Photogrammetry: A 3D GIS solution

In our fast evolving world, architecture and engineering are two most important aspects. Through these two disciplines, we come in contact with our environment and make it work. We built schools where children learn. We built green homes as a sustainable solution of shelter. Therefore, any improvement in architecture and engineering is basically an attempt to improve our lives and creating a sustainable future.

Photogrammetry: integration of ideas

Photogrammetry is such an improvement taking architecture and engineering together as an integrated discipline. When we add geometric aspects with photography, we get Photogrammetry. A photograph is the 2D impression of a real-life object or person. If we know the scale of the photograph, like an inch in the photograph represents a meter in reality, we can very well measure the real life parameters.

What Photogrammetry does is it measures 3D parameters from a photograph, just like geometry gives up the length, breadth and height of the objects.

3D GIS solutions

GIS is Geographic/Geospatial Information System. In short, this 3D system collects, stores, analyses and uses photogrammetric data for user problems. When used in architecture, it helps designers and builders get a clear idea about the land, surrounding, structural issues and other important aspects of construction.

How does it help us?

That is probably the most important question regarding using 3D GIS. Consider a blueprint of a residential building. The 2D rendering is complete. We can see the water supply lines entering various floors. This is the best we can get out of 2D rendering.
Enter 3D GIS in the picture. Now our 2D rendering also takes the height and angular aspects of the design into account. Now the detailing needed for proper water supply involves aspects like how many floors to cover, how many main lines to cover a floor, how many sublines, etc. evidently, the whole designing scenario takes a different turn with 3D GIS.

As we can see, 3D GIS makes planning and designing easier, our thoughts get streamlined and we can assume many difficulties before we put even a single brick to use.

Levels of 3D GIS solutions

3D GIS software work on many levels. These levels represent the data with various degrees of realistic aspects. Usually, there are five such levels of detail (LOD).

• LOD 0 – This represents the presence of an object on a geographic plane. The shape or geometric size cannot be understood. We just know the surface area and how it looks like.
• LOD 1 – It represents a simple polygonal 3D presence.
• LOD 2 – Here, we can see the shape of the roof of a building along with the height and breadth.
• LOD 3 – This is a full-fledged 3D representation of how it is in reality.
• LOD 4 – This shows the interior structure of the building.

3D GIS solutions help authorities built smart cities all over the world. With this advanced technique, we can create designs that are the perfect blend of utility and aesthetics.

All we need now is even more participation from Governments to take the revolution forward for the betterment of nations and its citizens.