The Steuart Systems photorealistic 3D scanner uses hardware & software to produce 3D models, but how good is our software? We used the ETH 3D benchmark to evaluate it. We were hoping to be in the top 10% of the 116 entries from around the world, and the March 31 2022 benchmark result put us at #1….
We have steadily improved our scanning results over the last 6 weeks by modifying hardware, writing new software, and tuning over a dozen variables. The video below demonstrates the effect of our enhanced noise reduction: Low noise in 3D models is important for two reasons: Low noise 3D looks better. Low noise 3D models…
This year’s enhancements to the image processing routines in our stereo scanning software has improved processing speed and 3D model accuracy. Comparisons between our current results and those from 9 months ago show that we have reduced the magnitude of one type of geometric error in our 3D scans by a factor of 2 to…
This post compares our latest 3D results with results from November 2012 (3 months ago). Our 3D models are generated by processing pairs of 2D images, and the same 2D images that were processed in the November post have been processed again. The only difference between the two 3D models is that new version was…
Making 3D models is time consuming. Recent programs like Google’s SketchUp (it’s free) have simplified the process of making digital 3D models, but SketchUp is definitely not automatic. To make a 3D model look photorealistic, real world pictures can be “projected” onto a SketchUp model. While this technique can add realism, SketchUp is still a…
This 3D model includes alignment errors……. and we know how to fix them. Our objective is to develop an automatic 3D model creation system, and we know from experience that the errors will get smaller as our calibration process is refined. Below is a description of how this model was made using images from Proto-4F…
The cameras are finally calibrated, and the communications and power systems are installed and working. Now I can finally begin producing scans to test and fine tune the software. Today I scanned part of the lab, and the animated GIF illustrates the 3D nature of the scan. When producing a 3D model, multiple perspectives must…
Our experience putting 3D models of buildings into Google Earth. We use Google SketchUp for modeling. Our examples are from Purcellville Virginia.
From June 11 to 13 Google hosted a 3-day training called SketchUp Basecamp. About 400 people from all over the world all gathered to learn about the 3D visualization techniques of SketchUp and how to integrate the 3D models into Google Earth. We spent most of our time on this patio and in the buildings…
This hodgepodge of cameras, epoxy, and even duct tape was was used to develop 3D scanning software. After the research (late 2007) it was dissasembled and 7 of the 8 Canon 5Ds (I kept one =:-) were sold on E-bay. A much improved Prototype 4B with 10 custom cameras and lenses will allow a new…