Gabriel Lorenzo A.

Bueta

2013-08466

GsE 188: Modern Photogrammetry

Laboratory Exercise 6

Close-Range Photogrammetry using Pix4DMapper and RealityCapture

Close-range photogrammetry (CRP) involves measuring and analyzing sets of images taken at a
close range within the object or main subject. Images are taken with orientations that are relative to each
other such that the entire proximity of the object will be used for processing and that greater overlaps are
to be included for better precision.

The two primary software used throughout the course for CRP activities are Pix4D Mapper and
Reality Capture. The first one mentioned was the one we used more thoroughly and had gained enough
experience in exploring and manipulating the said program. For the data to be used for processing, either
a series of images or a video clip covering the main object’s entirety can be a great source. In this lab
exercise, I used two different video clips: one covering an aged ceramic saucer and the other one covering
a ceramic mug. The former object is part of the artifact set that we used for our group class project which
was the visual analysis of Philippine prehistoric artifacts. The latter dataset was only used as a backup
data. I selected it for this lab exercise not only to provide means in generating 3D images, but also to
compare the efficiency of the software used as with my other groupmates. It was made sure that enough
overlaps and the entirety of the important dimensions of the object will be processed for 3D modeling.

Figure 1. Aged historic saucer (from ca. Ming dynasty) primarily used for 3D model processing
 a) Pix4D Mapper:

In Pix4D, the initial settings used for CRP slightly differ from those used in the previous exercise
on aerial photos. In here, images are to be extracted from a specified frame interval (in this case 3
frames). The interval should be taken with great consideration since the frames to be used for every
extracted image after each frame should depict a favorable viewpoint or perspective of the main object at
that time. A fewer frames will yield more precise images and thus enhancing the overall visual quality of
the final generated model. A screenshot of the frame interval used for the video extraction can be seen
below.

Figure 2. Frame interval for processing

After image extraction, an arbitrary coordinate system should be selected instead of a fixed WGS
84 one since we are dealing with constantly moving perspectives that is why a relative coordinate system
for each image in the processing procedure should be used. Screenshots of the windows to apply these
settings are the following:

Figure 3. List of images extracted from the raw video clip (a total of 1045)
 Figure 4. Selection of an arbitrary CS (used for CRP activities)

The image processing procedures (Initial, Point Cloud, and DSM) for this activity took me about
16 hours to accomplish and to have a discernible output. A screenshot of the processing at its first stages
can be seen below.

Figure 5. Main window of Pix4D Mapper at the start of the 3D model processing. The overall process lasted for 14
hours.
 Figure 6. Final generated 3D surface model of the saucer (seen here from a single perspective only)

The final generated 3D surface model (in RayCloud view as seen on the screenshot above)
depicted a rather favorable result, but it clearly needed improvements both in the software and in the
image acquiring procedure. The screenshot only depicted a single perspective of the model but in Pix4D,
when the view is rotated, the saucer’s main shape and overall form turned out to be captured in its entirety
and is discernible. The camera’s movement across the surface table was not that smooth and pristine that
is why the “table” holding the saucer contained scattered point meshes with only a few concentrations in
some areas.

As always, the main problem that needs to be improved and to be performed with better
efficiency is the image acquisition process. In this exercise, a portable Canon digital camera was only
used and is relatively less accurate and has lower resolutions than other higher-end cameras for close-
range image taking. A higher resolution, pixel quality, and lens attribute is more efficient in producing a
sharper, more textured, and more refined 3D model of the object. Another hindrant factor to be lessened
and enhanced is the movement and positioning of the camera or instrument itself. The movement in this
exercise was limited to the space of the work area used that is why only all the available and possible
perspective views of the object was obtained. The photographer (myself) also was not able to smoothly
record the video clip with consistent angular movements which contributed to the missing pixels and
splashed-out quality of the surface model that was generated.
 a) RealityCapture

Unfortunately, and as much as I wanted to see and analyze the 3D model to be processed here, I was
not able to complete the procedure. In here, I first used the dataset for the mug (which has much lesser
storage data and shorter video length than the other video clip with the saucer) since I expected that the
program will demand higher amounts (as compared to Pix4D) of RAM for processing. Due to technical
difficulties and hardware limitations of the laptop that I was personally using, the program lags every few
minutes and started to constantly crash after a waiting time of 8 hours.

Figure 7. Sample screenshot of the user interface for RealityCapture

According to researched articles, RealityCapture is efficient for capturing and processing the
fromt meshes for images than those at the back views/perspectives. Comparing the two programs in this
exercise, RealityCapture provides higher and more precise resolutions for the outputs and also produces
more refined point meshes than in Pix4D. Also, RealityCapture prioritizes in generating detail and texture
that is why the refinement of point clouds/meshes are more efficient in here.

Conclusion

The two CRP programs used in this exercise both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Simply put, Pix4D opts for ease, simplicity, and cost-efficiency while RealityCapture opts for precision
and detail. Users can take advantage of both the software’s good points depending on their specific
purpose when it comes to activities related to close-range photogrammetry. However, both of them can
aid in giving any person the main idea and sense of CRP, for it provides good capabilities in regenerating
positions from various perspectives, which can be seen and analyzed in the overall image-to-model
process. Photogrammetry is indeed a field of study that captures the essence and nature of everything
around us, for it encompasses those that are very small to those that are very large.

References

https://pix4d.com/product/pix4dmapper-pro/

https://www.capturingreality.com/Product