Utilising tourist pictures to generate 3D models and automatic multi-view stereo network design

Abstract

The design of image networks plays a pivotal role in image-based 3D shape reconstruction and data processing, particularly when applying combined SfM/MVS methods. This paper presents an approach to designing and planning a multi-view images network for cultural heritage objects and sites based on a rough 3D model generated from public datasets of tourist images. Images for three famous cultural heritage buildings in India, namely Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar and Hawa Mahal, were used in this study to achieve the targeted goal. The results obtained confirmed that the Agisoft Metashape software made it possible to acceptably reconstruct the entire body of the studied structures. However, it the results showed when generating point clouds and 3D models of slender objects, i.e., the Qutub Minar, it is not possible to use only images acquired from the ground since most tourists wishing to correctly represent the shape take tilted images. For this reason, it is necessary to use videos or photos from UAVs. Generally, it can be concluded that the adopted approach in this study is a promising alternative for the conventional methods that are currently used for the shape reconstruction of cultural heritage objects and sites.