What is Photogrammetry?

In this video we’ll be covering:

  • a basic summary of what photogrammetry is
  • a few applications of photogrammetry
  • the bright future for the emerging medium
  • what we’ll be exploring and learning

What is Photogrammetry? 

Let’s break down the word.

  • Photo = light
  • gram = drawing
  • metry = measurement

Photogrammetry is the extraction of three-dimensional measurements from two-dimensional data.

This data typically comes in the form of photographs. In basic terms, photogrammetry is a scientific and artistic process that uses photography for measurement.

Photogrammetry has many different unique applications in various fields. It’s used in Geomatics to create accurate geographical image maps using aerial photographs. This is like the satellite photography you’d see on an application like Google Earth.

Photogrammetry is extensively used in surveying.

In cultural heritage, photogrammetry is used to conserve historical monuments, buildings, and culturally significant subjects such as underwater shipwrecks. Cyark is a company that helps conserve historical sites through 3D documentation.

This is important because these historical places are decaying and won’t last forever.

In game design and film production, photogrammetry is used to create 3D assets. 

During the development of the video-game “The Vanishing of Ethan Carter” photogrammetry was used to create an immersive and photo-realistic experience. Statues, buildings and natural elements such as rocks and the ground textures were created using images.

An Emerging Medium

Photogrammetry is relatively unexplored. This means it’s a great opportunity to create something new. Traditional photographs limits us to a two dimensional viewing experience. What if we were to remove that boundary? What if a photograph, became something that’s unbounded by the scope of a frame?

The reason why I’m so passionate about photogrammetry is because I see is it as an evolution in multimedia content creation. Imagine an e-commerce website where you’re able to virtually rotate a physical product that you’re purchasing. Virtual tours for real estate or Colleges? How could photogrammetry be applied to photojournalism or photo documentary work?

These are all questions I want to explore.

I’m currently creating a series of tutorials are designed to get you started with photogrammetry to establish basic foundational knowledge.
Throughout the series, I will break down the fundamental steps on how to create a quality 3D model. Together, we’ll think about what makes a good 3D composition

In these videos, we’re going to view photogrammetry less for it’s scientific applications, and more for its artistic potential.

Join me as we create something amazing!

Thanks,
Crew