Enhancing Photorealistic 3D Model Accuracy with Underwater Positioning

Abstract The adoption of photorealistic 3D modelling and digital twins for inspecting and documenting the state of physical assets is gaining momentum across various industries. However, the uptake of these technologies for underwater assets has been notably slower due to the challenges associated with scanning underwater; the limited number of service providers, and the costs and risks involved. Despite these inhibitors, there is a burgeoning interest in developing precise digital replicas of underwater assets. A critical factor in producing accurate and measurable 3D models of underwater assets is accurate positioning, particularly when creating larger models. The absence of satellite GNSS signals means other methods are needed to estimate the position of moving objects underwater. This study explores the influence of accurate positioning on the quality of underwater 3D models. It assesses two positioning techniques, comparing an acoustic triangulation method, which can achieve sub-decimeter accuracy with traditional approaches. The study also seeks to find cost effective solutions to the challenge of underwater photogrammetry as this is perceived by the authors to be holding back the adoption of this technology. The findings highlight the potential improvements in model accuracy through enhanced positioning techniques generated by cost effective solutions, offering significant implications for various industries. The research has been conducted by a company specialising in advanced vision based underwater 3D scanning and modelling technologies.