Photogrammetry Skills – Training & Testing

Photogrammetry training is very much a practical skill and craft. Both  José and Simon spend time testing and proving new techniques and keeping the skills sharp.

Having a small subject that remains fairly static is the perfect object to test new ideas, methods and means. Small enough to not occupy hours of shooting and processing time but large enough to present enough of a challenge. The subject should be relevant too.

Whatever the subject the learning process sharpens skills and lessons we learned are fed back into commercial work and have been baked into and shared in the Accupixel Metashape Standard training course.

Land Based Testing

You can find these small brick and concrete bunkers throughout the UK. Constructed in 1940, these bunkers served as defensive structures, but thankfully, we never used them. Today most of them remain open, accessible and unused. Some bunkers in private hands now serve as man caves or apple storage. Additionally, they have repurposed one bunker as a base for a mobile phone mast.

Firstly, all of them serve as excellent subjects for testing. Additionally, those with accessible interiors push the skills further when we need the complete structure—internal and external. Furthermore, in our photogrammetry skills and training, we can apply and verify the added value of scale and GPS referencing with simple real-world measurements.

GHQ Line of Control Defences by Deep3D on Sketchfab

Preserving cultural heritage provides an added bonus. Although we cannot replace the original with a digital copy, we can inform future generations about what we lose if the bunker is destroyed. Since very few sites receive protection, we must maintain a digital version to preserve their legacy.

Underwater Testing in Photogrammetry Skills and Training

Simon really enjoys the challenge of underwater photogrammetry and it will come as no surprise there are a few test sites commonly used and Vobster Quay Inland Diving is home to two of them.

The armoured personnel carrier has been used to test and verify UWIS navigation and position recording for 3D reconstruction but the most popular test site is the Ford Escort that was dumped into the quarry before it opened for divers.

Scanning the thin-walled car body always presents a challenge, but it remains the go-to target for testing lighting and shooting techniques. Since 2018, we have recorded changes in the position of the bonnet as visiting divers leave their mark and rearrange the site over the years.

Vobster Car Test Site by Deep3D on Sketchfab

Analysing the Rust

Ortho photo tools in Metashape Professional allow us to measure directly the area of rust. By drawing a polygon around the area we can then report the perimeter and volume of the area of interest:

The 2018 version of the car has less deterioration and rust present. The ortho photo is viewable on drone labs.

Photogrammetry Skills and training: Train and Practice

In conclusion, photogrammetry training really is the start of a journey. Education provides a foundation from which follows repeatable and consistent results. The Accupixel Metashape Standard course carries an endorsement by Agisoft . The course equips the student with a set of skills and knowledge that can be applied to any 3D reconstruction scenario. Working underwater presents its own challenges. However, the forensic techniques we teach remain valid. Our course builds on years of experience accumulated by José and Simon. Enhance your photogrammetry skills and training with these proven methods.

The course is enjoying an introductory price until the end of October. Additionally, the course is available with a license bundle too.