Automated basis-view and match-point selection for the ArchVision RPC image-based model

The Rich Photo-Realistic Content (RPC) image-based model defined and used by ArchVision represents a photo-realistic scene as an ordered set of images. A desired view from the represented viewing directions can quickly be extracted for rendering and display. The benefit of the RPC is its photo-realistic quality. One weakness, however, is that there is no support for view interpolation between closely related basis views. This paper presents results from a tool for creating a new RPC-like image-based model, which detects and discards captured views that are determined to be faithfully and automatically interpolated from the remaining images in the RPC. We exploit the geometric constraints of the acquisition system and provide an automated matching algorithm, and interpolation scheme, and an error metric displayed in a graphical tool for monitoring the quality impact of discarding particular frames.