Generating 3D models from a single 2D digitized photo using GIS and GroIMP

Taking digital photographs as a form of documentation while conducting field work is common practice. There is a wealth of digital photographs collected by foresters who are interested in tree architecture. These high-resolution photographs are two-dimensional representations of the tree structure. However, it is possible to exploit tools such as GIS (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS) and three-dimensional modelling platforms (GroIMP) to extract information from a single digital photograph to three-dimensional modelling. We propose a work flow for creating three-dimensional reconstructions of tree architecture based on a single high-resolution digital photograph. A single digital photograph of tree architecture with a scaling object in view was acquired. The scaled photograph was imported into ArcMap and the tree architecture was digitized, main stem and branching. The DBF file within the shapefile from the GIS output was converted to a CSV file using MS-Excel. GroIMP was used to import the CSV file containing the x and y coordinates and additional information of the digitized tree architecture. Code written in the language XL was used to reconstruct the topology of the stem and branching system and to provide the possibility to create a three-dimensional model for visualization and analysis within GroIMP. This code allows the user to interactively and iteratively manipulate the third coordinate in order to transform a single two-dimensional photograph into a three-dimensional model based on informed decisions.