Automated 3D model reconstruction from photographs

Abstract

Photogrammetry is the traditional name given to the derivation of some 3D quantity derived solely on the basis of a collection of photographs. In recent years this has been an intensive area of research and the quality of the algorithms is reflected in this effort. The state of the art is currently that one can create high quality 3D models from a collection of photographs without a significant amount of domain knowledge, specialist hardware and software, or with the need to place markers in the scene and follow rigorous procedures.

This workshop is targeted at those who wonder if they could make use of 3D model reconstruction from photographs and would like a thorough introduction to the subject. It will discuss the theory, introduce the current software solutions/pipelines, make reference to camera and techniques that result in an optimal chance of successful reconstructions, and present some of the post processing requirements and tools. In short, the workshop will aim to provide a complete introduction to the subject. The emphasis will be towards creating 3D assets for gaming environments and for 3D capture of heritage objects, this later application will be the topic of most of the examples based upon the main application of this technology by the presenter.

3D model of a statue of Diotima, automatically reconstructed from 30 photographs.

The structure of the workshop will be approximately 1.5 hours of formal presentation followed by at least an equal time of experimentation and questions by the attendees. At the end of the workshop attendees should feel confident in applying and experimenting with this exciting new technology.

• Introduction, outcomes and motivation
  
• History and alternative technologies
• Main software aspects and titles, pipelines
  
• Photography: lenses, shooting styles
  
• Case Study 1: 2.5D reconstruction example
  
• Geometry processing, working with meshes, file formats
  
• Case study 2: Full 3D example
  
• Other related topics: resolution, relighting, analysis
  
• Limitations: occluders, scene movement, shadows
  
• Case study 3
  
• Additional applications/topics including rapid prototyping
  
• Further reading, references, and discussion
  

Australian indigenous grinding stone, reconstructed from 26 photographs.

Workshop learning objectives

At the end of the workshop attendees should feel confident in applying and experimenting with this exciting new technology. By attending the workshop the common pitfalls can be avoided and attendees will be aware of the key concepts, familiarity with relevant software tools, realistic expectations and limitations, knowledge of applications and research where 3D reconstruction is being employed.

This workshop is targeted at those who wonder if they could make use of 3D model reconstruction from photographs and would like a thorough introduction to the subject. The workshop is ideally suited to those who are aware that photogrammetry is being used to reconstruct objects but is not aware of the state of the technology, what is possible and what is not.

Australian indigenous cave, reconstructed from 350 photographs

PDF files

Paper

Presentation slides (most slides contain movies not conveyed here)