From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections
Civil structures carry significant service loads over long times but are prone to deterioration due to various natural impacts. Traditionally, these structures are inspected in situ by qualified engineers, a method that is high-cost, risky, time-consuming, and prone to error. Recently, researchers h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4296 |
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| author | Xiangxiong Kong Terry F. Pettijohn Hovhannes Torikyan |
| author_facet | Xiangxiong Kong Terry F. Pettijohn Hovhannes Torikyan |
| author_sort | Xiangxiong Kong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Civil structures carry significant service loads over long times but are prone to deterioration due to various natural impacts. Traditionally, these structures are inspected in situ by qualified engineers, a method that is high-cost, risky, time-consuming, and prone to error. Recently, researchers have explored innovative practices by using virtual reality (VR) technologies as inspection platforms. Despite such efforts, a critical question remains: can VR models accurately reflect real-world structural conditions? This study presents a comprehensive framework for assessing the visual fidelity of VR models for structural inspection. To make it viable, we first introduce a novel workflow that integrates UAV-based photogrammetry, computer graphics, and web-based VR editing to establish interactive VR user interfaces. We then propose a visual fidelity assessment methodology that quantitatively evaluates the accuracy of the VR models through image alignment, histogram matching, and pixel-level deviation mapping between rendered images from the VR models and UAV-captured images under matched viewpoints. The proposed frameworks are validated using two case studies: a historic stone arch bridge and a campus steel building. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on VR-based structural inspections, providing a foundation for our peers for their further research in this field. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33cf4b7b092841d699a7baf2b1c3a1e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-33cf4b7b092841d699a7baf2b1c3a1e12025-08-20T03:32:33ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012514429610.3390/s25144296From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural InspectionsXiangxiong Kong0Terry F. Pettijohn1Hovhannes Torikyan2Department of Civil and Geomatics Engineering, California State University, Fresno, 2320 E. San Ramon Ave., M/S EE94, Fresno, CA 93740, USADepartment of Psychology, Coastal Carolina University, P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Fresno, 2320 E. San Ramon Ave., M/S EE94, Fresno, CA 93740, USACivil structures carry significant service loads over long times but are prone to deterioration due to various natural impacts. Traditionally, these structures are inspected in situ by qualified engineers, a method that is high-cost, risky, time-consuming, and prone to error. Recently, researchers have explored innovative practices by using virtual reality (VR) technologies as inspection platforms. Despite such efforts, a critical question remains: can VR models accurately reflect real-world structural conditions? This study presents a comprehensive framework for assessing the visual fidelity of VR models for structural inspection. To make it viable, we first introduce a novel workflow that integrates UAV-based photogrammetry, computer graphics, and web-based VR editing to establish interactive VR user interfaces. We then propose a visual fidelity assessment methodology that quantitatively evaluates the accuracy of the VR models through image alignment, histogram matching, and pixel-level deviation mapping between rendered images from the VR models and UAV-captured images under matched viewpoints. The proposed frameworks are validated using two case studies: a historic stone arch bridge and a campus steel building. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on VR-based structural inspections, providing a foundation for our peers for their further research in this field.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4296virtual realitystructural inspectionvisual fidelityphotogrammetrycomputer visioncivil infrastructure |
| spellingShingle | Xiangxiong Kong Terry F. Pettijohn Hovhannes Torikyan From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections Sensors virtual reality structural inspection visual fidelity photogrammetry computer vision civil infrastructure |
| title | From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections |
| title_full | From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections |
| title_fullStr | From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections |
| title_short | From Photogrammetry to Virtual Reality: A Framework for Assessing Visual Fidelity in Structural Inspections |
| title_sort | from photogrammetry to virtual reality a framework for assessing visual fidelity in structural inspections |
| topic | virtual reality structural inspection visual fidelity photogrammetry computer vision civil infrastructure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4296 |
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