The Impact of Photo Overlap, the Number of Control Points and the Method of Camera Calibration on the Accuracy of 3D Model Reconstruction

Abstract

This research attempted to determine the optimal photo overlap, number of con‐ trol points and method of camera calibration for a photogrammetric 3D model reconstruction of an object of cultural heritage value. Terrestrial images of the object were taken with a hand‐held digital camera and processed in the Con‐ textCapture software using the Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) algorithm. A total station was used to measure ground control points (GCPs) and check points. Here, the research workflow, methodology, and various analyses concerning different configurations of the aforementioned factors are described. An at‐ tempt to assess the parameters which should be implemented in order to pro‐ vide a high degree of accuracy of the model and reduce time‐consumption both during fieldwork and data processing was taken. The manuscript discusses the results of the analyses and compares them with other studies presented by dif‐ ferent authors and indicates further potential directions of studies within this scope. Based on the authors’ experience with this research, some general con‐ clusions and remarks concerning the planning of photo acquisition from the terrestrial level for the purpose of 3D model reconstruction were formulated.