2D and 3D Urban Change Detection Methods Using Remote Sensing: A Review

Change detection is a fundamental task in remote sensing with broad applications in urban monitoring, agriculture, watershed management, and land use and land cover analysis. In urban environments, accurate change detection is particularly critical for resource management, urban planning, and smart city development. Rapid urbanization has led to frequent and complex changes in buildings, which constitute key structural components of cities. Consequently, continuous and precise monitoring of building dynamics is essential for informed decision-making related to urban growth, environmental assessment, traffic management, and sustainable development. This paper presents a comprehensive review of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) change detection methods applied to urban areas. Conventional and advanced approaches are systematically analyzed, and their strengths and limitations are critically discussed from a holistic perspective. Special emphasis is placed on recent learning-based techniques, which demonstrate enhanced robustness and accuracy in complex urban environments. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are identified to support the further development of effective 2D and 3D urban change detection methods.