For this week’s lab, our group worked on creating 3D models of the Nobedan Path in Carleton’s Japanese Garden. We divided up the work to experiment with different photogrammetry methods and explore how they could be used to create a more interactive representation of the garden.
Our group experimented with three different programs: Polycam, Scaniverse, and Agisoft MetaShape. Jack focused on taking photographs of the path and using Polycam to capture the feature. Stefan and Tyler worked together using Scaniverse to scan the path from different angles.
I focused on using Agisoft MetaShape to create a 3D model from the photographs that Jack collected. This involved importing the images, aligning them, building the model, and applying textures. We were happy with how the final model turned out, although I think taking more photographs from additional angles would have improved the result. Overall, I preferred Scaniverse because it was much easier to use and produced a good model without as many steps and the MetaShape version looked clunkier. Overall, we were happy seeing the process of taking our images and turning it into a 3d model.
I also used ArcGIS to create a polygon outlining the Nobedan Path on the georeferenced Japanese Garden map. This complemented our 3D models by showing where the path is located within the larger garden. While the models show the physical appearance of the feature, the map provides geographical context.
One thing we found interesting was how creating a 3D model differs from simply viewing photographs. Photographs capture individual perspectives, while 3D models allow viewers to rotate around a feature and examine it from different angles. For the Nobedan Path, this was particularly useful because of the arrangement of its individual stones.
Photogrammetry also encouraged us to pay closer attention to details I would normally overlook. While walking through the garden, I probably wouldn’t spend much time examining the stones individually. However, creating the models made me more aware of their textures, shapes, and arrangement.
Overall, we enjoyed comparing the different methods and seeing how our group’s work came together. We think these technologies offer an interesting way to document cultural heritage and allow people to explore places like Carleton’s Japanese Garden without physically visiting them.