White Paper

Photo Reality Capture for

Preliminary Infrastructure Design
 ABOUT
A2K Technologies is an industry-leading solutions, training, consulting and management firm specialising in
design technology. With a multi-million dollar turnover and over 150 staff across Australia, New Zealand and
China, A2K Technologies is Australias largest Autodesk channel partner. Our highly knowledgeable and
industry-experienced staff in the infrastructure, building, mining and manufacturing sectors allow us to offer
superior support to our customers to help them enhance their organisational capabilities, deliver on project
outcomes and differentiate from the competition.

Once equally successful separate entities, AEC

Systems, KarelCAD and ADA CADPartners merged in
February 2013 to form A2K Technologies. Now, their
combined leadership and innovation is driving the
highest level of solution expertise, service and support
for all of our customers design, facilities
management, operations, maintenance and
construction requirements.

Think Technology. Think A2K.

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 Sean Twomey
ANZ Consulting Manager, A2K Technologies
Sean has 20 years of experience in working with infrastructure and GIS
projects. As a civil engineer, he worked on highways and bridges onsite
(incorporating survey work as well as contracts) before spending four years
in a design office setting up systems for CAD and design (in particular,
hydroworks for drainage/sewer rehabilitation, including data capture).

Within the software industry, Sean has been heavily involved as a subject
matter expert for Autodesks infrastructure development team. Sean
regularly participates in thought leadership forums as well as steering
committees, and supports Autodesks customisation of software to meet
Australian Standards, which was recently showcased at Autodesk University.

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 Introducing Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is a process of creating 3D geometry from 2D photos.
The use of modern cloud computing makes an entirely new application
of photogrammetry accessible to less specialised audiences, including
smartphone users with no technical exposure to survey concepts.

If you have ever watched an episode of NCIS, played the latest version of Microsoft Kinect, or been
pulled over by the police after being clocked at doing 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, you have been
exposed to photogrammetry. The use of photogrammetry dates back to the mid-nineteenth century.

Today, this way of measuring is being combined with optics and scanners for a synergy in technology.

Johnson, Gena (2013)

In this white paper, we explore the theory and concept of photogrammetry, with examples to illustrate how it can
be applied to preliminary infrastructure design.

Building 3D models from standard 2D photos

A point cloud is as a set of data points in a
three-dimensional coordinate system, and is used to
The pairing of two seemingly disparate
create a model using a variety
reconstruction methods. Mesh models can also be
generated to enable analysis of the model so that
errors such as gaps or bumps can be repaired.
In infrastructure design, we are accustomed to
viewing point clouds created from 3D scanners. High
quality scans produce a mesh so dense and detailed
that the scanned object can be rotated in space on the
computer screen to simulate views from any angle.
While this is commonly used, the process of
interrogating multiple 2D photos (photogrammetry) to
form the geometry is less familiar.
The following quote provides an
perspective on how widespread the application of
photogrammetry is, as well as how long the basic
concept has existed.
processes - photography and measurement -
of surface could only result in something interesting,
something completely out of the ordinary.
Since the introduction of the box camera in
1888, the endless possibilities of a device so
portable, so adaptable to any setting has
enabled the world to embrace the art of
capturing images like no other pastime.
Fast forward to 2005. The digital photography
revolution is progressing in leaps and bounds.
Stir industrial metrology into the mix, and a
portable coordinate measurement technology
has emerged - photogrammetry. No cords. No
cables. Just the operator, a camera and the
interesting
object to be measured.
Johanning, Gary (2005)

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 Autodesk 123D Catch allows 3D models to be
formed from photos taken with a smartphone,
tablet or DSLR camera. One of the most popular
uses of this is creating 3D models of friends and
family, which can then be viewed, shared or
printed in 3D.
This YouTube clip illustrates the process perfectly;
click to view, or search on YouTube for Autodesk
123D Catch for the iPhone.
Autodesk 123D Catch is a fun application with a large
following, and can be applied to some engineering
needs, but has limitations in producing the quantity of
high resolution images needed for larger models.
With this in mind, a new service is available to
address this market Autodesk ReCap 360
(recap360.autodesk.com). ReCap 360 is a
professional tool for producing detailed 3D models
for production workflows. The difference between this
and 123D Catch is the higher level of detail and
The main differences between the two applications are shown in the table below:
123D Catch
Up to 3 megapixels
Photo
Perfect for capturing
Resolution objects for 3D printing
and sharing socially
Number of Up to 70
photos
Free tool for
Positioning enthusiasts
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to change any information in this document at any time without prior notice.
quality in the 3D models produced, and the ability to
incorporate more high resolution images to leverage
the full resolution of the scene. This can be applied to
multiple phases of design processes for different
industries. Examples include preliminary surveys, as
discussed in this paper, as well as 'as-constructed'
surveys to document the specifics of key components
in construction.
ReCap 360 Differences
Using high resolution photos from DSLR
cameras with ReCap 360 means models
No restriction are formed to a level of precision that is
unattainable with 123D Catch
Allowing sufficient overlap in photos is
Up to 250 critical to producing detailed 3D models.
(in the initial release) The larger number of photos available in
ReCap 360 enables this
ReCap 360 produces higher quality
Professional tool for models, now accessible to professionals
production work and enthusiasts alike through the
widespread popularity of DSLR cameras
White Paper -
Photo Reality Capture for Preliminary Infrastructure Design (4)
 The Technical Concept
The concept of taking multiple images of the
same object/scene (from different angles) to
extract 3D coordinates from projections of points
identified on the images is well-defined and
commonly used. While this concept is not new,
recent advances in cloud computing now provide
the power to automate the process with very
little input from the user.

The calculations in photogrammetry are based on spatial resection. To illustrate how this works, we created a simple
example using three images of a basic rectangular box, viewed from different positions (see diagram below). Some
obvious common points, (A, B, C, D) have been highlighted in colour. These are used to correlate the images and
form the geometry in 3D space as a point cloud.

A B
D C
B B
A A C
C
D D

Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

Three photos of a simple object from different angles.

The obvious common points have been highlighted and marked (A, B, C and D).

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 A 2
The photos are uploaded to ReCap 360
and processed. As long as the photos
have plenty of overlap, sharp focus,
B
depth of field and consistent exposure, D
the 3D geometry can be extracted from
the photos using ReCap 360, to form a
point cloud or mesh.
C
Camera positions are calculated
1 in 3D space Photo 1
Geometry is then formed in 3D
2 by projecting the established
common points (A, B, C, D) from
the different perspectives (see
the yellow lines in the diagram to 1
illustrate point A being
calculated) Photo 2

Photo 3

The same process is used for more complex geometry, just in a vastly larger scale. The screen capture below is from
the online viewer on ReCap 360, which shows the camera positions and images used to form the model of a church.
The perspective of looking down at the door from above is achieved by orbiting the 3D model generated from the 2D
photos. Note that all the photos were taken from ground level - the aerial vantage point is purely a result of the
ReCap 360 3D model.

Highlighted
photo

Camera
position

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 Using ReCap 360
When using ReCap 360 to build models from photos, there is very little required in terms of user interaction and
inputting parameters most of the process is automatic. While there is optional functionality available for inputting
coordinates and distances, producing a model based on defaults is a simple task.

Uploading the photos from a desktop to the cloud can be the most time-consuming part of the process. High
resolution images from DSLR cameras are large files, even in JPEG format, so the uploading process is often
performed overnight. As soon as this is completed, the process of forming the 3D point cloud can be initiated. This
process will also take some time (depending on the resolution of the photos and quality of mesh selected), but also
requires no interaction from the user.

Once the model is formed, an email notification is sent and the model can be viewed online (from computer, tablet
or smartphone) and downloaded. If certain areas of the resulting 3D point cloud are not displayed correctly, more
photos can be taken and added to the project.

There are two main considerations in taking the photos:

Allow plenty of overlap between images.

1 This allows the cloud engine to identify common
points and process the model.

Make the images as sharp as possible.

Take photos 2 It is critical to have everything in focus, not just
the foreground. This involves establishing depth
Upload to the cloud
of field, best achieved using a narrow aperture,
(this can take some time for high resolution shots).
ideally on a DSLR camera.

Shadows can cause issues

and moving objects will
confuse the algorithms, so the
photos should be taken at a
Process on Download point cloud time when this can be avoided.
ReCap 360 An email notification is sent Cameras can be mounted on
Options are available when the process is drones, or as in the examples
for setting scale and complete. The model can be
viewed on a desktop, tablet in this paper, the photos can
known points if
desired. or smartphone. be taken from the ground.

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 example 1:
architectural

This example uses a building near 2D photos 3D point cloud formed from the 2D photos
A2K Technologies' Sydney office.
Approximately 35 photos were
taken and uploaded to the cloud
The 3D point cloud is colour coded by elevation in this case.
without any editing. The 3D point
cloud was downloaded five hours
later when the calculations were
complete and the email
notification was received.

The result was a highly detailed

point cloud of the building, which
can be viewed from various angles
and rendered in different colours,
including the elevation shading
shown in the screen capture.

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 example 2:
Infrastructure

In an experiment to explore the concepts, we used a preliminary reconstruction design that required placing a
roundabout into an existing five-way intersection.

The scenario presented a challenge when taking the photos to construct the 3D model, as an intersection does
not have the same clear reference points for overlap that are found on a building. Some experimentation was
required to achieve the correct camera angles and positions, but the resulting model was perfect for a preliminary
conceptual design that shows where the roundabout would fit, and its effect upon surrounding properties.

The 3D point cloud of the intersection is shown below in RGB colour.

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 workflows
Point clouds are applied extensively to large-scale
projects, but less frequently on smaller jobs due to
cost and lack of familiarity. However, with the price of
laser scanners decreasing and new photogrammetry
techniques available, the point cloud option is now
accessible for more modest projects.
Point clouds have been positively received by the
industry due to their impressive graphical output, but
the specifics of incorporating them into an existing
design process are not as widely understood, and
need clarification.
The process of extracting geometry (lines, arcs etc.)
and intelligent objects (pipes, kerbs and architectural
objects) from point clouds requires a sense of
judgement as well as technical skill. While the point
cloud is visually impressive, and allows measurement
of distances and angles, significant work is required to
simplify the huge number of (X, Y, Z) coordinates into
basic geometry using standard tools on AutoCAD or
Revit without specialist add-on functionality.
In architectural models, planes are established to
represent walls, so windows and doors can be
digitised as specific objects with relevant properties.
In the case of the five-way intersection, it was
sufficient to manually draw line-work over key areas of
Concept Detail Design
Point cloud
Preliminary conceptual
design(s)
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the roads (centrelines, edges, kerbs etc.), snapping to
the nearest node on the point cloud, and using these
to build a contour model.
This is sometimes referred to as 'retro-surveying', as
the features normally observed and recorded by the
surveyor onsite can be extracted in the office after the
point cloud has been generated. This can provide
impressive results, and has led to speculation that the
survey process will fundamentally change in the near
future. While the power of the point cloud functionality
adds a range of new possibilities, it needs to be
emphasised that skills in judgement and checking the
accuracy of the models are still required, and
surveyors remain the most qualified professionals to
control this.
In this interpretation, the point cloud is used in the
concept stage to verify if the premise of the design is
feasible, so the level of accuracy achieved by the
'rough' line-work described above is acceptable. This
enables the proposal to be presented to non-technical
audiences such as investors and the general public.
Other cloud-based offerings enable these concepts to
be presented with configurable options for
suggestions and collaboration.
Documentation
Full survey Details using point
clouds
Visualisation (using
point cloud) Augmented reality
options
White Paper -
Photo Reality Capture for Preliminary Infrastructure Design (10)
 Upon acceptance of the concept design, the detailed design process (including a full survey) can occur. The accuracy
of the point cloud can be verified from the survey and used for visualisation purposes, as well as adding extra detail
in the documentation process. The illustration below shows the preliminary design in the ReCap 360 point cloud.

Using this technique for preliminary design is not appropriate for all projects, as it could be 'overkill' for simple jobs,
or the specialised skills may be needed elsewhere. The five-way intersection example is a relevant one though, as
the hypothetical proposed roundabout involves reclaiming some public green areas, which could be a sensitive issue
from the public angle.

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 discussion
There is a misplaced assumption software users without a
that point clouds are the beginning background in surveying often
of the end for surveyors. In reality, struggle with, as they have not
point clouds generated from been trained in setting up control
photographs require precise points and establishing traverses
control, so the standard survey so the old fashioned survey
features still need to be picked up 101 skills are still needed.
in the standard surveying fashion.

Overlaying the point cloud onto the

standard survey provides the best
of both worlds: having accurate
geometry to work with, as well as
the feature-rich point
illustrating historical data
provide clarification, visualisation
and design impact.
It should also be noted that simple
examples of point clouds can be
created from one 'survey' or one
point cloud generated from a set of
photos. Larger projects require a
series of surveys to be taken and
combined with precision
confidence. This is something that
It is reemphasised that the
achievable accuracy level for
the photogrammetry-based
approach should match up to
the desired accuracy level for a
cloud particular application prior to
to implementing the approach on
site. The resulting accuracy of
photogrammetry is largely
dependent on 1) the quality of
the camera used; 2) the quality
of the photos taken; and 3)
the functionality of the photo
processing software applied.
Dai, Fei and Lu, Ming (2010)
and

As outlined in the quote above, there is a degree of judgement

required to determine when photogrammetry techniques are
relevant. Depending on the tolerance levels of as-constructed'
requirements, the photo approach can present a perfect solution,
but needs to be qualified within the survey process.

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 Cloud-based solutions present an attractive option for producing 3D models, with the advantage of requiring little
input from the user. Design software has matured to incorporate point clouds, so approaches that would have once
been impractical are now very feasible. The functionality can be used in a variety of workflows to add a new
dimension of rich data to existing processes. This involves evaluating which scenarios/projects are potentially
relevant, and establishing which groups and areas within the design workflows will benefit from the enhanced
models, so relevant discussions can occur.

Ultimately, as illustrated by the popularity of 123D Catch, the next

generation of designers will approach design challenges with
thought processes based on these concepts, so existing workflows
and practices need to evolve. The reality is that the options and
examples discussed in this paper are available today, and can be
readily applied to current projects.

References
Dai, Fei, and Lu, Ming, 2010. "Assessing The Accuracy Of Applying Photogrammetry To Take Geometric
Measurements On Building Products." Journal Of Construction Engineering & Management 136.2 : 242-250.

Johanning, Gary, 2005. "Photogrammetry Provides Picture Perfect Accuracy." Quality 44.10: 36-41.

Johnson, Gena, 2013. "New Technology Improves Photogrammetry" Quality 52.7: 17-19.

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A2K Technologies was borne as a result of the 2013 merger of three equally
successful building design technology organisations. Now, our operations, resources
and infrastructure have expanded, equating to a wider product offering, better
technical support, invaluable service differentiation and the overarching ability to
deliver on projects not possible ever before. As the largest Autodesk channel partner
in Australia and one of the top ten most successful Autodesk partners globally, our
customer charter is to Deliver better. Deliver more. Exceed expectations.

Let us exceed your expectations. Contact us today to find out more.

1800 223 562 (AU) or 0508 232797 (NZ)

marketing@a2ktechnologies.com.au
a2ktechnologies.com.au
1800 223 562 (AU) or 0508 232797 (NZ) 62 Brandl Street
marketing@a2ktechnologies.com.au Eight Mile Plains
a2ktechnologies.com.au QLD 4113 Australia