Geometric Stability and Lens Decentering in Compact Digital Cameras

A study on the geometric stability and decentering present in sensor-lens systems of six identical compact digital cameras has been conducted. With regard to geometrical stability, the variation of internal geometry parameters (principal distance, principal point position and distortion parameters) was considered. With regard to lens decentering, the amount of radial and tangential displacement resulting from decentering distortion was related with the precision of the camera and with the offset of the principal point from the geometric center of the sensor. The study was conducted with data obtained after 372 calibration processes (62 per camera). The tests were performed for each camera in three situations: during continuous use of the cameras, after camera power off/on and after the full extension and retraction of the zoom-lens. Additionally, 360 new calibrations were performed in order to study the variation of the internal geometry when the camera is rotated. The aim of this study was to relate the level of stability and decentering in a camera with the precision and quality that can be obtained. An additional goal was to provide practical recommendations about photogrammetric use of such cameras

Geometric stability and lens decentering in compact digital cameras

P. 1553-1572A study on the geometric stability and decentering present in sensor-lens systems of six identical compact digital cameras has been conducted. With regard to geometrical stability, the variation of internal geometry parameters (principal distance, principal point position and distortion parameters) was considered. With regard to lens decentering, the amount of radical and tangential displacement resulting from decentering distortion was related with the precision of the camera and with the offset of the principal point from the geometric center of the sensor. The study was conducted with data obtained after 372 calibration processes (62 per camera). The tests were performed for each camera in three situations: during continuous use of the cameras, after camera power off/on and after the full extension and retraction of the zoom-lens.S

Geometric Stability and Lens Decentering in Compact Digital Cameras

P. 1553-1572A study on the geometric stability and decentering present in sensor-lens systems of six identical compact digital cameras has been conducted. With regard to geometrical stability, the variation of internal geometry parameters (principal distance, principal point position and distortion parameters) was considered. With regard to lens decentering, the amount of radial and tangential displacement resulting from decentering distortion was related with the precision of the camera and with the offset of the principal point from the geometric center of the sensor. The study was conducted with data obtained after 372 calibration processes (62 per camera). The tests were performed for each camera in three situations: during continuous use of the cameras, after camera power off/on and after the full extension and retraction of the zoom-lens. Additionally, 360 new calibrations were performed in order to study the variation of the internal geometry when the camera is rotated. The aim of this study was to relate the level of stability and decentering in a camera with the precision and quality that can be obtained. An additional goal was to provide practical recommendations about photogrammetric use of such cameras.S

Influence of photogrammetric dynamic movements of non – metric camera on the accuracy results in digital images processing

Real-time photogrammetry is used for the registration and control of object structure and deformations, registration of dynamic processes, particularly, in the architectural heritage objects. The main product of the photogrammetry is a three-dimensional (3D) data – real world vision at the time the images are acquired with fixed viewing angles. In order to achieve this result a lot of digital photogrammetric workstations (DPW) were designed. A wide range of digital imagery such as scanned aerial film frames, images from digital aerial cameras as well as images from various satellite sensors could be processed using DPW. The requirements of processing, the algorithms of the photogrammetric software systems for the dynamic line-by-line acquisition processing of digital images in the photogrammetric way differ according to the applications. Therefore, it is important to test the capabilities and data accuracy of more than one digital photogrammetric system. The images of the research object were taken by a digital nonmetric camera Canon EOS 1D Mark III. The quality of images depends on the camera optical system errors (calibration parameters) and camera stability - dynamic movements during images exposure. Thus, it is necessary to test calibration results and camera positions during the image exposure time. In this case, the camera was recalibrated and the new calibration parameters were checked during the images processing. Values that define camera stability and dynamics were determined. Close-range digital images were processed – the triangulation procedure was accomplished by using digital photogrammetric software PhotoMod and Inpho as well as DPW system Bluh. The accuracy of triangulation has been tested and compared with the manufacturer’s software

Parameterising internal camera geometry with focusing distance

A study on the variation of internal camera geometry (principal distance, principal point position and lens distortion parameters) with different focus distances has been conducted. Results demonstrate that variations of parameters are continuous and predictable, allowing a new way to describe internal camera geometry. The classical constant parameters, c, x p , y p , K 1 , K 2 , P 1 and P 2 , are replaced by continuous functions, c(γ), x p (γ), y p (γ), K 1 (γ), K 2 (γ), P 1 (γ) and P 2 (γ), where γ is a variable describing the focus position. Incorporation of γ as a metadata tag (for example, Exif header) of a photograph jointly with a parameterised definition of camera geometry would allow full use of the autofocus camera function; enabling maximum effective depth of field, better match of the plane of focus with the object’s position and higher reliability. Additionally, conducted tests suggest the parameterised definition of internal geometry could help to locate and correct linear dependences between adjusted parameters, potentially improving the precision and accuracy of calibration

Parameterising Internal Camera Geometry with Focusing Distance

This article was published in The Photogrammetric Record [© The Authors. The Photogrammetric Record © The Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Blackwell Publishing Ltd] and the definitive version is available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9730.2012.00677.xA study on the variation of internal camera geometry (principal distance, principal point position and lens distortion parameters) with different focus distances has been conducted. Results demonstrate that variations of parameters are continuous and predictable, allowing a new way to describe internal camera geometry. The classical constant parameters, c, x p , y p , K 1 , K 2 , P 1 and P 2 , are replaced by continuous functions, c(γ), x p (γ), y p (γ), K 1 (γ), K 2 (γ), P 1 (γ) and P 2 (γ), where γ is a variable describing the focus position. Incorporation of γ as a metadata tag (for example, Exif header) of a photograph jointly with a parameterised definition of camera geometry would allow full use of the autofocus camera function; enabling maximum effective depth of field, better match of the plane of focus with the object’s position and higher reliability. Additionally, conducted tests suggest the parameterised definition of internal geometry could help to locate and correct linear dependences between adjusted parameters, potentially improving the precision and accuracy of calibration

Photogrammetric techniques for across-scale soil erosion assessment: Developing methods to integrate multi-temporal high resolution topography data at field plots

Soil erosion is a complex geomorphological process with varying influences of different impacts at different spatio-temporal scales. To date, measurement of soil erosion is predominantly realisable at specific scales, thereby detecting separate processes, e.g. interrill erosion contrary to rill erosion. It is difficult to survey soil surface changes at larger areal coverage such as field scale with high spatial resolution. Either net changes at the system outlet or remaining traces after the erosional event are usually measured. Thus, either quasi-point measurements are extrapolated to the corresponding area without knowing the actual sediment source as well as sediment storage behaviour on the plot or erosion rates are estimated disrupting the area of investigation during the data acquisition impeding multi-temporal assessment. Furthermore, established methods of soil erosion detection and quantification are typically only reliable for large event magnitudes, very labour and time intense, or inflexible. To better observe soil erosion processes at field scale and under natural conditions, the development of a method is necessary, which identifies and quantifies sediment sources and sinks at the hillslope with high spatial resolution and captures single precipitation events as well as allows for longer observation periods. Therefore, an approach is introduced, which measures soil surface changes for multi-spatio-temporal scales without disturbing the area of interest. Recent advances regarding techniques to capture high resolution topography (HiRT) data led to several promising tools for soil erosion measurement with corresponding advantages but also disadvantages. The necessity exists to evaluate those methods because they have been rarely utilised in soil surface studies. On the one hand, there is terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), which comprises high error reliability and retrieves 3D information directly. And on the other hand, there is unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology in combination with structure from motion (SfM) algorithms resulting in UAV photogrammetry, which is very flexible in the field and depicts a beneficial perspective. Evaluation of the TLS feasibility reveals that this method implies a systematic error that is distance-related and temporal constant for the investigated device and can be corrected transferring calibration values retrieved from an estimated lookup table. However, TLS still reaches its application limits quickly due to an unfavourable (almost horizontal) scanning view at the soil surface resulting in a fast decrease of point density and increase of noise with increasing distance from the device. UAV photogrammetry allows for a better perspective (birds-eye view) onto the area of interest, but possesses more complex error behaviour, especially in regard to the systematic error of a DEM dome, which depends on the method for 3D reconstruction from 2D images (i.e. options for additional implementation of observations) and on the image network configuration (i.e. parallel-axes and control point configuration). Therefore, a procedure is developed that enables flexible usage of different cameras and software tools without the need of additional information or specific camera orientations and yet avoiding this dome error. Furthermore, the accuracy potential of UAV photogrammetry describing rough soil surfaces is assessed because so far corresponding data is missing. Both HiRT methods are used for multi-temporal measurement of soil erosion processes resulting in surface changes of low magnitudes, i.e. rill and especially interrill erosion. Thus, a reference with high accuracy and stability is a requirement. A local reference system with sub-cm and at its best 1 mm accuracy is setup and confirmed by control surveys. TLS and UAV photogrammetry data registration with these targets ensures that errors due to referencing are of minimal impact. Analysis of the multi-temporal performance of both HiRT methods affirms TLS to be suitable for the detection of erosion forms of larger magnitudes because of a level of detection (LoD) of 1.5 cm. UAV photogrammetry enables the quantification of even lower magnitude changes (LoD of 1 cm) and a reliable observation of the change of surface roughness, which is important for runoff processes, at field plots due to high spatial resolution (1 cm²). Synergetic data fusion as a subsequent post-processing step is necessary to exploit the advantages of both HiRT methods and potentially further increase the LoD. The unprecedented high level of information entails the need for automatic geomorphic feature extraction due to the large amount of novel content. Therefore, a method is developed, which allows for accurate rill extraction and rill parameter calculation with high resolution enabling new perspectives onto rill erosion that has not been possible before due to labour and area access limits. Erosion volume and cross sections are calculated for each rill revealing a dominant rill deepening. Furthermore, rill shifting in dependence of the rill orientation towards the dominant wind direction is revealed. Two field plots are installed at erosion prone positions in the Mediterranean (1,000 m²) and in the European loess belt (600 m²) to ensure the detection of surface changes, permitting the evaluation of the feasibility, potential and limits of TLS and UAV photogrammetry in soil erosion studies. Observations are made regarding sediment connectivity at the hillslope scale. Both HiRT methods enable the identification of local sediment sources and sinks, but still exhibiting some degree of uncertainty due to the comparable high LoD in regard to laminar accumulation and interrill erosion processes. At both field sites wheel tracks and erosion rills increase hydrological and sedimentological connectivity. However, at the Mediterranean field plot especially dis-connectivity is obvious. At the European loess belt case study a triggering event could be captured, which led to high erosion rates due to high soil moisture contents and yet further erosion increase due to rill amplification after rill incision. Estimated soil erosion rates range between 2.6 tha-1 and 121.5 tha-1 for single precipitation events and illustrate a large variability due to very different site specifications, although both case studies are located in fragile landscapes. However, the susceptibility to soil erosion has different primary causes, i.e. torrential precipitation at the Mediterranean site and high soil erodibility at the European loess belt site. The future capability of the HiRT methods is their potential to be applicable at yet larger scales. Hence, investigations of the importance of gullys for sediment connectivity between hillslopes and channels are possible as well as the possible explanation of different erosion rates observed at hillslope and at catchment scales because local sediment sink and sources can be quantified. In addition, HiRT data can be a great tool for calibrating, validating and enhancing soil erosion models due to the unprecedented level of detail and the flexible multi-spatio-temporal application

RESEARCH ON KEY TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF MEASUREMENT ACCURACY OF STEREO DEFLECTOMETRY

Obtaining three-dimensional (3D) shape data of specular surfaces plays an increasingly important role in the quality control and function evaluation of high value-added industry, such as space, automobile, Photovoltaics, integrated circuits and so on. In recent years, stereo deflectometry has been widely studied and applied for obtaining form information of freeform specular surfaces. Theoretically, the global form measurement accuracy of stereo deflectometry can be up to nanometre. However, the sources of errors limit the measurement accuracy of the current stereo deflectometry application at the scale of submicron. To this end, this thesis documents the design and development of the calibration methods, error analysis and compensation in the field of stereo deflectometry. To limit the influence of system distortion, a novel holistic calibration technique utilising iterative distortion compensation algorithm has been designed and developed. A search algorithm with an objective function has been developed to solve the low-accuracy initial value problem caused by image distortion and imaging model error. With the intention of decreasing the impact of the phase error in stereo deflectometry, a novel imaging model has been explored the nexus between phase inaccuracy and gradient error. The period of fringe displayed on displaying screen and pixel size of the screen has been studied to augment measurement accuracy through taking into account their impact on sampling phase inaccuracy and gradient miscalculation. In addition, four geometric parameters of a stereo deflectometry system are analysed and evaluated. These are the distance between the main camera and the measured object surface, the angle between main camera ray and surface normal, the distance between the fringe-displaying screen and object and the angle between the main camera and the reference camera. The influence of the geometric parameters on the measurement accuracy is evaluated. A stereo deflectometry system is designed, optimised and calibrated based on the investigation of this thesis. Two evaluation experiments have been conducted and experimental results indicate the system’s measurement accuracy can achieve tens of nanometres