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Recreating Cities Using Online Photos

Posted by Zonk on from the taking-a-walkabout dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "The billion of images available from a site like Flickr has stimulated the imagination of many researchers. After designing tools using Flickr to edit your photos, another team at the University of Washington (UW) is using our vacation photos to create 3D models of world landmarks. But recreating original scenes is challenging because all the photos we put on Flickr and similar sites don't exhibit the same quality. With such a large number of pictures available, the researchers have been able to reconstruct with great accuracy virtual 3D model of landmarks, including Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York City."

7 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Terrorists by nurb432 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Only a terrorist would want a 3d map of a city. This must be stopped.

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  2. This just in... by It+doesn't+come+easy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Online photos of any physical location on any planet in the local galactic group are now forbidden due to the possibility that the photos might be used by terrorists or those who may be helping terrorists to plan terrorist attacks on said locations.

    By order of Ultra Super Secret Chief Intelligence Officer, Department of Homeland Security

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    The NSA: The only part of the US government that actually listens.
  3. Re:Great accuracy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine a 3D recreation of Goatse. The traditional Goatse photograph is one in a set, of course. Maybe they could even locate the hidden turds that aren't visible in the traditional photo.

  4. Does it work with people? by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 4, Funny

    If so, I think it's time to rent a few Jessica Alba movies.

    --
    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    1. Re:Does it work with people? by BlueParrot · · Score: 4, Funny

      If so, I think it's time to rent a few Jessica Alba movies.


      You may also want some of the CSI image analysis software which support zooming beyond the image resolution. ; )
    2. Re:Does it work with people? by Chris+Pimlott · · Score: 2, Funny

      We probably do not, however, have software that can efficiently calculate the at-rest dimensions of an elastic, mobile object(Jessica Alba) beneath a nonstatic/elastic layer (clothes). We've just barely reached the point where we can depict the behavior of the squishy, bony, muscular, hairy human body accurately, much less interpolate a hidden body.

      So what you're saying is we need naked pictures of Jessica Alba... for science.

  5. How many photos of the rear and sides? by nick_davison · · Score: 3, Funny

    You'll notice the Notre Dame model was of the endlessly photographed front aspect.

    I wonder how much detail such a technique can pull on the rear of the building? Or the back of Rodin's Kiss? How about the top surfaces of the Statue of Liberty?

    Of course that won't stop CSI, next season, from pulling a bunch of pictures from Flickr of the front exterior of a building, reconstructing a complete 3D model, open accurately hinging doors, travelling inside, going down in to the basement and looking at the reflection in someone's eye to identify the killer.