3D stereophotogrammetry: post-processing and surface integration

Abstract

Three-dimensional surface imaging has the potential to add value to the visualisation of external and internal human anatomy. Stereophotogrammetry surfaces were acquired from multiple viewpoints and integrated to form a digital model. Artefacts due to line-of-sight, surface colour and reflectance were found to result in holes and geometric distortion. Surface artefacts were corrected using CAD techniques and validated. Errors between 0·2 and 2·0 mm occurred in repaired surfaces, while geometric distortion ranged from 1·9 to 7·4 mm during surface registration. Post-processing and surface integration techniques may expand the capability of multi-headed stereophotogrammetry systems to assess a wide range of medical conditions.

Keywords:

• 3D surface imaging
• Stereophotogrammetry
• Artefacts
• Surface correction

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Research and Development Office Knowledge Transfer Scheme, Reference RES/4393/10.

The authors would like to thank Elizabeth Greer and Stuart Henry (University of Ulster) for their contribution to data acquisition and to the volunteers imaged for the work.