Engineering-oriented, image-based three-dimensional data acquisition with applications

This dissertation presents research and development of image-based 3D data acquisition methods from an engineering perspective. The automation, low cost, portability and flexibility of these data acquisition methods are required for engineering applications. The goal of this research is to simplify the processing and interactive operations between operators and image-based 3D data acquisition systems. The research in this dissertation includes improving image-based 3D data acquisition methods, and applying proposed methods to two engineering applications.;An automatic recognition method for the detection of a checkerboard pattern with five double-triangle figures is proposed for camera calibration. This method has been tested in different lighting conditions with a complicated background and in different view orientations. A unified-calibration method for FTP (Fourier Transform Profilomety) methods is proposed to determine the system parameters. The proposed method unifies the height calibration and the plane calibration in one step. There is only one image of the specially designed pattern required to calibrate the 3D data acquisition system of FTP methods, making calibration simpler and faster. A new phase unwrapping algorithm based on a correlation map for FTP methods is proposed to generate reliable phase data. The phase unwrapping algorithm is further simplified by avoiding the necessity of choosing the width of the filter window.;The first engineering application developed in this research is to monitor ice accretions on power transmission lines for Manitoba Hydro. The edge detection, epipolar line and correlation methods are combined in a practical way to find the ice shape. It provides an effective approach to detect ice accretion on power transmission lines.;The second application developed is a VR (Virtual Reality)-based data retrieval system to search product data in virtual environments. It enables users to have an overview of the product data structure and to find relevant information rapidly. Web technology is used in the system for communication and data sharing. UML (Unified Model Language) is used to analyze the process of product and system design. An image-based 3D data acquisition system is developed. The system can also be used to aid 3D modeling for virtual environments.