Top PhotoModeler Videos for Learning

Instructional tutorial videos are a great way to learn PhotoModeler. We’ve recently done a few updates to the PhotoModeler tutorials:

A new forensics single camera tutorial
Some new voice overs
Key videos on YouTube

Newest Tutorial Video for Forensics

We recently published a new tutorial that will be of interest to those doing forensic measurement from single images (esp. those taken by security cameras and dash-cams). A recent release of PhotoModeler added an improved way to compensate for lens distortion for the highest accuracy results – this video describes this process.

This tutorial describes how to extract important measurements like heights and positions in a crime scene from a security or surveillance camera image.

[Single Security Camera Tutorial Video – YouTube]

Key Videos with Voice Over and YouTube

We determined which are the key PhotoModeler tutorials, and made sure they all had good quality professional voice over (as well as having either closed captions, or text call-outs). This set encompasses the breadth of PhotoModeler capability from manual multi-photo modeling, to automated smart processing, to automated coded targets, to single image processing, and to interesting forensics cases.

This key set was updated on our Tutorial page, and as well were placed in a new YouTube PhotoModeler Tutorial Playlist. See a list of these key videos with summaries below.

Key Tutorial Video List and Summary

Here is a summary of the key tutorial videos, with Youtube links and short descriptions.

Dense Surface Modeling

Using a small garden ornament, the process of obtaining a dense surface is explained. A photo-textured 3D model results.

SmartMatch and Manual Marking

Using the facade of a brick building, the process of combining automated Smart processing with manual marking and referencing is explained. Setting up axes with a coordinate system, doing measurement, and doing a file export are also described. A CAD line drawing, along with a photo-textured, low poly-count 3d model results.

Drone / UAS Introduction

A small uav/drone project of 20 photos is used to demonstrate the process, beginning (load photos) to end (3d surface model with textures). Other tutorials on the main site take this further with ground control points, ortho-mosaics, dense surfaces, contours, and manual modeling.

Automated Coded Targets

Coded Targets are objects you place in the scene before photography to pick up precise locations automatically. Like Smart projects, which automatically generate point clouds, Coded Target detection is automated but instead picks up the points only on each target dot. There are several industrial and fabrication processes which lends itself to this type of targeting (vs automatic feature detection used in Smart). Here a stair case is measured automatically, and as well as a NURBS surface model of a car top carrier box.

Manual Points Walk-through

Some projects need be done with manual, user-driven manual photo marking and matching/referencing. Some projects work with a combination of automated and manual techniques. This video is a step-by-step guide on how manual marking and referencing is done. This is where PhotoModeler first started in 1993, before the various automated techniques were developed, and it is still useful to this day! No photogrammetry software does it better.

Forensic Measurements from a Security Camera

This is the new tutorial described above. This tutorial describes how to extract important measurements like heights and positions in a crime scene from a security or surveillance camera image.

Vehicle Crush Measurement using an Exemplar

An interesting forensics and accident reconstruction task is the measurement of crush on a vehicle after an accident from a photograph or two. Sometimes the damaged car is no longer available and only the photos remain. The crush measurement helps investigators determine the speed of the car(s) at the time of the incident.

Road Scene Diagramming

Another common accident reconstruction task is road scene diagramming. After the accident, a first responder may take a number of photographs of the scene. To help the investigation, it is good to know the resting positions of the cars, debris, skid marks, etc. A two-part tutorial.

If you have any questions about the tutorial videos please contact our sales team at sales@photomodeler.com.

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