3.02.02 – Case Study 02 – NCTech iSTAR Fusion : Familiarization Tests – Domestic Living Room

Test 2 – Domestic Living Room Space

  • Camera : NCTech iSTAR Fusion
  • Mount : Manfrotto 055 using 3/8″ threaded mount (standard)
  • Camera ‘eyeline’ height : 905 mm / 35 inches approx
  • Captured using ‘Walk Around Mode’ (essentially two opposite corners captured SEQUENTIALLY – to allow operator to ‘hide’). I avoided using ‘wifi / remote control’ as this would have compounded the very poor battery life / reliability I was experiencing.
  • Exposure Mode : Indoors
  • Lighting Type : Normal
  • Camera Mode : HDR Pro
  • Power : Battery
  • Capture : 20160318-025402

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Above : Camera in situ – measurement tape with 10 standard ping-pong balls at 304.8 mm / 12 inch intervals from camera nadir.

The rational behind this test was to evaluate the following:

  • Stitch accuracy – using a straight line (the measurement tape) placed at the stitch point of system (eg running parallel to camera diagonal corners)
  • Image fidelity – using the printed measurements of the tape as a guide
  • Foot print size – using the ping-pongs to provide a crude indicator of scale

Capture 1 – Tape in position – NO Ping Pongs in place.

Above : Image : iSTAR FUSION Thumbnail Preview of capture

Above : iSTAR FUSION capture (3rd capture since acquiring system) – stitching issues visible over the tape and quite a grainy / noisy image.

Analysis of above image capture (screenshots taken from NCTech Immersive Viewer)iSTAR_FUSION_Loung_Tape_Color iSTAR_FUSION_Loung_Tape_Color_HL

Above : Both images show color reproduction issues

iSTAR_FUSION_Loung_Tape_Stitch_Error iSTAR_FUSION_Loung_Tape_Stitch_Error_HL

Above : Both images show poor stitching and geometry reconstruction issues – warping, missing data etc.

iSTAR_FUSION_Loung_Tape_Text_Zoom

Above : screenshots taken directly from NCTech Immersive Viewer – note excessive intrusion of camera ‘footprint’ (in black) on most views. ALT text available over each image.

Camera Software Crashes (4th, 5th and 6th capture attempts)

Having positioned the tape and ping-pong balls in position, my next capture should have been my fourth image capture using the iSTAR FUSION system…

However…

The system suffered THREE consecutive software crashes / freezes – requiring a complete restart. Three software crashes in 12 minutes did not instill much confidence!

And it could not have been the battery, as system was plugged into mains supply.

So, captures 4, 5 and 6 were Null and Void.

IMG_1587

Above : Crash #1 @ 3:59PM

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Above : Crash #2 @ 4:04PM

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Above : Crash #3 @ 4:11PM

Image Capture No 15 – Tape and Ping Pings in position

With no reason for previous system failures, I undertook several test scans, before settling upon this last capture for the living room space..

  • Camera : NCTech iSTAR Fusion
  • Mount : Manfrotto 055 using 3/8″ threaded mount (standard)
  • Camera ‘eyeline’ height : 905 mm / 35 inches approx
  • Captured using ‘Walk Around Mode’ (essentially two opposite corners captured SEQUENTIALLY – to allow operator to ‘hide’). I avoided using ‘wifi / remote control’ as this would have compounded the very poor battery life / reliability I was experiencing.
  • Exposures : 9
  • Exposure Mode : Indoors
  • Lighting Type : Normal
  • Camera Mode : HDR Pro
  • Power : Battery
  • Capture : 20160318-053535

Above : iSTAR FUSION Thumbnail Preview of capture 15.

If one was to base evaluation of capture success using merely the above thumbnail, it would probably be discarded – as it looks very over-exposed. Ironically, image is OK.

Image Output – Processed Image Analysis

Above : iSTAR FUSION capture (15th capture since acquiring system) – some stitching issues visible over the tape and color faithfulness issues.

Analysis of above image capture (screenshots taken from NCTech Immersive Viewer)

Above : Screenshot from NCTech Immersive Viewer : Showing excessive intrusion of footprint (black area) . Note distance markers (ping-pongs on 304mm / 12″ pitch / spacing)

Above : Screenshot from NCTech Immersive Viewer : Close up of tape measure and ping-pong balls

Above : Screenshots from NCTech Immersive Viewer showing tape, ping-pong No2 and an AA battery behind it (keeping ball in position). If this were for forensics use, it would be pretty poor image to go off.

Footprint

The closest visible ping-pong is ball No2 (which is 600 mm / 24 inches from nadir point). One must bear in mind that the camera is only 904 mm / 35 inches off the ground plane though. A comparison of an ‘eyeline’ based shot will be show later.

Above : Screenshot from NCTech Immersive Viewer : Showing unusual color reproduction / contamination in areas – not a faithful reproduction of actual colors. Indicated by red outlines in lower image.

Other Tests