 |
What's New in PhotoModeler 6
Google Earth Exports from PhotoModeler 6
PhotoModeler 6 has an exciting new capability to export data (wireframe, surfaces, and photo-textures) to Google Earth. Google Earth is the new planet-wide ortho-photo browser supplied by Google.
Below find some interesting examples of buildings and scenes exported to Google Earth by PhotoModeler 6. For more information about PhotoModeler visit the main PhotoModeler page or for information on the new release visit the PhotoModeler 6 upgrade info page.
Architecture Photo-Texture Example
The following project of the Chapel of San Telmo, Zumaia, Spain demonstrates PhotoModeler 6's ability to produce a good quality GE rendering using photo-textures extracted from the original photos that were also used to do the 3D modeling. A photograph of the site. This project is courtesy of Jan Wesbuer.
This KMZ 3D model includes some terrain because the Google Earth photography and terrain model are very low resolution at this geographic location (for now). Note that the location and height of model have been estimated due to the low resolution GE data. The Google Earth KMZ file can be downloaded here (1MB kmz). Note this requires Google Earth Beta 4 to display.
Retail / Photo-Texture Example
The following project, of a retail paint store, demonstrates PhotoModeler 6's ability to very quickly produce a good quality GE rendering using Shapes, GE export, and photo-textures. This project can be completed in just a few minutes from the time the photos are loaded from the digital camera. See the Flash demo reel.
This 3D model is simple but the project's goal is to demonstrate the power of using good quality textures extracted from original photographs to provide a high degree of realism. The Google Earth KMZ file can be downloaded here (48KB kmz). Note this requires Google Earth Beta 4 to display.
Shapes Photo-Texture Example
The following project of a small park structure illustrates a slightly more advanced Shapes project. The model was created with one photograph and the new Shapes feature (boxes, wedges, pyramids). A second photo was used to round out the textures. This demonstrates PhotoModeler 6's ability to very quickly produce a good quality GE rendering using Shapes, GE export, and photo-textures.
The animated GIF image on right was created by PhotoModeler 6's new 3D Animation Export feature. The Google Earth KMZ file (with building located in its correct Vancouver river-side park location) can be downloaded here (150KB kmz). Note this requires Google Earth Beta 4 to display.
Preservation Example - Washington Monument
The following project of the Washington Monument was completed from begining to end in only a few minutes. A single photograph of the monument was used along with a Shapes project to recreate the simple geometry. The location of three corners of the monument were extracted from Google Earth and then the KML file was exported. See the Flash demo reel.
Wireframe and Shaded Example
The following project of the Big Ben in London, England demonstrates PhotoModeler's export to Google Earth in KML format with shaded surfaces and wireframe/edges. We have three Google Earth KML models exported directly from PhotoModeler 6:
- Big Ben Shaded Model (35KB kml)
- Big Ben Shaded and Wireframe Model (54KB kml)
- Big Ben Wireframe Model (20KB kml)
Accident Reconstruction Example
An interesting use of Google Earth is the presentation of accident scene drawings to clients or the court on top of the Google Earth ortho-photos*. This project was built from two pieces. First, there was a standard scene documentation project done. Second, an exemplar vehicle was captured in a separate project, exported and then imported and pinned (another new PM 6 feature) to the vehicle rest location in the scene project. The location of the real scene was noted in Google Earth and the project exported from PhotoModeler in KML format. It was just a matter of then dropping it into Google Earth to see the result. See the Flash demo reel.
* we do not know of any use of Google Earth in court to date nor if any court has accepted Google Earth presentations as evidence.
« Back to What's New in PM6
|
|
