No description available.

[pt] O estudo do escoamento intermitente de gás e líquido é de enorme relevância. Devido a sua vasta ocorrência em diversos problemas industriais, como na indústria do petróleo, em escoamentos de água e vapor em trocadores de calor e em sistemas de refrigeração de usinas nucleares, diversos estudos experimentais e numéricos buscam obter um conhecimento mais profundo deste complexo fenômeno. Devido a esta complexidade, se fazem necessários experimentos detalhados de maneira a dar suporte aos modelos matemáticos desenvolvidos. O presente trabalho descreve um estudo experimental de um escoamento turbulento gás-líquido no regime intermitente para tubo horizontal. As técnicas de velocimetria por imagem de partícula estereoscópica de alta frequência (SPIV ) e fluorescência induzida por laser (LIF) foram usadas para medir todos os três componentes do vetor de velocidade em diferentes seções do tubo, referenciadas pelo nariz da bolha de gás. A seção de testes consistiu de uma tubulação de acrílico com diâmetro interno de 40mm e 17,7m de comprimento. Os fluidos de trabalho utilizados foram água e ar, com velocidades superficiais de jL igual 0,3 0,4 e 0,5m/s e jG igual 0,5m/s que formaram o padrão de escoamento intermitente. Um sistema de sensores fotossensíveis foi utilizado para medir a velocidade de translação da bolha de gás, além de acionar o sistema SPIV. Desta forma, foi possível determinar os campos médios das três componentes de velocidade da fase líquida do escoamento turbulento gás-líquido em regiões de interesse na vizinhança da bolha alongada. Os dados obtidos revelaram a influência das bolhas de gás de maior velocidade, na dinâmica do campo de velocidade do líquido. Tais dados contém informações valiosas que contribuem não apenas para uma melhor compreensão da física que rege o escoamento, mas também como forma de validação e aprimoramento de modelos numéricos. / [en] The analysis of gas-liquid intermittent flow in horizontal pipes is of great relevance importance due its applications in many industrial problems, such as in the petroleum industry, boiler and heat exchanger tubes and cooling systems of nuclear power plants. A considerable number of experimental and analytical studies have been carried out on the pursuit of a deeper knowledge of this complex phenomenon. The present work describes an experimental study of a horizontal, gas-liquid pipe flow in the intermittent regime. Experimental techniques such as high frequency stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV ) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF), were applied in order to obtain all three components of the velocity vector at different pipe sections, referred to the gas bubble nose tip. A 40mm inner diameter, 17.7m long acrylic pipe was used as test section (L/D approximately 450). The working fluids, water and air formed the intermittent flow pattern, with superficial velocities of jL equal 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 m/s and jG equal 0.5 m/s. A set of three photogate sensors, equally-spaced along the pipe, were used to measure the bubble translational velocities, and to trigger the SPIV system, allowing for the determination of ensemble-averaged, threecomponent velocity fields of the turbulent liquid flow in cross-stream planes around the gas bubble. The original data obtained revealed the influence of the faster-moving gas bubbles on the dynamics of the liquid velocity field, providing valuable information that contribute to a better understanding of the physics governing the flow, also serving for the validation of numerical simulations.

We live in a time when technology is digitalizing the world. Technology is a medium that brings people closer to each other and enables more experiences to take place; at home. The increase of music concert attendance boomed the music industry in 2016 and set record sales already halfway into the year. However, there are still people that cannot attend music concerts or performances due to other factors. It was not only the music industry that boomed in 2016; artists started producing music concerts in Virtual Reality (VR) enabling them to reach out to a wider audience. This study shows how music fans in the age between 20-30 perceive music concerts and performances in virtual worlds. The study conducted qualitative experiments and focus group discussions with a total of nine participants. The conclusion is that music fans perceive virtual reality as a media technology that needs more product development and focus on the possibilities of becoming a more social experience. Virtual reality is a technology that isolates the user; the music fans demanded an experience that enables co-presence. That is, achieving immersion and experiencing being present in a virtual world with another person.

Autonomous navigation for ground vehicles has many challenges. Autonomous systems must be able to self-localise, avoid obstacles and determine navigable surfaces. This thesis studies several aspects of autonomous navigation with a particular emphasis on vision, motivated by it being a primary component for navigation in many high-level biological organisms.  The key problem of self-localisation or pose estimation can be solved through analysis of the changes in appearance of rigid objects observed from different view points. We therefore describe a system for structure and motion estimation for real-time navigation and obstacle avoidance. With the explicit assumption of a calibrated camera, we have studied several schemes for increasing accuracy and speed of the estimation.The basis of most structure and motion pose estimation algorithms is a good point tracker. However point tracking is computationally expensive and can occupy a large portion of the CPU resources. In thisthesis we show how a point tracker can be implemented efficiently on the graphics processor, which results in faster tracking of points and the CPU being available to carry out additional processing tasks.In addition we propose a novel view interpolation approach, that can be used effectively for pose estimation given previously seen views. In this way, a vehicle will be able to estimate its location by interpolating previously seen data.Navigation and obstacle avoidance may be carried out efficiently using structure and motion, but only whitin a limited range from the camera. In order to increase this effective range, additional information needs to be incorporated, more specifically the location of objects in the image. For this, we propose a real-time object recognition method, which uses P-channel matching, which may be used for improving navigation accuracy at distances where structure estimation is unreliable. / Diplecs

[ES] La Fotogrametría es una ciencia y tecnología que tiene utilidad médica creciente. Una aplicación médica destacable de la Fotogrametría es la medición de las úlceras de la piel. Las úlceras de la piel constituyen un problema médico y social importante: por su elevado coste económico, afectación de la salud y calidad de vida, frecuente cronicidad y complicaciones. La medición de la úlcera es necesaria y útil para el seguimiento clínico. La disminución de variables de tamaño de la úlcera indica su progresión hacia la cicatrización. Los procedimientos tradicionales de medición unidimensional y bidimensional, como la regla graduada y la planimetría con acetato, se siguen utilizando por su sencillez y comodidad de uso. Sin embargo, son invasivos y tienen inconvenientes técnicos, como inexactitud e imprecisión. Otros procedimientos de medición tridimensional (3D), como la inyección de líquido y los moldes de pasta, pueden tener, además, efectos adversos, como dolor, irritación o reacción alérgica. Algunos procedimientos sin contacto que utilizan técnicas de escaneo con luz estructurada o láser: 1/ necesitan dispositivos de escaneo específicos; 2/ no se ha demostrado su utilidad en la práctica clínica; 3/ tienen un coste elevado. Por otra parte, no hay un procedimiento de referencia (patrón oro) para la medición del volumen de las úlceras cutáneas. Una optimización de las técnicas utilizadas para la valoración objetiva de la evolución de las úlceras de la piel ayudaría a comparar la eficacia de los distintos tratamientos y seleccionar los más adecuados, así como predecir el tiempo de curación. Por todo lo anterior, se justifica el desarrollo de un procedimiento de medición de úlceras basado en una técnica fotogramétrica sin contacto, como la estereofotogrametría. El objetivo general de esta tesis es desarrollar un procedimiento fotogramétrico para el escaneo, medición, clasificación tisular y seguimiento clínico de úlceras cutáneas; y validar dicho procedimiento en un estudio clínico con pacientes, evaluando su fiabilidad y exactitud. El procedimiento SfM-3DULC está basado en las técnicas estereofotogramétricas SfM (Structure from Motion) y MVS (Multi View Stereo) y utiliza como software de escaneo Agisoft PhotoScan y como software de medición del modelo 3D el programa 3DULC, creado por los autores. Este procedimiento escanea y reconstruye un modelo digital 3D de la úlcera utilizando una cámara digital, con la que se adquieren una serie de fotografías desde varias localizaciones y orientaciones. Para la validación del procedimiento SfM-3DULC, se realizó un estudio piloto en el que se evaluó su fiabilidad y exactitud. También se propuso una nueva variante del procedimiento ImageJ, en la que se utiliza una ortofotografía (Ortho-ImageJ), para medir el área proyectada. Por último, se compararon las mediciones realizadas por un grupo de dermatólogos y otro grupo de no expertos. Todas las variables medidas por dermatólogos usando SfM-3DULC mostraron excelentes puntuaciones de fiabilidad intra-evaluador (ICC > 0.99) e inter-evaluador (ICC > 0.98). En conclusión, el software 3DULC desarrollado, en su versión 1.0: 1/ Interviene en la fase de medición de la úlcera cutánea, tras su escaneo. 2/ Es autónomo respecto al procedimiento de escaneo, y podría utilizarse junto a cualquier otra técnica que obtenga una nube de puntos de la úlcera cutánea. 3/ Detecta el contorno de la úlcera de forma asistida basándose en su respuesta espectral. 4/ Clasifica las zonas de la úlcera cutánea según su tipo de tejido utilizando un árbol de decisión. 5/ Mide las siguientes variables morfométricas de la úlcera cutánea: coeficiente de circularidad, coeficiente de lisura, longitud máxima, perímetro, profundidad máxima, área proyectada, área de la superficie excavada, área de la superficie de referencia y volumen. 6/ Presenta los resultados con un informe HTML que facilita la interpretación por personal sanitario. / [CA] La Fotogrametria és una ciència i tecnologia que té utilitat mèdica creixent. Una aplicació mèdica destacable de la Fotogrametria és el mesurament de les úlceres de la pell. Les úlceres de la pell constitueixen un problema mèdic i social important: pel seu elevat cost econòmic, afectació de la salut i qualitat de vida, freqüent cronicitat i complicacions. El mesurament de l'úlcera és necessària i útil per al seguiment clínic. La disminució de variables de mida de l'úlcera indica la seva progressió cap a la cicatrització. Els procediments tradicionals de mesurament unidimensional i bidimensional, com el regle graduat i la planimetria amb acetat, es continuen utilitzant per la seva senzillesa i comoditat d'ús. No obstant això, són invasius i tenen inconvenients tècnics, com inexactitud i imprecisió. Altres procediments de mesurament tridimensional (3D), com la injecció de líquid i els motles de pasta, poden tenir, a més, efectes adversos, com dolor, irritació o reaccions al·lèrgiques. Alguns procediments sense contacte que utilitzen tècniques d'escaneig amb llum estructurada o làser: 1 / necessiten dispositius d'escaneig específics; 2 / no s'ha demostrat la seva utilitat en la pràctica clínica; 3 / tenen un cost elevat. D'altra banda, no hi ha un procediment de referència (patró or) per al mesurament del volum de les úlceres cutànies. Una optimització de les tècniques utilitzades per a la valoració objectiva de l'evolució de les úlceres de la pell ajudaria a comparar l'eficàcia dels diferents tractaments i seleccionar els més adequats, així com predir el temps de curació. Per tot l'anterior, es justifica el desenvolupament d'un procediment de mesurament de úlceres basat en una tècnica fotogramètrica sense contacte, com la estereofotogrametría. L'objectiu general d'aquesta tesi és desenvolupar un procediment fotogramètric per a l'escaneig, mesurament, classificació tissular i seguiment clínic d'úlceres cutànies; i validar aquest procediment en un estudi clínic amb pacients, avaluant la seva fiabilitat i exactitud. El procediment SFM-3DULC està basat en les tècniques estereofotogramétricas SFM (Structure from Motion) i MVS (Multi View Stereo) i utilitza com a programari d'escaneig Agisoft PhotoScan i com a programari de mesurament de el model 3D el programa 3DULC, creat pels autors. Aquest procediment escaneja i reconstrueix un model digital 3D de l'úlcera utilitzant una càmera digital, amb la qual s'adquireixen una sèrie de fotografies des de diverses localitzacions i orientacions. Per a la validació de l'procediment SFM-3DULC, es va realitzar un estudi pilot en el qual es va avaluar la seva fiabilitat i exactitud. També es va proposar una nova variant del procediment ImageJ, en què s'utilitza una ortofotografia (Ortho-ImageJ), per mesurar l'àrea projectada. Finalment, es van comparar les mesures realitzades per un grup de dermatòlegs i un altre grup de no experts. Totes les variables mesures per dermatòlegs usant SFM-3DULC van mostrar excel·lents puntuacions de fiabilitat intra-avaluador (ICC> 0.99) i inter-avaluador (ICC> 0.98). En conclusió, el programari 3DULC desenvolupat, en la seva versió 1.0: 1 / Intervé en la fase de mesurament de l'úlcera cutània, després de la seva exploració. 2 / És autònom respecte a l'procediment d'escaneig, i podria utilitzar-costat de qualsevol altra tècnica que obtingui un núvol de punts de l'úlcera cutània. 3 / Detecta el contorn de l'úlcera de forma assistida basant-se en la seva resposta espectral. 4 / Classifica les zones de l'úlcera cutània segons el seu tipus de teixit utilitzant un arbre de decisió. 5 / Mesura les variables morfomètriques de l'úlcera cutània: coeficient de circularitat, coeficient de llisor, longitud màxima, perímetre, profunditat màxima, àrea projectada, àrea de la superfície excavada, àrea de la superfície de referència i volum. 6 / Presenta els resultats amb un informe HTML que facilita la interpretació per personal sanitari. / [EN] Photogrammetry is a science and technology of increasing medical utility. A notable medical application of photogrammetry is the measurement of skin ulcers. Skin ulcers are a major medical and social problem: due to their high economic cost, impact on health and quality of life, frequent chronicity and complications. Ulcer measurement is necessary and useful for the clinical follow-up. Decreasing ulcer size variables indicate progression towards healing. Traditional one- and two-dimensional measurement procedures, such as the graduated ruler and acetate planimetry, are still used because of their simplicity and ease of use. However, they are invasive and have technical drawbacks, such as inaccuracy and imprecision. Other three-dimensional (3D) measurement procedures, such as liquid injection and paste moulds, may also have adverse effects, such as pain, irritation or allergic reaction. Some non-contact procedures that use structured light or laser scanning techniques: 1/ require specific scanning devices; 2/ have not been demonstrated to be useful in clinical practice; 3/ are expensive. Moreover, there is no reference procedure (gold standard) for the measurement of skin ulcer volume. Optimisation of the techniques used for the objective assessment of the evolution of skin ulcers would help to compare the efficacy of different treatments and to select the most appropriate ones, as well as to predict healing time. Therefore, the development of an ulcer measurement procedure based on a non-contact photogrammetric technique, such as stereophotogrammetry, is justified. The main objective of this thesis is to develop a photogrammetric procedure for the scanning, measurement, tissue classification and clinical follow-up of skin ulcers; and to validate this procedure in a clinical study with patients, evaluating its reliability and accuracy. The SfM-3DULC procedure is based on the stereophotogrammetric techniques SfM (Structure from Motion) and MVS (Multi View Stereo) and uses Agisoft PhotoScan as scanning software and 3DULC as 3D model measurement software. This procedure scans and reconstructs a 3D digital model of the ulcer using a digital camera, which acquires photographs from various locations and orientations. In order to validate the SfM-3DULC procedure, a pilot study was conducted to assess its reliability and accuracy. A new variant of the ImageJ procedure was also proposed, in which an orthophotography (Ortho-ImageJ) is used to measure the projected area. Finally, measurements made by a group of dermatologists and a group of non-experts were compared. All the variables measured by dermatologists using SfM-3DULC showed excellent scores of intra-rater reliability (ICC > 0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC > 0.98). In conclusion, the 3DULC software developed, in its version 1.0: 1/ Is used to measure the skin ulcer, after its scan. 2/ Is autonomous with respect to the scanning procedure, and could be used with any other technique that obtains a point cloud of the skin ulcer. 3/ Outlines the edge of the ulcer semi-automatically, based on its spectral response. 4/ Classifies skin ulcer areas according to their tissue type, using a decision tree. 5/ Measures the following morphometric variables of the skin ulcer: circularity coefficient, evenness coefficient, maximum length, perimeter, maximum depth, projected area, surface area, reference surface area and volume. 6/ Presents the results with an HTML report that facilitates its interpretation by healthcare personnel. / Esta tesis doctoral fue financiada con una beca predoctoral de la Generalitat Valenciana – Consellería de Educación, Investigación, Cultura y Deporte, y el Fondo Social Europeo (ACIF/2018/160). / Sánchez Jiménez, D. (2022). SfM-3DULC: Desarrollo y validación de un procedimiento fotogramétrico para el escaneo, medición, clasificación tisular y seguimiento clínico de úlceras cutáneas [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/181691

No / PURPOSE. To evaluate whether the Amblyopia and Strabismus Questionnaire (A&SQ) is a suitable instrument for the assessment of vision-related quality-of life (VR-QoL) in individuals with strabismus and/or amblyopia. METHODS. The A&SQ was completed by 102 individuals, all of whom had amblyopia, strabismus, or both. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate the usefulness of individual questionnaire items (i.e., questions); the response-scale performance; how well the items targeted VR-QoL; whether individual items showed response bias, depending on factors such as whether strabismus was present; and dimensionality. RESULTS. Items relating to concerns about the appearance of the eyes were applicable only to those with strabismus, and many items showed large ceiling effects. The response scale showed disordered responses and underused response options, which improved after the number of response options was reduced from five to three. This change improved the discriminative ability of the questionnaire (person separation index increased from 1.98 to 2.11). Significant bias was found between strabismic and nonstrabismic respondents. Separate Rasch analyses conducted for subjects with and without strabismus indicated that all A&SQ items seemed appropriate for individuals with strabismus (Rasch infit values between 0.60 and 1.40), but several items fitted the model poorly in amblyopes without strabismus. The AS&Q was not found to be unidimensional. CONCLUSIONS. The findings highlight the limitations of the A&SQ instrument in the assessment of VR-QoL in subjects with strabismus and especially in those with amblyopia alone. The results suggest that separate instruments are needed to quantify VR-QoL in amblyopes with and without strabismus.

Based on previous research on spatial attributes in foley and the concept that auditory immersion in first-person perspective computer games is enhanced by believable sound effects, this study explores if there is a connection between stereo foley and the believability of the first-person perspective, and regardless, if there is a preference to either mono or stereo foley. An interactive listening test was created in unreal engine 4, where 20 subjects, all considered gamers, played three levels that differed visually and in auditory content. In these levels, subjects auditioned two versions of avatar-related foley sounds. One version was mono, the other stereo. The test prompted the subjects to complete two tasks for each level, whereupon the foley version changed upon completion of the first task. The subjects then answered questions in between each level, regarding the foley version. They were asked to rate believability and choose a preference, as well as provide motivations for their choices. The quantitative data showed next no evidence that either mono or stereo was generally perceived as more believable or preferred. However, the qualitative data indicates that the majority of players tend to prefer and rate stereo foley as more believable in certain game environments. Furthermore, the data indicates that some subjects prefer a sensory replication of reality in foley. It is also shown that preference for stereo width vary between subjects and therefore argued that there cannot be a perfect standardized setting for stereo foley.

Μια από τις συνεχώς εξελισσόμενες περιοχές της επιστήμης των υπολογιστών είναι η Υπολογιστική Όραση, σκοπός της οποίας είναι η δημιουργία έξυπνων συστημάτων για την ανάκτηση πληροφοριών από πραγματικές εικόνες. Πολλές σύγχρονες εφαρμογές της υπολογιστικής όρασης βασίζονται στην αντιστοίχιση εικόνων. Την πλειοψηφία των αλγορίθμων αντιστοίχισης συνθέτουν παραμετρικές τεχνικές, σύμφωνα με τις οποίες υιοθετείται ένα παραμετρικό μοντέλο, το οποίο εφαρμοζόμενο στη μια εικόνα δύναται να παρέχει μια προσέγγιση της άλλης. Στο πλαίσιο της διατριβής μελετάται εκτενώς το πρόβλημα της Στερεοσκοπικής Αντιστοίχισης και το γενικό πρόβλημα της Ευθυγράμμισης Εικόνων. Για την αντιμετώπιση του πρώτου προβλήματος προτείνεται ένας τοπικός αλγόριθμος διαφορικής αντιστοίχισης που κάνει χρήση μιας νέας συνάρτησης κόστους, του Τροποποιημένου Συντελεστή Συσχέτισης (ECC), η οποία ενσωματώνει το παραμετρικό μοντέλο μετατόπισης στον κλασικό συντελεστή συσχέτισης. Η ενσωμάτωση αυτή καθιστά τη νέα συνάρτηση κατάλληλη για εκτιμήσεις ανομοιότητας με ακρίβεια μικρότερη από αυτήν του εικονοστοιχείου. Αν και η συνάρτηση αυτή είναι μη γραμμική ως προς την παράμετρο μετατόπισης, το πρόβλημα μεγιστοποίησης έχει κλειστού τύπου λύση με αποτέλεσμα τη μειωμένη πολυπλοκότητα της διαδικασίας της αντιστοίχισης με ακρίβεια υπο-εικονοστοιχείου. Ο προτεινόμενος αλγόριθμος παρέχει ακριβή αποτελέσματα ακόμα και κάτω από μη γραμμικές φωτομετρικές παραμορφώσεις, ενώ η απόδοσή του υπερτερεί έναντι γνωστών στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία τεχνικών αντιστοίχισης ενώ φαίνεται να είναι απαλλαγμένος από το φαινόμενο pixel locking. Στην περίπτωση του προβλήματος της ευθυγράμμισης εικόνων, η προτεινόμενη συνάρτηση γενικεύεται με αποτέλεσμα τη δυνατότητα χρήσης οποιουδήποτε δισδιάστατου μετασχηματισμού. Η μεγιστοποίησή της, η οποία αποτελεί ένα μη γραμμικό πρόβλημα, επιτυγχάνεται μέσω της επίλυσης μιας ακολουθίας υπο-προβλημάτων βελτιστοποίησης. Σε κάθε επανάληψη επιβάλλεται η μεγιστοποίηση μιας μη γραμμικής συνάρτησης του διανύσματος διορθώσεων των παραμέτρων, η οποία αποδεικνύεται ότι καταλήγει στη λύση ενός γραμμικού συστήματος. Δύο εκδόσεις του σχήματος αυτού προτείνονται: ο αλγόριθμος Forwards Additive ECC (FA-ECC) και o αποδοτικός υπολογιστικά αλγόριθμος Inverse Compositional ECC (IC-ECC). Τα προτεινόμενα σχήματα συγκρίνονται με τα αντίστοιχα (FA-LK και SIC) του αλγόριθμου Lucas-Kanade, ο οποίος αποτελεί σημείο αναφοράς στη σχετική βιβλιογραφία, μέσα από μια σειρά πειραμάτων. Ο αλγόριθμος FA-ECC παρουσιάζει όμοια πολυπλοκότητα με τον ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενο αλγόριθμο FA-LΚ και παρέχει πιο ακριβή αποτελέσματα ενώ συγκλίνει με αισθητά μεγαλύτερη πιθανότητα και ταχύτητα. Παράλληλα, παρουσιάζεται πιο εύρωστος σε περιπτώσεις παρουσίας προσθετικού θορύβου, φωτομετρικών παραμορφώσεων και υπερ-μοντελοποίησης της γεωμετρικής παραμόρφωσης των εικόνων. Ο αλγόριθμος IC-ECC κάνει χρήση της αντίστροφης λογικής, η οποία στηρίζεται στην αλλαγή των ρόλων των εικόνων αντιστοίχισης και συνδυάζει τον κανόνα ενημέρωσης των παραμέτρων μέσω της σύνθεσης των μετασχηματισμών. Τα δύο αυτά χαρακτηριστικά έχουν ως αποτέλεσμα τη δραστική μείωση του υπολογιστικού κόστους, ακόμα και σε σχέση με τον SIC αλγόριθμο, με τον οποίο βέβαια παρουσιάζει παρόμοια συμπεριφορά. Αν και ο αλγόριθμος FA-ECC γενικά υπερτερεί έναντι των τριών άλλων αλγορίθμων, η επιλογή μεταξύ των δύο προτεινόμενων σχημάτων εξαρτάται από το λόγο μεταξύ ακρίβειας αντιστοίχισης και υπολογιστικού κόστους. / Computer Vision has been recently one of the most active research areas in computer society. Many modern computer vision applications require the solution of the well known image registration problem which consist in finding correspondences between projections of the same scene. The majority of registration algorithms adopt a specific parametric transformation model, which is applied to one image, thus providing an approach of the other one. Towards the solution of the Stereo Correspondence problem, where the goal is the construction of the disparity map, a local differential algorithm is proposed which involves a new similarity criterion, the Enhanced Correlation Coefficient (ECC). This criterion is invariant to linear photometric distortions and results from the incorporation of a single parameter model into the classical correlation coefficient, defining thus a continuous objective function. Although the objective function is non-linear in translation parameter, its maximization results in a closed form solution, saving thus much computational burden. The proposed algorithm provides accurate results even under non-linear photometric distortions and its performance is superior to well known conventional stereo correspondence techniques. In addition, the proposed technique seems not to suffer from pixel locking effect and outperforms even stereo techniques, dedicated to the cancellation of this effect. For the image alignment problem, the maximization of a generalized version of ECC function that incorporates any 2D warp transformation is proposed. Although this function is a highly non-linear function of the warp parameters, an efficient iterative scheme for its maximization is developed. In each iteration of the new scheme, an efficient approximation of the nonlinear objective function is used leading to a closed form solution of low computational complexity. Two different iterative schemes are proposed; the Forwards Additive ECC (FA-ECC) and the Inverse Compositional ECC (IC-ECC) algorithm. Τhe proposed iterative schemes are compared with the corresponding schemes (FA-LK and SIC) of the leading Lucas-Kanade algorithm, through a series of experiments. FA-ECC algorithm makes use of the known additive parameter update rule and its computational cost is similar to the one required by the most widely used FA-LK algorithm. The proposed iterative scheme exhibits increased learning ability, since it converges faster with higher probability. This superiority is retained even in presence of additive noise and photometric distortion, as well as in cases of over-modelling the geometric distortion of the images. On the other hand, IC-ECC algorithm makes use of inverse logic by swapping the role of images and adopts the transformation composition update rule. As a consequence of these two options, the complexity per iteration is drastically reduced and the resulting algorithm constitutes the most computationally efficient scheme than three other above mentioned algorithms. However, empirical learning curves and probability of convergence scores indicate that the proposed algorithm has a similar performance to the one exhibited by SIC. Though FA-ECC seems to be clearly more robust in real situation conditions among all the above mentioned alignment algorithms, the choice between two proposed schemes necessitates a trade-off between accuracy and speed.

Many different approaches have been taken towards solving the stereo correspondence problem and great progress has been made within the field during the last decade. This is mainly thanks to newly evolved global optimization techniques and better ways to compute pixel dissimilarity between views. The most successful algorithms are based on approaches that explicitly model smoothness assumptions made about the physical world, with image segmentation and plane fitting being two frequently used techniques. Within the project, a survey of state of the art stereo algorithms was conducted and the theory behind them is explained. Techniques found interesting were implemented for experimental trials and an algorithm aiming to achieve state of the art performance was implemented and evaluated. For several cases, state of the art performance was reached. To keep down the computational complexity, an algorithm relying on local winner-take-all optimization, image segmentation and plane fitting was compared against minimizing a global energy function formulated on pixel level. Experiments show that the local approach in several cases can match the global approach, but that problems sometimes arise – especially when large areas that lack texture are present. Such problematic areas are better handled by the explicit modeling of smoothness in global energy minimization. Lastly, disparity estimation for image sequences was explored and some ideas on how to use temporal information were implemented and tried. The ideas mainly relied on motion detection to determine parts that are static in a sequence of frames. Stereo correspondence for sequences is a rather new research field, and there is still a lot of work to be made.

Tato práce popisuje problematiku návrhu a vývoje aplikace pro rekonstrukci 3D modelů z 2D obrazových dat, označované jako bundle adjustment. Práce analyzuje proces 3D rekonstrukce a důkladně popisuje jednotlivé kroky. Prvním z kroků je automatizované získání obrazové sady z internetu. Je představena sada skriptů pro hromadné stahování obrázků ze služeb Flickr a Google Images a shrnuty požadavky na tyto obrázky pro co nejlepší 3D rekonstrukci. Práce dále popisuje různé detektory, extraktory a párovací algoritmy klíčových bodů v obraze s cílem najít nejvhodnější kombinaci pro rekonstrukci budov. Poté je vysvětlen proces rekonstrukce 3D struktury, její optimalizace a jak je tato problematika realizovaná v našem programu. Závěr práce testuje výsledky získané z implementovaného programu pro několik různých datových sad a porovnává je s výsledky ostatních podobných programů, představených v úvodu práce.