Impact of image file formats on the accuracy of photogrammetric models: A comparative analysis

This study provides a thorough analysis of the impact of different image file formats on the accuracy of photogrammetric studies using non-metric cameras. It specifically examines three widely used data storage formats: digital RAW negatives, lossless TIFF files, and compressed JPEG files, evaluating their effectiveness across various measurement conditions. The research involved photogrammetric measurements of two distinct test objects, providing a basis to evaluate how the choice of equipment and data format influences the quality of the resulting 3D models. The findings from this study highlight that the RAW format offers the highest quality and fidelity of detail in photogrammetric models, which is particularly crucial for professional applications where extreme accuracy is required. Conversely, the TIFF format, while balancing quality and file size, introduces minor geometric errors that might be acceptable in applications with less stringent accuracy demands. The JPEG format, although the most efficient in terms of file size reduction, shows the greatest level of distortion and the lowest level of model geometry accuracy. This is attributed to the lossy nature of JPEG compression, which significantly compromises the precision needed for high-quality photogrammetric output. Consequently, the study underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate file format based on the specific accuracy requirements of the photogrammetric task at hand.