We live in a 3D world. And while humans are only truly capable of seeing in 2D, everyone with two functional eyes has stereoscopic vision. This ability allows humans, and certain animal species, to perceive depth and judge distance. 

How does this work exactly? After all, the world certainly appears as if it’s three-dimensional. Since each eye is a couple of inches apart from the other, each sees an image that is different but very similar. Our brains take these slightly different images, process these variations, and match them to perceive depth. 

Modern photogrammetry works using a very similar process to create 3D maps. This scientific process starts with a pair of 2D photographs, such as aerial photographs taken from a drone, and converts them into a 3D view using photogrammetric software, such as Summit Evolution. From this 3D environment, we can pull meaningful 3D data that provide vital information for a variety of industries, from government organizations to commercial agriculturists. 

Want to jump ahead and learn more about Summit Evolution? Discover our world-class photogrammetric workstation. 

How Does Photogrammetry Help with Creating 3D Maps?   

Just like our eyes create depth by processing two different images, photogrammetry software creates 3D maps with images taken from two or more slightly varying viewpoints and combining them to create depth. With the proper hardware and display, and sometimes special glasses, you can create and see 3D maps.   

What Tools Are Needed for Photogrammetric 3D Mapping?  

From start to finish, there are several tools you need to create a 3D map. 

Stereo Imagery 

First, you need to capture the imagery of the area you are trying to map. There are many different options for capturing this stereo imagery. Some examples include: 

• Scanned aerial film 
• Matrix and push-broom digital airborne sensors
• Small- and medium- format metric camera
• Close-range terrestrial digital and scanned film sensors
• Synthetic stereo from orthophoto and DEM
• Synthetic aperture radar 
• Lidar
• Satellite sources
• Unmanned Aerial Sensor (UAS) imagery from pre-processed UAS projects

Aerial photography is one of the most common ways these images are captured. While airplanes and helicopters used to be the most common way to capture aerial images, and are still often used today, drones have become an incredibly popular way to gather images feasibly, affordably, and precisely. 

Depending on the type of imagery you choose to use for your photogrammetry project, you will need to purchase equipment for capturing this data, whether that be a drone, a helicopter with an AGPS system, or Lidar sensors.

Specialized Hardware 

You can’t just use any PC and monitor for rendering 3D imagery. You need high-end hardware that has the capacity to handle photogrammetry software, including a superior processor, power supply, solid state drive, graphics card, and sufficient RAM.  Your best bet is choosing a professional workstation, as opposed to a regular PC. 

You’ll need 3D LED monitor display, such as those used for 3D gaming, or a stereoscopic display — which you can find from brands such as Schneider Digital, VRLOGIC, or Vision Engineering. And you’ll likely want to add at least one additional monitor. You may also need a specialized mouse. 

This cost of this hardware adds up — it requires a major investment to get into the 3D mapping game. It can cost more than $10,000 to get started. 

Want more details on our hardware and software recommendations? Read our configurations guide.  

Software Integrations

You’ll need to utilize several different types of software to complete a 3D map. DAT/EM Systems International’s photogrammetric workstation includes a wide variety of tools that enable you to discover 3D data from stereo data. This software works on the Microsoft operating system and requires a professional or enterprise Windows 10 license. 

Summit Evolution integrates with a variety of other software. Rather than rebuild what customers have already been utilizing for years, DAT/EM designed its system to work with other popular CAD software on the market that leaders in the photogrammetry field already use and love. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel —instead, Summit Evolution makes it as easy as possible to continue using the software you’ve already invested in and are comfortable using, including: 

• A project design software, such as AutoCAD, the most popular and advanced computer-aided design system used for creating technical designs. Or MicroStation, an engineered 3D modeling software alternative. 
• A GIS software, which captures, stores, and displays geographic information. The most popular tools include ArcGIS and Global Mapper.  
• UAS projects and aerotriangulation results, such as those processed through Trimble’s Inpho Match-AT or CATALYST Professional (formerly Geomatica), which can be imported directly in the Summit Evolution. 

What Are Applications of Photogrammetry? 

Photogrammetry is used in a many different industries. Organizations that use photogrammetry take data from maps to create plans, analyze geographical changes, monitor supply, and more. At DAT/EM, several of the industries we work with most include: 

• Transportation: creating roadways, monitoring infrastructure, investigating traffic incidents
• Timber: conducting tree counts, counting stockpiles, and making projections  
• Forestry: preventing wildfire, monitoring vegetation growth, and tracking disease
• Wildlife Management: tracking migratory movement, counting animal populations, detecting threats and sickness 
• Agriculture: assessing crop yield, mapping out soil zones, and monitoring disease or pest activity
• Architecture and Engineering: surveying plots of land, identifying utilities, and mapping cities and roadways for large construction projects 
• Airfields: installing lighting and infrastructure, designing airports, identifying obstacles, and mapping out ground transportation  
• Watershed: creating contour maps, conducting flood risk analyses, and developing emergency response plans 

What Are the Benefits of 3D Mapping? 

2D maps have their place in the modern world. They are great for creating regional maps that identify names and cities. They more easily determine relative distance at a glance, and they show round surfaces (like the Earth) in one image. They also remove height from buildings when they get in the way of seeing a clear path — it would be nearly impossible to navigate a hiking trail that leads through a mountain or GPS your way to work in a city with skyscrapers if every building showed up on a 3D map. 

While 3D maps are certainly flashy and fun to look at, they also provide many profitable benefits. If you need to visualize depth in the land, determine contours, count trees, or measure the height of buildings, a flat map simply won’t do the trick. 

The real benefit of photogrammetry isn’t just that it creates 3D maps that better represent the world as it is. It’s the data it provides. There was a time in our not-so-distant history that people would physically walk through a forest and count every tree in a given area. And think about what it took for past geographers to measure the height of mountains or depths of valley. 

With photogrammetry, there is almost no limit to the data we can gather. By taking stereo images and creating 3D digital models of those landscapes, we can literally measure mountains from our desks.  

Summit Evolution: The Best Photogrammetric Software for 3D Mapping 

If you have yet to adopt 3D mapping for your organization, or you want to upgrade your current system with the most user-friendly, affordable option out there, Summit Evolution can propel your business into the future. We offer several licensing levels and unique add-ons that may be useful for your industry, such as Airfield3D for ArcGIS with our professional licensing level or LandScape with Summit UAS. Give Summit Evolution a try and discover the world of photogrammetry today. 

Ready to start with a free, 30-day demo? See how Summit Evolution can transform your organization.