"Panorama Photo" processes RGB terrain images in JPG format. All images must be taken with the same camera using a fixed focal length during shooting. Since the images are assumed to have central projection, the shortest possible exposure time is necessary for processing accuracy.

The processing is fully automatic, except for the optional stage of measuring ground control points in the images, and consists of the following stages:

• project creation;
• orientation;
• ground control points measurement;
• creation of dense point cloud;
• creation of elevation matrix;
• creation of orthophotoplan.

In the first stage, a PPH project file is created, and the names of images from the project folder and all subfolders are recorded into it. The file must be created in the folder containing the selected images for processing.

After clicking "Done" in the orientation dialog, the following main stages are performed:

• 1. Point measurement - searching for distinctive points in the image and encoding them with a descriptor - a digital sequence describing pixel colors in the immediate vicinity.
• 2. Image linking - finding points in images corresponding to the same ground point.
• 3. Preliminary orientation - sequential connection of images to the first block image, selected by maximum number of connections.
• 4. Creating sparse point cloud - calculating coordinates of points found on at least three images and their rejection based on triplet discrepancies.
• 5. Adjustment - minimizing point discrepancies in images. During adjustment, image orientation elements, cloud point coordinates, and internal orientation elements are refined.

After orientation, images and points are displayed in the 3D window for orientation quality analysis. The calculated camera internal orientation elements can be saved to a file by selecting "File" - "Save camera" menu item for future projects using images taken with this camera.

Display of images and points in 3D window

Reference point measurement mode

Reference point orientation is not mandatory if the images contain coordinates of photography points. In this case, the orientation accuracy will be within several meters. Reference points should be recorded in a text file line by line in the format Point_Number X Y Z. Three points are sufficient for orientation, but for reliable accuracy assessment, at least 10 points evenly distributed in the survey area are required.

After measuring at least 3 points on two images, the parameters for conversion to the specified coordinate system are calculated. Based on the calculation results, a table of discrepancies at points is filled, and the root mean square error of orientation is calculated.

During orientation, a sparse point cloud is created. The number of points in the sparse cloud is insufficient for a detailed analysis of the terrain. Therefore, after orientation, a dense cloud is built.

Reference point measurements

Creating height matrix

The height matrix is created based on the point cloud built in the previous processing stage and is needed for the next stage of orthophoto creation. After creation, the height matrix is saved in the project folder. The display of the created height matrix is not provided in the program; it can be viewed and used as an independent product in the GIS "Panorama" in the 3D Analysis Complex.

Creating orthophoto

An orthophoto is a raster image created in the coordinate system specified during project creation. Unlike the original images, the orthophoto lacks distortions caused by image tilt and terrain relief. The user manually enters the element size of the created orthophoto in the "Element size" field. To assist in decision-making, the user is shown hints with the average pixel size of the image and the element size of the selected height matrix. After creation, the orthophoto is loaded for viewing in the program's main window.

Orthophoto display

Creating vector maps

The orthophotos produced in "Panorama Photo" can be used to create vector maps. This can be done automatically using the "Panorama Vision" automatic recognition and vectorization complex. The complex is based on artificial intelligence using trained neural networks. "Panorama Vision" can recognize contours of field plots, hydrographic objects (rivers, ponds, lakes, and others), buildings, and structures. The client module of the complex is called as an applied task in the professional GIS "Panorama". It generates data processing requests to the server part of the complex, located on the technical facilities of KB "Panorama". The processing results in a vector map with contours of recognized objects, such as building and structure outlines.

Creating vector maps

Using the obtained data

This complex serves as the foundation for building spatial data infrastructure at federal, regional, and municipal levels, as well as in corporate information systems. It is used for maintaining cloud storage of spatial datasets, collecting and storing metadata, selecting and delivering spatial data upon request, preparing reports, creating and publishing geo-coverages, and displaying the data bank status in the form of schematic maps. The system provides remote placement of spatial datasets in file storage, version control of stored datasets, updating of data availability schematic maps, and automated collection and formation of metadata.