uCreate Introduction to photogrammetry (online)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

N/A

Special Information

Participants must use their own computer with at least the following hardware requirements:

OS: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista (64 bit)

Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor

Memory: 16GB System RAM

Hard Disk Space: 10GB free HDD Space

Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant NVIDIA video card with at least 1GB of RAM

To find the specifications of your computer follow these instructions:

Windows 10

1. For the CPU type in the windows search bar in the bottom left corner of the processor and RAM will be listed here.
2. For the graphics card go to Settings -> System -> Display and scroll down and click on ‘Advanced Display settings’.
3. For the screen resolution go to Settings -> System -> Display. The Display Resolution can be viewed under ‘Scale and Layout’.

Linux

3D Zephyr can be run under linux using Wine.

For instructions on how to install Wine and 3D Zephyr on linux please consult:

https://www.3dflow.net/running-3df-zephyr-gnulinux-using-wine/

To access the information regarding your computer specifications please use the following instructions:

For CPU speed open a bash terminal (Ctr + t) and type

lspcu

Your computer is 64 bit if the ‘Architecture’ heading is x86_64

Your CPU speed is found next to the ‘CPU max MHz’ heading.

To find the amount of RAM type in a terminal:

Lshw –short –C memory

The total amount of RAM is listed as ‘System Memory’

For your graphics specifications type in a terminal:

Glxinfo –B | less

The amount of RAM your graphics card has is shown next to ‘Total available memory’ and is given in megabytes. Divide by 1000 to get Gb.

Content of Course

Photogrammetry is the process whereby a series of 2D photographs of an object are used to generate a 3D digital model. This model can then be 3D printed, sculpted, converted to be used in computer games or shared online.

Photogrammetry is a technique that is increasingly being used more and more in the sciences as well as the arts to provide a record of large objects that cannot be replaced or moved such as dinosaur track sites and archaeological remains. Now using just your phone camera, you can create 3D models like this too.

3DF Zephyr Free is a free photogrammetry software compatible with Windows and Mac. Offering a wide range of tools to generate and post process photogrammetric models. Including everything needed to go from images to finished model. 3DF Zephyr offer free educational licenses for the commercial edition of the software opening up the ability to generate more detailed models.

In this workshop, students will be familiarised with the types of objects that will produce the best 3D results, the different photographs students must take and how to process photos to produce a 3D model. By the end of the workshop, students will be able to create 3D models of physical objects from your own photographs.

Please note that 3D models will not be printed in this workshop. A sample image set will be provided for this workshop, Participants will need to use their own computer.

Students will be introduced to 3DF Zephyr and how to navigate in it, import photographs and process these to create and manipulate 3D models from their photos.

Session 1: 1.5 hrs

Students will learn how to collect images from suitable objects to produce a 3D model using photogrammetry:

• 3DF Zephyr
• Suitable objects for photogrammetry
• Number, angle and style of photos to produce a good model
• Processing photos to produce a 3D model
• Creating and editing point clouds

Creating and editing meshes from point cloud

Teaching method(s)

Teaching will be online over one session.

This course includes supporting materials such as a PowerPoint presentation including reference material and the workshop will be recorded and sent over to re-watch at any time!

Please complete the following steps before the designated workshop time:

Download and install the 3DF Zephyr free application (available at https://www.3dflow.net/3df-zephyr-free/)

Download sample image Files: (provided following booking)

Download and install the Discord application on your computer (https://discord.com/)

Create a Discord account by following the instructions on the Discord website.

Join the uCreate discord Server (https://discord.com/invite/cCABXxP)

Be available in the voice channel "Workshop Waiting Room" at least 5 minutes before the workshop begins.

Session1:

• 3DF Zephyr
• Suitable object for photogrammetry
• key considerations for photographing objects
• Processing photos to produce a 3D model
• Creating and editing point clouds

Creating and editing meshes from point clouds

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, students will be able to create 3D models of real world objects from their own photographs.

Students will learn how to navigate the basic tools in 3DF Zephyr photogrammetry app/software – this will help with other 3D editing software used in the sciences (e.g. Meshlab) and general handling of digital 3D objects.

Following the online demonstration the students will be able to work independently and ask questions.

Students will learn about different 3D object file types.

Students will have gained experience of collecting data (photos) for photogrammetry, lighting and processing data to produce 3D digital models, and post processing these models into clean, usable assets.

 

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.