PhotoModeler
|
Screenshot of PhotoModeler Scanner 2011 | |
| Developer(s) | Eos Systems Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1994 |
| Stable release | 2015.1 / Mar 3, 2015 |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | Photogrammetry |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Website | www.photomodeler.com |
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 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.[1][2] PhotoModeler and CRP are used for performing measurement and modeling in archaeology, architecture, biology, engineering, film production, forensics, and mining.[3][4][5] PhotoModeler, first publicly released in 1993, was the first commercial all-digital close-range photogrammetry and image-based-modeling system.[6]
Products
The PhotoModeler product line currently consists of the base PhotoModeler product, the PhotoModeler Scanner product, and the PhotoModeler Motion product.
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).
PhotoModeler Motion is a super-set of PhotoModeler Scanner and includes all its features – it adds capturing geometry over time (4D measurement = 3D + time).
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[7]
- Archaeology / Paleontology[8]
- Architecture
- Biology[9][10]
- Engineering[11][12]
- Film[13]
- Mining[14]
- Situational Awareness (SA)[15]
History
Development was started in 1990 by Alan Walford. The first public release was a beta in October 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 2010.0 – Oct. 28, 2010
- PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2011.0 – Jan. 18, 2011
- PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2012.0 – Jan. 18, 2012
- PhotoModeler and PhotoModeler Scanner 2013.0 – Feb. 13, 2013
- PhotoModeler, PhotoModeler Scanner and PhotoModeler Motion 2014.0 - Feb. 4, 2014
- PhotoModeler, PhotoModeler Scanner and PhotoModeler Motion 2015.0 - Dec. 3, 2014
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, or LPS (Leica Photogrammetry Suite) is suggested.
See also
- Photogrammetry
- 3D data acquisition and object reconstruction
- Image-based modeling and rendering
- Computer vision
- 3D scanner
Notes and references
- ↑ Atkinson 1996: p.9
- ↑ Luhman 2006: p.2
- ↑ Luhman 2006: p.469
- ↑ Karara 1989: p.321
- ↑ McGlone 2004: p.1015
- ↑ Earlier academic or discontinued all-digital CRP systems were: H. Haggren's Mapvision and Armin Gruen's DIPS in 1986.
- ↑ The Boston Channel 2008
- ↑ Matthews 2008: p. 11
- ↑ Bythell 2011
- ↑ de Bruyn 2009
- ↑ Grande 2006
- ↑ Richardson 2008
- ↑ Duesing 2006
- ↑ Dunn 2009
- ↑ Schwartz
- Notes
- Atkinson, K.B. (1996). Close Range Photogrammetry and Machine Vision. Latheronwheel,Scotland: Whittles Publishing. ISBN 1-870325-46-X.
- Bythell, J.; Pan, P. "Three-dimensional morphometric measurements of reef corals using underwater photogrammetry techniques". Coral Reefs (SpringerLink) 20 (3): 193–199. doi:10.1007/s003380100157. Retrieved May 2011.
- de Bruyn, P.J.N.; Bester, M.N.; Carlini, A.R.; Oosthuizen, W.C. (2009). "How to weigh an elephant seal with one finger: a simple three-dimensional photogrammetric application". Aquatic Biology 5: 31–39. doi:10.3354/ab00135.
- Dunn, Maynard (2009). "RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CLOSE RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR MINING AND RECLAMATION" (pdf). Retrieved May 2011.
- Duesing, Brett (2006). "Q&A: Pushing Visual Limits of 3D". Cadalyst Magazine. Retrieved May 2011.
- Grande, Joseph (July 2006). "3D Part Inspection Is a Snapshot Away". Plastics Technology. Retrieved May 2011.
- Karara, H.M. (1989). Non-Topographic Photogrammetry (2nd ed.). Falls Church, VA, USA: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. ISBN 0-944426-10-7.
- Luhmann, Thomas; Robson, Kyle, Harley (2006). Close Range Photogrammetry: Principles, Methods and Applications. Dunbeath,Scotland: Whittles Publishing. ISBN 1-870325-50-8.
- Matthews, N. A. (2008). "Aerial and Close-Range Photogrammetric Technology: Providing Resource Documentation, Interpretation, and Preservation." (pdf). Denver, Colorado: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center. p. 42. Retrieved May 2011.
- McGlone, Chris (2004). Manual of Photogrammetry (5th ed.). Bethesda, MA, USA: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. ISBN 1-57083-071-1.
- Richardson, Shawn (2008). "Using Photo Modeling to Obtain the Modes of a Structure" (pdf). Sound and Vibration. Retrieved May 2011.
- "Police Take Accident Reconstruction To Skies: Photogrammetry Animation Can Be Used In Court". The Boston Channel. 2008. Retrieved May 2011.
- Schwartz, J. "Precise positioning surveillance in 3-D using night-vision stereoscopic photogrammetry". Display Technologies and Applications for Defense, Security, and Avionics - V. (S.P.I.E.) 8042. doi:10.1117/12.884597. Retrieved December 2011.