. Please read “building interpretation guide”
to figure out which type of building need to draw multi-layer
structures.
Sample 1

Multi-layer
2. Building with inconsistent height (multi-layer)

Sample 2

Multi-layer
2. Building with inconsistent height (multi-layer)

Sample 3: building with cavity

Multi-layer building drawing skills for adjoining buildings
Sometimes, buildings might be built adjoining with each other (no gap
between each other). There are two methods to draw multi-layer structures
(3D structures) under this scenario.
• “layer by layer” method
1. Draw the higher layers first and then drag to the lower layer
2. Draw the lower layer building block as a whole and then drag it to the bottom of the
building
3. Cut the second layer appropriately based on visible roof edge to separate each
building
4. Group the layers together for the same building
• “building by building” method
1. Draw the highest building first, then drag to building bottom.
2. Draw the rest of buildings as a whole, then drag to the same bottom as the highest
building.
3. Cut the building block appropriately based on visible roof edge to separate each
building
Multi-layer building drawing skills for adjoining buildings
“layer by layer” method
1. Draw the higher layers first and then drag to the lower layer
2. Draw the lower layer building block as a whole and then drag it to the bottom of the
building
3. Cut the second layer appropriately based on visible roof edge to separate each building
4. Group the layers together for the same building

Sample: Three buildings are adjoining with each other (no gap between each other). The right-side
building is higher than other two (yellow arrow). We will use “layer by layer” method to draw multi-layer
structures.

Right-side building
is higher

Drawing Steps
1. Draw the higher layer first,
then drag to lower layer
4. Cut the second layer
appropriately based on
visible roof edge to separate
each building
The yellow dash line here represent
the correct location of the second
layer of the higher building
2. Draw the lower layer 3. Cut the second layer along
building block as a whole the yellow dash line to
and drag it to the bottom separate the right-side higher
building from left-side lower
buildings.
Please watch the
multi-layer building
training video for
more details.
5. Remember to group the
higher layer and lower layer
for the same building. Finish!
Multi-layer building drawing skills for adjoining buildings
“building by building” method
1. Draw the highest building first, then drag to building bottom.
2. Draw the rest of buildings as a whole, then drag to the same bottom as the
highest building.
3. Cut the building block appropriately based on visible roof edge to separate each
building
Sample: Three buildings are adjoining with each other (no gap between each other). The right-side
building is higher than other two (yellow arrow). We will use “building by building” method to draw multi-
layer structures.

Right-side building
is higher
Drawing Steps

2. Draw the rest of buildings as a whole. Remember

1. Draw the higher layer first, that the line on the attached side must be parallel
then drag to bottom to the bottom yellow dash line.

Please watch the

multi-layer building
training video for
more details.

4. Cut the building block appropriately

3. Drag the building block to the same
based on visible roof edge to separate
bottom as the highest building.
each building. Finish!
Important tips

1. No matter using which method, the final result should be the same.
2. Both methods have the same purpose
 draw multi-layer structures correctly
 make sure all buildings shifted to correct bottom location
3. Please note that, when the side-wall of the highest building is obscured by
surround lower buildings, we only can use “layer by layer” method to draw correct
multi-layer structures.
The end