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| CSIRO | SOLVE | Issue 6 Feb 06 | |
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ARTICLE
IMAGING SOFTWARE:
Working Together for a Better Image By Gio Braidotti
Taking technology to industry from the moment it works, rather than at an unknown point in the future when it may or may not be ‘perfect’, has helped a team of imaging software developers discover a much wider range of applications than originally envisaged. A team at CSIRO Exploration and Mining initially developed the Sirovision imaging system to lower mining costs, and help prevent collapse of the walls in open-cut mines, by using standard digital images to map the surface structure accurately enough to predict the stability of pit walls that can be up to a kilometre high. The system was developed by senior principal research scientist George Poropat and a team in the Rock Mass Characterisation group. A surprising range of uses has emerged, including applications in the film industry, since the team took the technology to industry partners. “Initial development took three years and we took the step of releasing the software when it worked, not when it was perfect,” says Mr Poropat, who has a background in defence industry research. “That way we got a lot of useful input from our industry partners, especially Australian mining companies like Newcrest, who were critical in the further development of Sirovision. It’s now used at more than 40 sites worldwide, including universities that use it for research purposes.” Sirovision processes images captured with a digital camera into an accurate three-dimensional model of the surface of a photographed object and overlays the model with the digital images. Wholly owned by CSIRO, the software is being marketed by the Surpac Minex group and is under continual development. With the release of Version 3.0, Mr Poropat says users will benefit from faster processing times, more sophisticated data analysis tools and easier-to-use interfaces. Modelling a stationary object requires a digital SLR camera (such as the Nikon D100 or Canon 20D) and a fixed focal length lens. For objects in motion, a second camera is required to create a stereovision system. The user moves around the object of interest taking a series of overlapping photos. The computer then assembles a 3D model that can be zoomed into and viewed from any angle. The software can also analyse spatial and structural relationships between different aspects of the modelled object. Since Sirovision can considerably extend the capability of digital cameras, the CSIRO team has been fielding inquiries from some unexpected quarters. Mr Poropat reports interest among city councils wanting to use Sirovision to improve urban planning and design processes. Sirovision was successfully used to model Aboriginal and African rock carvings, potentially helping conservationists measure rates of weathering of the exposed rock surface. “Before too long, we plan to look at applications in film animation,” he says, when asked about computer-generated images for movies. There are geometrical constraints to the use of Sirovision, Mr Poropat says. For example, a forest environment is far too cluttered for modelling. In contrast, images captured from the likes of a scanning electron microscope can be modelled “but may not be of much practical use yet”. In the meantime, back in the mines, the CSIRO team is testing a permanent camera set-up that uses Sirovision to autonomously analyse mine walls in real-time, independently alerting operators as needed. The automatic image-capture method is being patented. Applications for underground mines have also been developed and are now in release. For further information contact: |
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