Abstract
Abstract. Lately, improvements in game engines have increased the interest in virtual reality (VR) technologies, that engages users with an artificial environment, and have led to the adoption of VR systems to display geospatial data. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and thus the necessity to stay at home, VR tours became very popular. In this paper, we tried to create a three-dimensional (3D) virtual tour for Gebze Technical University (GTU) Southern Campus by transferring high-resolution unmanned air vehicle (UAV) data into a virtual domain. UAV data is preferred in various applications because of its high spatial resolution, low cost and fast processing time. In this application, the study area was captured from different modes and altitudes of UAV flights with a minimum ground sampling distance (GSD) of 2.18 cm using a 20 MP digital camera. The UAV data was processed in Structure from Motion (SfM) based photogrammetric evaluation software Agisoft Metashape and high-quality 3D textured mesh models were generated. Image orientation was completed using an optimal number of ground control points (GCPs), and the geometric accuracy was calculated as ±8 mm (~0.4 pixels). To create the VR tour, UAV-based mesh models were transferred into the Unity game engine and optimization processes were carried out by applying occlusion culling and space subdivision algorithms. To improve the visualization, 3D object models such as trees, lighting poles and arbours were positioned on VR. Finally, textual metadata about buildings and a player with a first-person camera were added for an informative VR experience.
Highlights
Virtual reality (VR) technology enables the depiction of physical reality in an artificial environment
VR tours can be in different forms such as 360° virtual tours that are produced through the combination of panoramic images taken in different locations, and 3D virtual tours which are created by the integration of high-quality 3D models into an artificial environment
The dense point clouds of the independent tiles were generated in high resolution and the description potentials of the clouds were sufficient even in building corners
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) technology enables the depiction of physical reality in an artificial environment. The ongoing Covid pandemic and the requirement to stay at home as a safety precaution against the risk of infection has limited people's mobility. Due to this fact, many organizations changed their structure and provided opportunities to work from home to the employees. Many organizations changed their structure and provided opportunities to work from home to the employees Because of these restrictions, virtual tours that enable remote visits, have become popular and this situation has led to the expansion of VR applications. VR tours can be in different forms such as 360° virtual tours that are produced through the combination of panoramic images taken in different locations, and 3D virtual tours which are created by the integration of high-quality 3D models into an artificial environment
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