PhotoModeler

PhotoModeler

Screenshot of PhotoModeler Scanner
Developer(s)	Eos Systems Inc.
Initial release	1994
Stable release	2016.2 / Nov 28, 2016
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Type	Photogrammetry
License	Proprietary commercial software
Website	www.photomodeler.com

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

Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP) can mean photographs taken from the ground with a handheld camera, or taken from a UAV/drone at relatively low altitude. PhotoModeler and CRP are used for performing measurement and modeling in agriculture, archaeology, architecture, biology, engineering, film production, forensics, mining, stock pile volumes, etc..^[1][2][3] PhotoModeler, first publicly released in 1993, was the first commercial all-digital close-range photogrammetry and image-based-modeling system.^[4]

Products

The PhotoModeler product line currently consists of the base PhotoModeler product, the PhotoModeler Scanner product, and the PhotoModeler UAS 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), DSM (dense surface modeling), and capturing geometry over time (4D measurement = 3D + time).

PhotoModeler UAS is a super-set of PhotoModeler Scanner and includes all its features – it adds capabilities aimed at customers using drone or UAV photography.

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^[5]
• Archaeology / Paleontology^[6]
• Architecture
• Biology^[7][8]
• Engineering^[9][10]
• Film^[11]
• Mining^[12]
• Situational Awareness (SA)^[13]

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
• PhotoModeler, PhotoModeler Scanner and PhotoModeler Motion 2016.0 - Jan. 25 2016
• PhotoModeler, PhotoModeler Scanner and PhotoModeler UAS 2016.1 - Sep. 26, 2016

Alternatives

The direct alternatives to PhotoModeler are: Pixdim, RhinoPhoto, iWitness, Australis, 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, Autodesk’s 123D Catch, and PhotoScan.

PhotoModeler is now being used more regularly with drone, UAV, and UAS photography (Unmanned aerial vehicle). These vehicles produce photos that are closer to the subject (the ground) than traditional aerial photogrammetry (taken by fixed wing aircraft with high resolution cameras at higher altitude). Software packages suited to this other type of aerial photogrammetry are packages such as SOCET SET, or LPS (Leica Photogrammetry Suite).

See also

• Stereophotogrammetry
• 3D data acquisition and object reconstruction
• Image-based modeling and rendering
• Computer vision
• 3D scanner

Notes and references

1. Luhman 2006: p.469
2. Karara 1989: p.321
3. McGlone 2004: p.1015
4. Earlier academic or discontinued all-digital CRP systems were: H. Haggren's Mapvision and Armin Gruen's DIPS in 1986.
5. The Boston Channel 2008
6. Matthews 2008: p. 11
7. Bythell 2011
8. de Bruyn 2009
9. Grande 2006
10. Richardson 2008
11. Duesing 2006
12. Dunn 2009
13. 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. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• 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. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Duesing, Brett (2006). "Q&A: Pushing Visual Limits of 3D". Cadalyst Magazine. Retrieved May 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Grande, Joseph (July 2006). "3D Part Inspection Is a Snapshot Away". Plastics Technology. Retrieved May 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• 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. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
• 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. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• 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. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• "Police Take Accident Reconstruction To Skies: Photogrammetry Animation Can Be Used In Court". The Boston Channel. 2008. Retrieved May 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• 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. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)