Communications of the ACM
Software Builds 3-D Models From Search Results
University of North Carolina (UNC) researchers have developed software that can create three-dimensional (3D) models of landmarks and geographical locations using two-dimensional photos from online photo-sharing Web sites.
The program filters images that result from searching for a popular landmark or location and can determine if a particular photo is relevant to the landmark. The program analyzes the camera angles and time of day of all of the photos, and creates a 3D model of the landmark that users can rotate, zoom, and view in daylight or at night time.
The researchers demonstrated the software using three million pictures of Rome to reconstruct all of the city's major landmarks. "We chose Rome because it's so ancient and it's interesting to many people across the world, so you might want to go and you might not be able to," says UNC professor Jan-Michael Frahm.
He says the software could be used in urban development, gaming, business, archaeology, geolocation, and tourism. "There's still a long way to go and there's still a lot of improvements to be made, but we've come a long way and it's very exciting," says UNC researcher Rahul Raguram.
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