The generation of 3D models of outdoor objects from uncalibrated still images

• Published in: 7th International Conference on Image Processing and its Applications pp. 28 - 32
• Main Authors: Gibson, D.P, Campbell, N.W, Thomas, B.T
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London IEE 1999
• Subjects: Computer vision and image processing techniques; Graphics techniques; Optical, image and video signal processing; Virtual reality; image calibration; standard digital stills camera; computer graphics; virtual reality; uncalibrated still images; computer vision; 3D models generation; outdoor objects; virtual environments; multi-part algorithm
• ISBN: 0852967179; 9780852967171
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:19990275

The generation of 3-D models is a fundamental part of computer graphics and often requires many hours of skilled labour or the use of very expensive equipment. With the increasing demand for virtual environments and objects to populate them, convenient 3-D model generation has become a very important problem to be solved. Generating 3-D models of large outdoor structures poses particular problems because of difficulties with the calibration of images and lack of control over the environment. This paper proposes a multi-part algorithm that enables the generation of 3-D models from a small set of images of outdoor structures without calibration. The images are captured using a standard digital stills camera and the process requires no specialised equipment or skilled user input.