3D Update. Modern Residential Extension & The One Thousand Year Old Saxon Arch
With the weather still very poor here in South West England, I'm taking any chance I can get to do some exterior drone modelling. I also try to capture a Saxon doorway, with some indoor methods.
Residential extension capture for Portal Architecture
This week I demonstrated the capabilities of the DJI M4E drone to Howard Allen, Director of Portal Architecture. This project is a nearly completed residential extension, with a new kitchen and living area.
Like one of my previous models (view here), low sun and dark shadows are far from ideal, but current weather options at the moment are still either rain, wind or low bright sun. We will revisit this on a more diffused-light day once the project is complete later in the year.
The flight itself was successful, with Smart 3D Capture (explained here previously) flying around the structure automatically and safely around trees and other obstacles.
Using the same dataset, I created a photogrammetric mesh model and a Gaussian splat to demonstrate the differences and advantages of both methods.
For technical outputs - a mesh or point cloud to preserve true data and geometry, and for visual/presentation - the Gaussian splat model. Although the mesh is well textured and very detailed, it still struggles with transparency such as windows.
The Gaussian Splat model in some areas here appears worse - due to it reconstructing the initial view-specific imagery more closely, which from a photography and lighting standpoint was too harsh.
Links
We've put the models online, so others can view the site and compare processing methods.
Note - The models have been cropped for privacy and file size reasons, but this is not strictly necessary.
View the models below-
Take a look at Howard Allen and Portal Architecture for their other projects.
The Saxon Arch
Also this week, I try some more high resolution interior modeling. The Saxon archway at St Mary’s Church in Limpley Stoke / Freshford serves as the symbolic starting point for a modern pilgrimage route known as the St Edith of Wilton Way.
The building consists of a nave and chancel with a square west tower that bears a short stone spire. On the north side is a porch with a round arch of the early 13th century. The church preserves some Saxon features, including its south door which became an internal arch when a south aisle was added in the 1920s. It is likely that much of the walling of the nave and perhaps tower is also of the Saxon period, but the windows are all of later periods. - Source Bradford On Avon Museum.
Modern pilgrims now pass through the arch to start their journey. There are stained glass windows facing directly south, so at the right time there is a projection of colours on the stone.
I was there just to test out some shooting patterns, but have created an initial rough model. I will return with more sun to capture the effects of the light fully.
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