Straightforward reconstruction of 3D surfaces and topography with a camera: Accuracy and geoscience application

Topographic measurements for detailed studies of processes such as erosion or mass movement are usually acquired by expensive laser scanners or rigorous photogrammetry. Here, we test and use an alternative technique based on freely available computer vision software which allows general geoscientists to easily create accurate 3D models from field photographs taken with a consumer‐grade camera. The approach integrates structure‐from‐motion (SfM) and multiview‐stereo (MVS) algorithms and, in contrast to traditional photogrammetry techniques, it requires little expertise and few control measurements, and processing is automated. To assess the precision of the results, we compare SfM‐MVS models spanning spatial…