What are one thousand pictures worth?

It is a technological marvel that we can take one thousand pictures and process them into a 3D model or one big orthophoto. These representations enable an overall sense of the project and linear and volumetric measurements, which is not possible from individual photographs. Most capture and processing services spit out one or more of these synthesized models, leaving the original photos as husks to be discarded. But have you ever considered how much valuable information is left behind?

Processing algorithms make many assumptions (e.g., surfaces are non-reflective, causing problems with water and windows) and simplifications in the quest to produce a consistent and consumable 3D model. In consequence, the models simply cannot match the reliability and glorious detail of the original photographs (see above). Each image provides a high-resolution slice of the light entering a single point from a range of angles at a particular time, and even the most sophisticated algorithms can only filter, reorganize, and remove information. A model may contain 20 million points, versus 20 billion perfect pixels from the original photos. On the other hand, it's tedious if not impossible to find the right photo to highlight a safety or quality issue by searching through a folder on your computer.

Reconstruct gives the best of both worlds. Optimized for capture of vertical structures, we generate the standard 3D models and surface models, but we also do something unique. We provide an online platform for interacting with both models and photos. The 3D model provides a context to find the most informative image, based on viewpoint or a clicked point (see below).

Photos are the best way to perform visual quality control in construction, bring attention to safety issues, or illustrate the details of plan revisions. To provide time and project context, Reconstruct aligns photos and point clouds with those from the past using the image textures as ground control points. This strategy enables greater precision alignment than using GPS or manually-defined GCPs, without requiring them or any other annotation. Our viewer also aligns photos and point clouds with any available BIM, as shown below, making the entire as-built and as-planned status of the project accessible through any internet-connected device.

Photographs should play a key role in project planning, coordination, and quality control in construction. Reconstruct makes that possible, providing tools to understand what's been done, how it corresponds to plans, and where coordination efforts should be focused, as well as to visually communicate critical project data to the entire team. So while there may not be enough words to describe the worth of one thousand photos, you can be sure that more of their value can be unlocked with Reconstruct.

Getting Started with Reconstruct

Want to learn how Reconstruct can help your project? Visit www.reconstructinc.com to start your free trial or request a consultation with one of our team members.