Why AR and VR need photogrammetry

Photogrammetry companies were quick to see the ways that VR/AR technology could use professional deliverables such as 3D city models. But at the moment, there’s an impasse, as photogrammetry companies are not sure how to make the next move. At Racurs’ latest Scientific and Technical Conference last October, a roundtable was organized to discuss new market opportunities for photogrammetry in the AR/VR space.

The discussion opened with an overview of how VR/AR is used in Russia and abroad, notable use cases are simulating complex or dangerous environments (from rocket launching sites to nuclear reactors), or training, where VR provides a good alternative to putting personnel on-site, such as when training someone to run a train. VR can also be used for cutting costs on trainings, for example engine assembly where distinct engine parts can be visualized precisely using VR models.

The data needed to use VR/AR technology for these applications can be accessed oftentimes through geoportals. Many of these portals come with an inbuilt VR/AR function that requires extra technology from photogrammetric companies too to integrate both disciplines.

Unfortunately, current AR/VR technology is not always what people expect from it: VR helmets can cause dizziness for first-time users. Lightning is another problem. 3D applications and models sometimes solve this issue by including an artificial lightning source to see how the experience would look in real life.

A general problem with new technology is that there exist only isolated use cases for separate verticals. People are still figuring out how to put the technology to its best use rather than refining or adjusting it to their specific needs.