Patent attributes
A system and method are disclosed for, using structure-from-motion techniques, projecting a building information model (BIM) into images from photographs taken of a construction site, to generate a 3D point cloud model using the BIM and, when combined with scheduling constraints, facilitates 4D visualizations and progress monitoring. One of the images acts as an anchor image. Indications are received of first points in the anchor image that correspond to second points in the BIM. Calibration information for an anchor camera is calculated based on the indications and on metadata extracted from the anchor image, to register the anchor image in relation to the BIM. A homography transformation is determined between the images and the anchor camera using the calibration information, to register the rest of the images with the BIM, where some of those images are taken from different cameras and from different angles to the construction site.