What is photogrammetry with drones?

Photogrammetry is the process of taking many photographs of an object from a variety of angels and stitching them together to create a 3D model. A standard digital camera can be used with specific software that detects overlapping patterns to build up a 3D reconstruction of the photographed object.

By comparing pixel colors and defining anchor points, photogrammetry software evaluates and creates 3D models of a vast variety of objects.

The pros and cons of photogrammetry

A benefit of photogrammetry is that it provides more realistic 3D models because the photographs translate to great materials and textures. This allows you to create accurate digital twins.

This technology also is not as expensive as 3D scanners. To digitally replicate objects using photogrammetry, all you need is a camera and a room which has enough light to film in. If the object is human or animal, a multi-camera system may be required in a studio.

Photogrammetry is also good at a variety of size objects. Whether you are trying to capture a small ring or an entire building, both are possible.

One downside to photogrammetry is that it’s difficult to capture parts that have a smooth, flat, and/or solid-colored surface as these objects have no visual pattern to detect. To remedy this powder can be used to add texture to the smooth or shiny surfaces. However, if you are not allowed to distort the surface of the object a 3D scanner is a better alternative.

Conclusion

Photogrammetry and 3D scanning are efficient technologies boasting unique—and advantageous—ways to capture real world objects and create 3D models for ecommerce and more. Overall, when choosing between these technologies, it’s most important that you first consider the types of objects you plan to scan.

Whether you are using a 3D scanner or photogrammetry, it’s important to note that your final result will be a very large 3D file. This will require optimization and conversion to be used on web, AR, or VR. Luckily, VNTANA’s patented algorithms completely automate this process so you can upload an .STL or .OBJ scan and instantly share a 3D web version with built in AR.