Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li: How to Create and View Stereo Models from Different Data Sources
Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li: A Powerful Tool for Stereo Photogrammetry
Stereo photogrammetry is a technique that uses two or more images taken from different angles to create a 3D representation of an object or a scene. Stereo photogrammetry can be used for various purposes, such as mapping, surveying, measuring, and analyzing features on the earth's surface.
Stereo Analyst For Arcgis 102 Li
However, performing stereo photogrammetry can be challenging and time-consuming, especially if you have to use multiple software packages and data formats. That's why you need a tool that can integrate stereo photogrammetry into your GIS environment and streamline your workflows.
That's where Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li comes in. Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS is an extension for ArcGIS Pro that allows you to view stereo pairs and collect 3D features directly in your GIS. It also supports various data sources, such as satellite, aerial, ADS, and drone imagery.
In this article, we will introduce you to Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS and show you how to use it for your stereo photogrammetry projects. We will also explain the basics of stereo photogrammetry and how to create stereo models for ArcGIS Pro. Finally, we will give you some tips and best practices for viewing and editing stereo imagery in ArcGIS Pro.
What is Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS?
Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS is an extension for ArcGIS Pro that unlocks the power of remote sensing and stereo photogrammetry inside your ArcGIS environment. It lets you distinguish features in your imagery faster and more easily, and increases the accuracy of the features that you collect.
Features and benefits of Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS
Some of the main features and benefits of Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS are:
It supports various data sources, such as satellite, aerial, ADS, and drone imagery.
It allows you to create stereo models from a mosaic dataset or a single pair of images.
It provides two stereo viewing modes: active shutter eyewear or red and cyan anaglyph glasses.
It enables you to collect 3D point, line, and polygon features for various workflows, such as parcel editing, creating simple 3D buildings, and measuring distances and heights.
It integrates with the standard editing experience in ArcGIS Pro for creating and editing feature class data.
It allows you to edit terrain files using the stereo viewing environment, while updating your geodatabase terrain datasets.
It offers feature assist templates that help you collect complex rooftops in seconds.
How to use Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS
To use Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS, you need to have the following:
ArcGIS Pro 10.2 or later
ArcGIS Image Analyst extension license
Stereo imagery data
A stereo map
A stereo map is a map view in ArcGIS Pro that displays the left and right images in the stereo model. You can create a stereo map by clicking the New Map button on the Insert tab and choosing Stereo Map. You can also convert an existing map view to a stereo map by clicking the Convert To button on the View tab and choosing Stereo Map.
To add your stereo imagery data to the stereo map, you can use either a mosaic dataset that manages a collection of stereo models, or a single pair of images. A mosaic dataset is a data model that allows you to store, manage, view, and analyze multiple raster datasets as a single layer. A single pair of images is two images that are taken over the same sensor with an overlap and intersection angle that can form a pair for stereo viewing.
To add a mosaic dataset to the stereo map, you can drag it from the Catalog pane or use the Add Data button on the Map tab. To add a single pair of images to the stereo map, you can use the Add Single Pair Of Images To Stereo Map tool on the Stereo Mapping tab.
After adding your data to the stereo map, you can start viewing and editing it in stereo mode. You can switch between active shutter eyewear mode or red and cyan anaglyph glasses mode by clicking the Stereo Mode button on the Stereo Mapping tab. You can also adjust the y-parallax (the horizontal displacement between the left and right images) by clicking the Stereo Alignment button on the same tab.
To collect 3D features from the stereo imagery, you can use the standard editing tools on the Edit tab or the feature assist templates on the Stereo Mapping tab. You can also use the measurement tools on the same tab to measure distances and heights in 3D.
What is stereo photogrammetry?
Stereo photogrammetry is a technique that uses two or more images taken from different angles to create a 3D representation of an object or a scene. The basic principle of stereo photogrammetry is that by measuring the parallax (the apparent displacement) between corresponding points in two images, you can calculate their relative positions in 3D space.
The principles of stereo photogrammetry
The main components of stereo photogrammetry are:
The camera model: This describes how an image is formed by a camera sensor. It includes parameters such as focal length, principal point, lens distortion, etc.
The image orientation: This describes how an image is positioned and oriented in 3D space relative to a coordinate system. It includes parameters such as exterior orientation (position, rotation) and interior orientation (camera model).
The epipolar geometry: This describes how two images are related by their camera positions and orientations. It includes parameters such as epipolar lines (the lines along which corresponding points lie), epipoles (the points where epipolar lines intersect), fundamental matrix (the matrix that relates any point in one image to its epipolar line in another image), etc.
The disparity map: This describes how much each pixel in one image differs from its corresponding pixel in another image along the epipolar line. It is proportional to the inverse of depth (the distance from the camera).
The point cloud: This describes a set of 3D points that are reconstructed from corresponding pixels in two or more images using triangulation (the process of finding the intersection of two rays).
The digital surface model (DSM): This describes a raster representation of elevation values derived from a point cloud.
The orthophoto: This describes an image that has been geometrically corrected (orthorectified) so that it has a uniform scale and projection like a map.
The applications of stereo photogrammetry
Stereo photogrammetry can be used for various purposes, such as:
Mapping: You can create accurate maps of large areas using satellite or aerial imagery.
Surveying: You can measure distances, areas, volumes, heights, slopes, etc., using drone or ADS imagery.
Cadastral: You can delineate property boundaries and land parcels using high-resolution imagery.
Cultural heritage: You can document historical sites and monuments using ground-based imagery.
Forestry: You can estimate tree height, crown diameter, biomass, etc., using multispectral imagery.
Mining: You can monitor surface changes, erosion, subsidence, etc., using thermal imagery.
Defense: You can detect and identify targets, assess damage, and plan missions using stereo imagery.
How to create stereo models for ArcGIS Pro
A stereo model is a pair of images that are taken over the same sensor with an overlap and intersection angle that can form a pair for stereo viewing. The two images must have correct georeferencing and orientation to enable stereo viewing and feature collection.
Data sources and requirements for stereo models
Stereo mapping supports various data sources, such as satellite, aerial, ADS, and drone imagery. The input for the stereo map can be a mosaic dataset that manages a collection of stereo models, or a single pair of images.
The requirements for creating stereo models are:
The images must have sufficient overlap (at least 60%) and intersection angle (between 5 and 40 degrees).
The images must have accurate georeferencing and orientation information, such as rational polynomial coefficients (RPCs), exterior orientation parameters (EOPs), or interior orientation parameters (IOPs).
The images must have good quality and resolution, with enough texture and contrast to enable stereo matching.
The images must have consistent radiometry and illumination, with minimal shadows and clouds.
Steps to create stereo models using Ortho Mapping tools
If the images have not been geometrically corrected for stereo viewing, you can use the Ortho Mapping tools in ArcGIS Pro to perform block adjustment. Block adjustment is a process that improves the accuracy and consistency of the image orientation by minimizing the errors between overlapping images and ground control points (GCPs).
The steps to create stereo models using Ortho Mapping tools are:
Create an ortho mapping workspace by clicking the New Workspace button on the Ortho Mapping tab and choosing the appropriate raster type for your data source.
Add your images to the workspace by clicking the Add Data button on the same tab and browsing to your image folder or mosaic dataset.
Add GCPs to the workspace by clicking the Add Control Points button on the same tab and importing or creating GCPs. GCPs are points with known coordinates that are used to improve the georeferencing of the images.
Perform block adjustment by clicking the Block Adjustment button on the same tab and setting the appropriate parameters. Block adjustment will generate an adjusted mosaic dataset that contains the updated image orientation information.
Build stereo models by clicking the Build Stereo Model button on the same tab. This will create a table that stores the information about each stereo model in the adjusted mosaic dataset.
Steps to create stereo models using Build Stereo Model tool
If the images have been geometrically corrected for stereo viewing, you can prepare the input by creating a mosaic dataset and adding the images using the appropriate raster type. Then you can use the Build Stereo Model tool in ArcGIS Pro to create stereo models from the mosaic dataset.
The steps to create stereo models using Build Stereo Model tool are:
Create a mosaic dataset by clicking the New Mosaic Dataset button on the Data tab and setting the appropriate parameters.
Add your images to the mosaic dataset by right-clicking it in the Catalog pane and choosing Add Rasters. Then select your raster type and browse to your image folder or mosaic dataset.
Open the Build Stereo Model tool by clicking the Tools button on the Analyze tab and searching for it. Then set your input mosaic dataset and output table name.
Run the tool. This will create a table that stores the information about each stereo model in the mosaic dataset.
How to view and edit stereo imagery in ArcGIS Pro
After creating stereo models for ArcGIS Pro, you can view and edit them in a stereo map. A stereo map is a map view in ArcGIS Pro that displays the left and right images in the stereo model and enables stereo vision through anaglyph glasses or active shutter eyewear.
Stereo viewing modes and options
ArcGIS Pro supports two types of stereo viewing modes: anaglyph mode and active shutter glasses mode.
Anaglyph mode: This mode uses red and cyan glasses to create a 3D effect. One band from the left image is displayed in the red channel, and two bands from the right image are displayed in the blue and green channels. You can adjust the anaglyph color scheme by clicking the Anaglyph Color Scheme button on the Stereo Mapping tab.
Active shutter glasses mode: This mode uses active shutter eyewear that synchronizes with the monitor to create a 3D effect. The right and left images are flickered at 120 hertz, alternating between the monitor and the shutter glasses. You need a compatible monitor, graphics card, driver, and glasses to use this mode.
You can switch between the stereo viewing modes by clicking the Stereo Mode button on the Stereo Mapping tab. You can also adjust the stereo display options by clicking the Stereo Options button on the same tab. The stereo display options include:
Stereo separation: This controls the distance between the left and right images. Increasing the separation enhances the depth perception, but may also cause eye strain.
Stereo balance: This controls the horizontal alignment of the left and right images. Adjusting the balance can help reduce ghosting or double vision.
Stereo contrast: This controls the brightness of the left and right images. Increasing the contrast can improve the visibility of dark or low-contrast areas.
Stereo gamma: This controls the color balance of the left and right images. Adjusting the gamma can help reduce color distortion or washout.
Stereo mapping tools and workflows
ArcGIS Pro provides various tools and workflows for collecting 3D features from stereo imagery. You can collect 3D point, line, and polygon features for various purposes, such as parcel editing, creating simple 3D buildings, and measuring distances and heights.
To collect 3D features from stereo imagery, you can use either:
The standard editing tools on the Edit tab: These tools allow you to create and modify feature class data using existing layers, symbols, and templates. You can use these tools to digitize features by snapping to existing vertices or edges, or by using construction methods such as trace, offset, parallel, perpendicular, etc.
The feature assist templates on the Stereo Mapping tab: These templates allow you to collect complex features using predefined shapes and parameters. You can use these templates to create features such as buildings, bridges, towers, tanks, etc., by specifying dimensions, heights, angles, offsets, etc.
The output of your feature creation or editing session is saved directly to a geodatabase and can support multiuser concurrent editing workflows.
Tips and best practices for stereo mapping
Here are some tips and best practices for viewing and editing stereo imagery in ArcGIS Pro:
Choose a suitable scale for your stereo mapping project. The scale should be large enough to show sufficient details for feature collection, but not too large to cause excessive parallax or distortion.
Use a stereo cursor to help you locate features in 3D space. The stereo cursor is a crosshair that appears on both images and moves along the epipolar line. You can change the cursor type by clicking the Cursor Type button on the Stereo Mapping tab.
Use subviews to zoom in on specific areas of interest without changing the scale of the main view. Subviews are small windows that show a magnified portion of the stereo map. You can create subviews by clicking the New Subview button on the Stereo Mapping tab. You can synchronize the subviews with the main view by clicking the Link Subview button on the same tab.
Use terrain files to improve the accuracy and realism of your stereo mapping. Terrain files are raster datasets that store elevation values for a given area. You can add terrain files to your stereo map by clicking the Add Terrain File button on the Stereo Mapping tab. You can also edit terrain files using the stereo viewing environment, while updating your geodatabase terrain datasets.
Conclusion
In this article, we have introduced you to Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li, a powerful tool for stereo photogrammetry. We have shown you how to use it for viewing and collecting 3D features from stereo imagery in ArcGIS Pro. We have also explained the basics of stereo photogrammetry and how to create stereo models for ArcGIS Pro. Finally, we have given you some tips and best practices for viewing and editing stereo imagery in ArcGIS Pro.
We hope you have found this article useful and informative. If you want to learn more about Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li, you can visit the official website or contact us for a free trial.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li:
What are the system requirements for Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li?
You need to have ArcGIS Pro 10.2 or later and ArcGIS Image Analyst extension license to use Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li. You also need a compatible monitor, graphics card, driver, and glasses to use the active shutter glasses mode.
What are the advantages of using Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li over other stereo photogrammetry software?
Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li offers several advantages over other stereo photogrammetry software, such as:
It integrates seamlessly with your ArcGIS environment and workflows.
It supports various data sources, such as satellite, aerial, ADS, and drone imagery.
It provides two stereo viewing modes: active shutter eyewear or red and cyan anaglyph glasses.
It enables you to collect 3D features directly in your GIS using standard editing tools or feature assist templates.
It allows you to edit terrain files using the stereo viewing environment, while updating your geodatabase terrain datasets.
It offers feature assist templates that help you collect complex rooftops in seconds.
How can I get a free trial of Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li?
You can request a free trial of Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li by filling out this form or contacting us at sales@hexagon.com.
Where can I find more resources and tutorials on Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li?
You can find more resources and tutorials on Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li on the official website or on the Hexagon YouTube channel.
How can I provide feedback or report issues on Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li?
You can provide feedback or report issues on Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS 10.2 Li by contacting us at support@hexagon.com or by using the Feedback tool on the Stereo Mapping tab in ArcGIS Pro.