Scholarly record

MAKING 3D MODELS USING CLOSE-RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY: COMPARSION OF CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE

Natalja Liba

Abstract

Aim of the study is to unveil how the choice of software and cameras influences the quality of 3D models. There were compared three different softwares: (1) Pix4D (2) Agisoft Phtoscan, and (3) Visual SFM with dense cloud module Yasutaka Furukawa's CMVS tool and four different cameras (1) Canon EOS 760D, (2) Canon EOS 600D, (3) Canon Ixus 185, and (4) Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone camera D5503. Cameras represent different price segments and technical parameters. The photos were taken with all the cameras from identical positions during two photo sessions (obtaining altogether 8 sets of photos). Comparison of primary 3D models, dense point clouds revealed that in terms of visual appeal, results were the best with Agisoft Phtoscan, which was the only software that managed to create visually appealing dense point cloud from photos taken with smartphone camera. Geometric quality of models was further investigated using Agisoft Pohotoscan software. Hypothesis was that digital single-lens reflex cameras will perform better in terms of model accuracy. The results were surprising. In case of first photo session, Canon EOS 760D images delivered a model with largest total error (5.9 mm) and model made of photos taken with Canon Ixus 185 was the most accurate (total error of the model 3.4 mm). Total errors of the models built from images of the second photo session were significantly larger. Worst result was obtained using Sony Xperia Z1 camera (total error 17.9 mm), Canon EOS 600D performed best (total error of the model 11.2 mm). It is hard to interpret the results as Agisoft Photosan is a commercial software with closed source code (so-called ?black-box? programme). In current research, model accuracy was calculated in reference to 19?23 check points measured with total station. In archaeology, it is important to document the exact volumes of structures and artefacts, therefore in the future dense 3D point clouds should be compared to reference data obtained with terrestrial laser scanner.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2019/2.2/s10.069

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