System and method of selecting a complementary image from a plurality of images for 3d geometry extraction

A digital processing system comprising:

• an input port when operating accepting a plurality of images captured from distinct views and/or locations, each respective image having been captured from a respective camera, the accepting including accepting, for each respective accepted image, respective parameters related to the respective accepted image and to properties (collectively the “camera model”) of the respective camera that captured the respective accepted image;
• a user terminal having a display screen and a user interface that enable displaying on the display screen and that that enables a user to provide input, and otherwise interact with an image displayed on the display screen;
• a digital image processing system coupled to the user terminal, the digital image processing system including one or more digital processors, and a storage subsystem that includes instructions that when executed by the digital processing system, cause the digital processing system to carry out a method of selecting complementary images from the plurality of images accepted by the input port, the method comprising:
• accepting the plurality of images, including, for each accepted image, parameters related to the accepted image and to properties of the camera that captured the accepted image;
• accepting input from a user to select one of the accepted images to be an initial image;
• accepting input from the user indicating one or more geometric features of interest;
• and
• automatically selecting from the accepted plurality of images and using an optimality criterion an optimal image that is complementary to the initial image for the purpose of determining one or more 3D properties of the indicated one or more geometric features.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed on one or more digital processors of a digital processing systems cause carrying out a method a method of selecting complementary images from a plurality of images captured from distinct views and/or locations, each respective image captured from a respective camera having respective camera properties, the method comprising:

• accepting the plurality of images, including, for each accepted image, parameters related to the accepted image and to properties of the camera that captured the accepted image;
• accepting input from a user to select one of the accepted images to be an initial image;
• accepting input from the user indicating one or more geometric features of interest;
• and
• automatically selecting from the accepted plurality of images and using an optimality criterion an optimal image that is complementary to the initial image for the purpose of determining one or more 3D properties of the indicated one or more geometric features.