Integration of multiple range and thermal image pairs using a volumetric method to create textured 3D models

In this thesis we present a volumetric approach to 3D modeling that considers both object texture and geometry in the reconstruction process. This method assumes that there are multiple range and thermal image pairs of an object, all registered to a global coordinate system. The individual range images are used to create a surface mesh to which the thermal images are applied as a texture map. These textured range meshes are then used to update a volume grid. The volume grid can then be triangulated to yield a fully textured 3D model. The motivation for the research is the simulation of a thermal tire inspection system. Integrating 3D geometry information with 2D thermal images permits the thermal information to be displayed as a texture map on the tire structure, enhancing analysis capabilities. Additionally, constructing the tire geometry during the inspection process allows the tire to be examined for structural defects that might be missed if the thermal data was textured onto a predefined model. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach and quantitative experiments indicate that the volumetric integration technique compares favorably to a state-of-the-art mesh-based integration approach in terms of geometrical accuracy. Future research goals are also noted.