GEOConnect Series Training: 3D Reconstruction from Overhead Imagery using Open Source Software

Geospatial 3D models of buildings and terrain are a critical asset to the GEOINT community. However, acquiring such models has historically been costly, requiring either labor intensive manual modeling or expensive active scanners like LiDAR. Over the past fifteen years there has been a shift toward automated 3D model generation from passive sensors including UAS video and satellite imagery, each of which allow data collection over broader areas at a lower cost. In this session we will give a brief introduction to 3D reconstruction from images and describe the terminology and common stages of processing. We will explain how data collection parameters impact model quality. We will survey available software packages. We Will conclude with a live demonstration of the open source TeleSculptor application for extracting 3D from full motion video (FMV).