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If the epipolar constraints of more than two images is used to obtain
corresponding image details a fine matching procedure must follow. It is
sufficient to use only two of the images for matching as all additional
images are used to eliminate ambiguities. Again the least squares match-
ing algorithm can be used or in case of a pattern of bright dots, the calcu-
lation of the centre of gravity of the dot is also possible.
6. PROJECTION OF A RANDOM PATTERN
Least squares matching only gives good results if there is a texture of
reasonable contrast on the object surface. If this is not the case an
artificial pattern must be projected onto the object. This pattern should
have a random structure to avoid ambiguities. High frequency random
elements (such as single bright dots) are useful for the elimination of
ambiguities and for good accuracy of least square matching. One the
other hand a low frequency texture increases the radius of convergence of
the matching procedure. Therefore, our artificial pattern consists of
randomly distributed bright dots laid over a low frequency greyvalue
pattern where the dots are located in the middle of the darkest areas of
the grey pattern.
7. DIGITAL SURFACE MODEL AND KNOWLEDGE BASE
The digital surface model used during the derivation is a 2 1/2 dimension-
al geometry where the direction of the elevation is roughly the same as
the direction of the cameras. A transformation to a really 3 dimensional
model must be done in a separate step if required. The main problems for
automatic matching are caused by occlusions, geometric discontinuities of
the surface, border lines of the area of interest and radiometric discontinu-
ities such as shadows or dark areas of the object and areas without
texture. Some of these problems can be eliminated during the segmenta-
tion step (shadows, too dark areas). As mentioned earlier bright areas
without texture can be avoided by projecting an artificial pattern on the
object.
A knowledge base can help to solve the ambiguity problems by checking
the reliability of computed results or by avoiding areas where matching is
not required or impossible. If a basic knowledge base is not available or
of poor quality there must be a possibility for an operator interaction. But
even the best image interpretation software and the most sophisticated
expert systems are not able to calculate error free results. Although
reliability checks are essential and a good knowledge base can help to
detect matching errors, operator supervision will still be necessary.
The quality of all checks depends mainly on the setting of appropriate
thresholds. These various thresholds cannot be constant for the whole
image area. An adaptive setting is the only way to obtain results as
accurate as possible covering as much as possible of the area of interest
with surface values. This means that the quality of the surface model
varies from point to point depending on the local conditions of the images
or the object. Therefore, the quality of the whole model cannot be descr-
ibed by one single parameter or value. Only a digital accuracy model can
describe the reliability and accuracy of a surface model in a sufficient
way. Eventually it is very easy to eliminate or include points below or
above a certain level of accuracy depending on the requirements of the
current application.
8. MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE SURFACE MODEL
The photogrammetric part of the program only provides the basic
information for further computations. More or less complicated software
must follow to process the requirements of the doctors. A module for a 3-
dimensional graphic display of the surface is very important and it might
be included into the photogrammetric part. Firstly, a picture of the surface
is still one of the best checks for gross errors. Secondly, many of the
medical applications are monitoring tasks of the shapes of human bodies
or parts of them. A surface display may be a vector based wire frame
model or preferably a pixel based greytone model. Other modules are
editing programs where the current surface can be changed according to
planned corrective measures. The calculations of differences and their
display is necessary for monitoring corrective measures Or healing
progress in time series.
9. FINAL REMARKS
Digital photogrammetry with images taken from CCD cameras can yield
accurate results. If the process need not be in real time there are various
possibility to improve the geometric accuracy by applying more sophisti-
cated algorithms. Although conventional photogrammetric methods using
photographic films are still more accurate there are many applications
where classical photogrammetry is too slow if the result must be available
minutes after data acquisition. Very often speed (even though not real
time) is more important than the highest accuracy. In such cases CCD
cameras are appropriate photogrammetric tools. With a knowledge base in
the background photogrammetric systems become an important tool even
for non-photogrammetrists like doctors.
REFERENCES
Beyer, H., 1987. Some Aspects on the Geometric Calibration of CCD-
Cameras. In: Proceedings Intercommission Conference in Fast Processing
of Photogrammetric Data, Interlaken, pp.68-81.
Beyer, H., 1991. Photogrammetric On-Line Inspection for Car Crash
Analysis - Results of a Pilot Project. In: Proceedings of the First
Australian Photogrammetric Conference, Sydney, Vol.2,Nr.34.
Gruen A., Baltsavias E., 1988. Geometrically Constraint Multiphoto
Matching. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Vol.54,
No.5, pp.633-641.
Kim C.NG. Alexander B.F., 1991. 3D Shape Measurement by Active
Triangulation and Structured Lighting. In: Proceedings of the First
Australian Photogrammetric Conference, Sydney, Vol.2.,Nr.33.
Maas H-G., 1991. Digital Photogrammetry for Determination of Tracer
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Stahs T.G, Wahl L.M.,1990: Fast and Robust Range Data Acquisition in a
Low-Cost Environment. In: International Archives of Photogrammetry
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Trinder, J.C., 1989. Precision of Digital Target Location. Photogrammet-
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Trinder J.C., Becek K., Donnelly B.E., 1991. Precision of Image Mat-
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