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The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part B5. Beijing 2008 
Figure 7. stereoscopes of the past: This is one of only 5 surviving historic photo plasticons, which were common in the 1920th 
(25 users could view 50 3 D-images)(left). Outstanding innovative 2D/3D-Mixed-Reality-Desktop of Fraunhofer (Germany), 
based on strip barrier with eye-motion-tracking and gesture interpreter, backed up by about 10 video cameras (right) 
Further open research topics for Technique aspects of 3D- 
images are in particular expected from computational Models 
and their applications. It is liked to emphasize, in this context 
algorithms in particular are seen as an important market gap, 
see also Figure 6.. Additional open research topics concerning 
3D-images are the efficient manipulation of raster data to 
derive sufficient digital vector data. 
Though software for the automatic processing of 3D 
coordinate data from overlapping photographs is provided by 
different companies (e.g., LEICA, Virtuoso etc.), user friendly 
low cost software for the automatic evaluation of stereo views 
is still missing but with e.g., Photomodeler, in development, 
Finally even matter of research is the complete list of products 
derived from 3D-image application, like, e.g., 3D object 
documentation and interpretation, numeric 3D coordinates, 
line maps (vector data) and photomaps (raster data) in 
combination with stereo mates on scale 
4. CONCLUSIONS 
- A survey of existing international 3D image archives, 
including the archives contents and access is highly 
recommended. 
- A Peer reviewed and definitely complete synopsis of the 
virtual 3D-visualization Technologies with sufficient 
information content is still missing. Already from first 
systematic steps in this field, the “DOWN UNDER” 3D- 
visualization method recently has been invented by the 
authors, see Figure 1 and Table 1. 
- The authors recommend again, to replace obsolete manual 
sketches for documentation purposes, preferable by 3D- 
photographs. 
-Intense dealing with “3D-niche-photography” based on 
telescope-rod and/or captive-balloon promises a great future. 
- Another big field for international research is, to manage the 
problem of digital interpretation in an efficient way. Progress 
in this field is expected from improvements in algorithms and 
software, including aspects of artificial intelligence. 
Though the progress in the field of 3D visualization 
Technology recently increased, there are still open research 
topics in 3D image application. A systematic survey to define 
research gaps in 3D Image application as presented, is highly 
recommended and stimulates for further progress. It is liked to 
emphasize, moving back to basics in spatial data processing 
shows a surprising potential for advanced practical 3D image 
application, like, e.g., 
- To convince amateurs and professionals of the still 
underestimated effect in obtaining a complete additional 
dimension. This holds for the enhancement of spatial 
structures by suited 3D-visualization Techniques, and for the 
achievement of extremely high detail resolution as well as for 
the probative force of forensic 3D-photography etc.. 
- Receipts and samples for recording, processing and applying 
3D images are still required for different disciplines. 
- There is still a lack of operational stereo view adopted 
software, see also WALDHAEUSL/OGLEBY (1994). 
- the production of line maps and stereo mates from digital 
raster data is still a matter of research, as well as the efficient 
transfer of raster into vector data, 
RECORDIM HERITAGE STEREOVIEWS 
RecorDIM Task Group on 
Hochschule 
Magdeburg • Stendal 
Figure 8. The authors, who chair the international RecordDIM 
taskgroup on “Collecting, Compiling and Sharing Heritage 
stereo views like to invite the ISPRS community, to cooperate 
in the field of 3D image application. Their noncommercial 
webpage 3site.icomos.org as carried out by KIM, SEUNG 
SUN, is also prepared for contacts. 
It is liked to emphasize, the open topics in 3D image 
application as stated here, do not claim for completeness. 
Summarizing, improvements in 3D image application namely 
are expected from improvements in Analysis and in standards, 
from modeling and from hardware and softwaredevelopment.