Agisoft Metashape Professional

Unique photogrammetric software that delivers highly accurate results with minimal effort.

Program description

Agisoft Metashape Professional is software that maximizes the possibilities of photogrammetry. It incorporates machine learning technologies for analysis and post-processing to deliver the highest accuracy results.

Metashape makes it possible to:

• process images obtained with RGB or multispectral cameras, including multi-camera systems,
• convert photographs:
  • into dense point clouds,
  • into textured polygonal models,
  • into georeferenced orthophotomaps,
  • in digital elevation / terrain models (DEM / DTM).

Post-processing allows to remove shadows and texture distortions from the surface of models, calculate vegetation indices, compose prescription files for agricultural activities, automatically classify dense point clouds, etc.

The ability to export to all external post-processing packages makes Agisoft Metashape Professional a versatile photogrammetric tool.

Use Metashape for aerial photos

Point clouds

similar quality as laser scans

Highly detailed

surfaces in TIN or GRID models

Texturised 3D models

based on original images

Orthophotos

with 1:500 precision

Professional photogrammetry is easy

The core of Metashape is digital photogrammetry methods supported by modern computer vision algorithms.

Metashape knows what to offer to professionals. You can control the quality of the obtained results by using reports, fine-tune the workspace for specific tasks and use advanced features such as stereo mode or Python scripts.

A professional photogrammetric system can be easily operated by a novice: the intuitive interface is very easy to learn. You can get highly accurate results without even having specialized knowledge and training in photogrammetry.

How it Agisoft Works

Cameras positioning

1. After that, Metashape creates dense point cloud based on calculated cameras positions. Dense point cloud can be cut/excluded and classified.

Point cloud

2. Based on dense point cloud, a polygonal model is created. Two methods are used altitude map — for such surfaces as relief, and random — for surfaces of any kind. The model can be edited or exported.

Polygonal model

3. To raise textures quality, Metashape uses automated image evaluation. Those rated less then 0.5 are recommended to be excluded from generated texture to make model’s visual quality better.

Textures

4. To find common points, Metashape uses an algorithm that first finds ‘special’ points in individual photographs. Then, on the basis of unique identifiers — descriptors — the points are identified. If a point is recognized in two or more frames, it becomes a match.

This is followed by frame alignment or phototriangulation. This process is implemented with the use of the Bundle Block Adjustment algorithm, which is based on the least squares method. Bundle Block Adjustment is an interpretation of the Bundle Method, the most rigorous method for solving phototriangulation. The calculation can include the coordinates of the anchor points and the projection of markers on the frame. All parameters can be given weights — the scale of their participation in the calculation.

A dense cloud is built on the basis of depth maps. The Semi-Global Matching algorithm is used to create them. The essence of the algorithm is that for each pixel of the left image of a stereo pair there is a corresponding pixel on the right image. Each pixel in the left image is compared to a subset of pixels in the right image with the corresponding ordinate. Next, a parallelepiped is formed for the entire image, where one ‘line’ of cells corresponds to each pixel, and one longitudinal section of the cube corresponds to a row of pixels in the image. The elements of the cube are the values ​​of the matching criterion, which are analyzed to find the minimum values ​​for each pixel.

In addition, links between neighboring pixels in eight directions around a given pixel are analyzed. As a result, for each pixel of the left image, the corresponding value of the longitudinal parallax is found and, as a consequence, the spatial coordinates of the points of the dense model.

Capabilities

Photogrammetric triangulation

Processing of various types of imagery: aerial (nadir, oblique), close-range, satellite.

Auto calibration: frame (incl. fisheye), spherical & cylindrical cameras.

Multi-camera projects support.

Scanned images with fiducial marks support.

Dense point cloud: editing and classification

Additional ability to edit data to obtain the most accurate results in subsequent stages.

Automatic multiclass points for fine-tuning post-processing.

Import / export will help improve the classic point data processing.

Digital elevation model: DSM/DTM export

Digital Surface and/or Digital Terrain Model — depending on the project.

Georeferncing based on EXIF meta data/flight log: GPS/GCPs data.

EPSG registry coordinate systems support: WGS84, UTM, etc.

Customize vertical datums according to the requirements of a specific project.

Georeferenced orthomosaic export

Georeferenced orthomosaic: most-GIS-compatible GeoTIFF format; KML file to be located on Google Earth.

Block export for very large projects. Colour grading to ensure uniform texture.

The built-in noise filter in the image allows to eliminate artifacts resulting from the displacement of the object relative to the camera during shooting.

Set up planar and cylindrical projection options for ground projects.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) registration

Simultaneous adjustment of both laser scanner and camera positions.

Capability to combine TLS and photogrammetric depth maps.

Markers support and automatic targets detection for manual alignment of scanner data.

Masking instruments to ignore unwanted objects in scanner data.

Ground control points / scale bar support

GCPs import for georeferencing and control over the accuracy of the results.

Coded/non-coded targets auto-detection for fast GCPs input.

Scale bar tool to set reference distance without implementation of positioning equipment.

Measurements: distances, areas, volumes

Inbuilt tools to measure distances, areas and volumes.

To perform more sophisticated metric analysis Metashape products can be smoothly transferred to external tools thanks to a variety of export formats.

Stereoscopic measurements

Professional 3D monitors and 3D controllers support for accurate and convenient stereoscopic vectorization of features and measurement purposes.

3D model: generation and texturing

Various scenes: archaeological sites, artifacts, buildings, interiors, people, etc.

Direct upload to various online resources and export to many popular formats.

Photorealistic textures: HDR and multifile support (incl. UDIM layout).

Hierarchical tiled model generation

City scale modeling preserving the original image resolution for texturing.

Cesium publishing.

4D modeling for dynamic scenes

Multi camera station data processing for creative projects in cinemato- graphic art, game industry, etc.

Basis for numerous visual effects with 3D models reconstructed in time sequence.

Panorama stitching

It is possible both to build a complete panoramic image using a set of images from one camera station (a camera that is statically located at one point and performs shooting in different directions), and to create a 3D model using data from at least two camera stations.

Multispectral imagery processing

RGB/NIR/thermal/multispectral imagery processing.

Fast reconstruction based on preferable channel.

Multichannel orthomosaic generation and user-defined vegetation indices (e.g. NDVI) calculation and export.

Automatic powerlines detection

Straightforward and time-efficient for large-scale projects since requires only aligned images as the input.

Results export in a form of a 3D polyline model for every wire.

Robust results thanks to catenary curve fitting algorithm.

Satellite imagery processing

Common processing workflow for panchromatic and multispectral satellite images is supported, provided that sufficiently accurate RPC data is available for each image.

Python and Java API

In addition to Batch processing – a way to save on human intervention, Python scripting and Java bindings suggests for sophisticated automation and customization options.

Starting from the adding custom processing operations to the application GUI up to the complete job automation and integration to Python or Java pipeline.

Network processing

Distributed calculations over a local computer network to use combined power of multiple nodes for huge data sets processing in one project.

Cloud processing

Cloud processing interface allows to save on the hardware infrastructure for photogrammetric pipeline, with further option to visualize and share the variety of the processing results online with colleagues or customers, as well as to embed published projects in your own web platforms.

System requirements