Software for Real-time, Real-world 3D products
For a long time, photogrammetry was based on analogue film, manual image orientation, and manual measurement. Each image was costly. which put great emphasis on minimising the number of images, given the quality one wanted to achieve. The time from flight to finished product was often weeks or months. Today, we have become accustomed to digital images and automatic processes. The products have evolved from paper-based 2D maps to photo-realistic 3D models and 3D point clouds. With regard to the future development of photogrammetry, we see:
- Drones and other unmanned platforms are increasing in importance and number. Equipment for aerial mapping becomes widely available.
- More operational steps are automated, also navigation and route planning. Less and less expertise is required to generate e.g. 3D models.
- As much data as possible is collected, for example by digital video instead of still images. The term videogrammetry is used for measurements in video clips.
- Results and products are expected to be available faster and faster, preferably in real-time.
- New applications and products are expected and developed.
Based on these predictions, at I-CONIC we first take on the challenge to producing static 3D models in real-time from one ‘normal’ 2D video stream. We call it Instant3D. As a by-product we create 3D stereo viewing from the same 2D video. As a second step, we increase the challenge by using multiple and synchronized video streams (e.g. from a swarm of drones) and thereby creating Live3D where also moving object are modelled.
