Data Processing

Generating enough images to cover the Thistegorm generated a lot of data. Having a strategy to organise the data was key, and every image was managed from the moment it was copied from the memory card.

Processing the model began whilst on site, using Agisoft Photoscan Pro V1.3. A draft model was assembled in the field as each dive completed. The draft model proved the images were aligning well, and would provide an invaluable reference for when the final model processing commenced. The laptop was perfect for draft work, but the final model demanded more resource.

Early in the final build the decision to use Amazon Web Services (cloud based processing) was taken. Cloud based computing offers a cost-effective and flexible means to access high end computing, with the ability to switch specifications of the hardware (typically more RAM and more GPU processing) as the project
dictated.

Using cloud services generated its own issues of bulk data transfer, but ultimately processing in the cloud ensured the final model was built and ready. Agisoft (authors of Photoscan Pro) kindly provided an additional time-limited license to enable concurrent processing both locally and in the cloud. For this we
are extremely grateful.