FAQ

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GeoModelPro is a photogrammetry-based software in ArcGIS Pro that converts images & video into 3D models and imports them into a 3D Scene layer. The software is designed to be intuitive and useful for anyone who has access to a camera and ArcGIS Pro: engineers, researchers, hobbyists, anyone! 

Once GeoModelPro is released, it will become available on the ArcGIS Marketplace as an ArcGIS Pro Add-in. Follow the instructions on ArcGIS Marketplace to ensure that the software is installed correctly!

Currently, GeoModelPro accepts .MP4, .AVI, .MOV, and .WMV video formats. If there's another format you prefer to use, let us know! 

Photogrammetry is the process of using a series of 2D images and programmatically estimating the 3D properties of the object to replicate that object in a 3D format. If observing a moment in time during the process, the software takes two images, then compares those images to determine the spatial changes between those two frames. It does this throughout the series of images to generate vertices (triangles) that are stitched together to create a frame for the object. Then, once the framework is complete, the software uses the images to create a texture that wraps around the object to give it color.

It's best to capture an object from all angles (full 360 degrees) and from the top as well. Multiple passes of the object may also boost the quality of the object. It's also best to have an even distribution of lighting when possible. The more images, the more likely that the software will be able to make a better estimation of the 3D object. Reflective objects are generally hard to pick up (mirrors, chrome, windows, etc.), so avoid those when possible. 

Yes! Using videos is likely the easiest way of getting a full 360 degree view of your target. Simply select your video file in the GeoModelPro pane in ArcGIS Pro, set the number of frames per second (this will be the number of images extracted from the video per second) and your other preferences, then wait for your model to generate!

Of course! In the GeoModelPro pane, there's a field where you can input the Export path, which is where the model will be saved once the 3D modeling process is complete. It will produce three files: a .OBJ file, .MTL file, and .JPEG file. The .OBJ file is the structure of the object while the .MTL and .JPEG file are used to generate the texture that wraps around the model's frame. Since .OBJ is one of the most common 3D formats available, it should be accepted by most other 3D model software.

GeoModelPro does not currently provide tools to alter the model post-generation, but ArcGIS Pro provides tools that allow for simple adjustments. The Move, Rotate, and Scale tools allow you to adjust the size, position, and orientation of the model within ArcGIS Pro. The Slice Multipatch tools allows you to crop out unwanted noise from the model.

There are also open-source tools, such as Blender, that provide much more robust toolsets for editing 3D models. While preparing your preferences in GeoModelPro, setting an Export path will save the model locally to your computer, allowing you to handle the model outside of the ArcGIS Pro environment.

Photogrammetry uses an estimated depth to replicate a 3D object. Since there's no geospatial data attached to the images, the software can't determine the exact orientation that the object should be. It's similar to how your eyes work: you can look at a tree and walk around and give a good estimate to the height, but without a ruler, you can't give an exact height.

However, ArcGIS Pro provides users with tools that allow you to scale and move your object to whatever parameters you wish!