This pane allows you to set the various options for a SmartPoints Point Cloud and Mesh project.
A ‘SmartPoints Project’ is a fully automated method of marking and referencing points on natural features (generating 'SmartPoints') in images, orientation and processing of the photos to provide fully automatic project set up and orientation. This method does not use targets and relies on the model object/scene’s random texture and overlapping photos taken regularly at low angles. You can also automatically initiate other components after SmartMatch using the controls on this pane.
Smart Feature Detection and Matching: This controls whether features are detected in project images, and matched between photos.
Orientation – Solve camera positions: This controls whether the camera positions are solved using the features detected and matched in the previous stage. This option is only enabled when Feature Detection and Matching is checked.
Also solve internal camera parameters (Auto-calibration): This controls whether various internal camera parameters are solved (in addition to external camera positions) during orientation, with the When no other calibration is found and Always settings used to control when auto-calibration runs.
Point Cloud and Triangulated Mesh creation: These options control whether a low density approximate surface from SmartPoints is generated (only from SmartPoints), or a High Density point cloud and surface with MVS is generated using the DSM (MVS) tools.
The low density point cloud can be a useful surface for many purposes (e.g. a quick Orthophoto export) or to check the project setup. If a low density surface is not needed, or the process is slow for your projects on your system, the default setting can be controlled on Preferences - SmartMatch.
The High Density option will generate a much more dense and detailed point cloud. These options are only enabled when Orientation is checked. Show Advanced Settings: When this is checked, a pane will open when you click Next, on which a few more project options can be set. If not checked, the project uses default advanced settings, which in most cases work just fine.
Note: In most cases, default DSM/MVS settings provide good and detailed results. However, some projects may require fine tuning of certain settings for best results, so it is often best to run a quick SmartPoint point cloud and then manually run the MVS steps once you have determined that the setup is good. There are numerous settings to control the point cloud and triangulated mesh output, which can be set on the DSM and Meshing Options dialogs when performing the DSM steps manually. The DSM process can be initiated manually using the DSM tool on the toolbar.
For detailed information on these types of projects see SmartPoints Project and Dense Surface Modeling / PhotoModeler Premium.