PhotoModeler
Encyclopedia
PhotoModeler is a software application that performs image-based modeling and close range photogrammetry – producing 3D models and measurements from photography.

Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP) is a sub-set of photogrammetry
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is the practice of determining the geometric properties of objects from photographic images. Photogrammetry is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century....

 and is differentiated from Aerial Photogrammetry by the type of input photographs. In CRP photographs are taken from the ground, or from aerial positions that are at a closer range to the subject than typical Aerial Photogrammetry. PhotoModeler and CRP are used for performing measurement and modeling in archaeology, architecture, biology, engineering, film production, forensics, and mining. Image-based-modeling is another term used to describe the 3D modeling of existing scenes and objects by using images as input. PhotoModeler, first publicly released in 1993, was the first commercial all-digital close-range photogrammetry and image-based-modeling system.

Products

The PhotoModeler product line currently consists of the base PhotoModeler Product, the PhotoModeler Scanner product, and the add-on modules: Idealize and PMV (PhotoModeler Video).

Features

PhotoModeler creates accurate 3D models (consisting of Points, Lines, Curves, Edges, Cylinders, Surfaces, NURBS, and Shapes), and accurate 3D measurements from photographs taken with most standard cameras (either digital or film). 3D models can be created and exported with photographic textures extracted from the original photographs. Automation is available with coded targets (special 'barcode-like' circular targets placed in the scene before photography).

PhotoModeler Scanner is a super-set of PhotoModeler and includes all its features – it adds SmartMatch (automated feature detection and matching on photos), and DSM (dense surface modeling).

File formats

PhotoModeler has the ability to read the following image formats: JPEG (.jpg), Tiff (.tif), Windows BMP (.bmp), PC Paintbrush (.pcx), Targa (.tga), Portable Network Graphics (.png), Pict (.pct), Photoshop (.psd), Portable Pixmap (.ppm), Macintosh Paint (.mac), EA Interchange File Format (.iff), CALS Raster (.cal), PhotoCD (.pcd), Silicon Graphics Image (.sgi), Silicon Graphics RGB (.rgb), Jpeg2000 (.jp2/.jpx), MS HDphoto (.hpd/.wdp).

PhotoModeler can import 3D data for comparison, matching, and as control points in the solution. The input file formats accepted are: DXF, Wavefront OBJ, 3D Studio 3DS, and Raw Text files.

PhotoModeler exports 3D data to the following formats (some with mapped photographic textures): 3ds, Rhino 3DM, DXF, Filmbox FBX, IGES, Google Earth, Maya Script, 3D Studio Max Script, Wavefront OBJ, Raw, and VRML.

Applications

Some of the applications of PhotoModeler are:
  • Accident reconstruction / Forensics
  • Archaeology / Paleontology
  • Architecture
  • Biology
  • Engineering
  • Film
  • Mining

History

Development was started in 1990 by Alan Walford. The first public release was a beta in October of 1993.
  • QMeasure beta – Oct. 1993
  • PhotoModeler 1 – Jan. 14, 1994
  • PhotoModeler 2 – Aug. 31, 1995
  • PhotoModeler LX – Jul. 1996
  • PhotoModeler 3 – Jul. 18th, 1997
  • PhotoModeler Lite – Mar. 24, 1999
  • PhotoModeler 4 – Nov. 2, 2000
  • PhotoModeler 5 – May 15, 2003
  • PhotoModeler 6 – Feb. 8th, 2007
  • PhotoModeler Scanner 6 - Apr. 21st, 2008
  • PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2010 – Oct. 28, 2010
  • PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2011 – Jan. 18, 2011
  • PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2011.1 – Nov. 15, 2011

Alternatives

The direct alternatives to PhotoModeler are: Pixdim, RhinoPhoto, iWitness, and Elcovision.

CRP software for doing automated high-accuracy industrial measurement is GSI’s VStars.

Alternatives that carry out dense automated modeling similar to the PhotoModeler Scanner product are: AdamTech 3DM, Topcon Imagemaster, and Autodesk’s 123D Catch.

PhotoModeler is occasionally used with aerial photography (more so from low flying craft like remote helicopters, drones, etc.) but for full aerial photogrammetry capability an alternate package such as SOCET SET
SOCET SET
SOCET SET is a software application that performs functions related to photogrammetry. It is developed and published by BAE Systems. SOCET SET was the first commercial digital photogrammetry software program...

, or LPS (Leica Photogrammetry Suite
Leica Photogrammetry Suite
Leica Photogrammetry Suite is a software application for performing photogrammetric operations on imagery and extracting information from imagery...

) is suggested.

See also

  • Photogrammetry
    Photogrammetry
    Photogrammetry is the practice of determining the geometric properties of objects from photographic images. Photogrammetry is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century....

  • 3D data acquisition and object reconstruction
    3D data acquisition and object reconstruction
    3D data acquisition and reconstruction is the generation of three dimensional or spatiotemporal models from sensor data. The techniques and theories, generally speaking, work with most or all sensor types including optical, acoustic, laser scanning, radar, thermal, seismic.-Acquisition:Acquisition...

  • Image-based modeling and rendering
    Image-Based Modeling And Rendering
    In computer graphics and computer vision, image-based modeling and rendering methods rely on a set of two-dimensional images of a scene to generate a three-dimensional model and then render some novel views of this scene....

  • Computer vision
    Computer vision
    Computer vision is a field that includes methods for acquiring, processing, analysing, and understanding images and, in general, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions...

  • 3D scanner
    3D scanner
    A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance . The collected data can then be used to construct digital, three dimensional models....

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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