An　approach　to　building　area　extraction　from　high-resolution　remote　sensing　imagery　is　proposed　based　on　the　local　gradient　orientation　density　function　(LGODF)　and　the　bimodal　density　function　(BDF).　Firstly,　the　LGODF　is　calculated　by　moving　the　window　of　35　×　35　based　on　the　gradient　magnitude　and　the　gradient　direction　of　each　pixel　in　the　image.　Then,　the　BDF　is　obtained　by　multiplying　the　movable　bimodal　Gaussian　mixture　function　and　LGODF　in　each　window.　Finally,　peaks　with　difference　of　90°　are　searched　for　in　the　BDF,　and　the　central　point　of　the　corresponding　windows　are　determined　as　building　pixels.　For　the　validity　of　the　proposed　method,　seven　representative　sub-images　from　PLEIADES　images　covering　Shenzhen　China　are　selected.　Experimental　results　reveal　that　the　precision　achieve　94.08%　and　the　recall　up　to　96.70%.　©　2018,　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.