Book and Software ReviewsSirovision

Abstract

Sirovision is a high-resolution digital photogrammetry and structural mapping package from the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). It was originally developed for rock mass characterization in surface mines, but has the potential to be used on construction projects, fractured rock hydrogeology projects, and structural geology research projects. A beta version of an underground mapping module was recently released but is not covered in this review. I evaluated a trial version of Sirovision release 3 as part of a fractured rock aquifer characterization project during the summer of 2005 and subsequently purchased a full version for my consulting practice. Examples (including a free Sirovision image viewer), reprints, and downloadable manuals are available from the Sirovision web site (www.sirovision.com). A free trial version is available upon request. Sirovision consists of two separate programs: Siro3D and Sirojoint. Siro3D uses pairs of digital photographs to generate models of outcrops or rock faces in which a photograph is draped over a three-dimensional mesh. There are several ways to specify the camera-outcrop geometry used to produce the mesh, the easiest of which is to survey the two camera positions and one control point visible in both photos. Centimeter accuracy is required, so the camera and control point locations should be surveyed using differential GPS or a total station. Additional matching points must be identified in each of the two images, but their locations do not have to be surveyed. Alternate methods are available for other situations. For example, camera azimuth and tilt can be used in lieu of a surveyed control point location. Once the photogrammetric calculations are completed, the results can be viewed as a three-dimensional photographic …