Scanning the world in 3D with photogrammetry

Show and tell

Please add links to anything related to data or journalism here! Great data stories you’ve seen, new tools, jobs you’re hiring for, announcements – anything others might be interested in 👇

• https://flourish.studio/blog/choosing-the-right-map-type-for-your-data/
• https://simonwillison.net/2022/Jul/9/gpt-3-explain-code/
• https://www.science.org/content/article/potential-fabrication-research-images-threatens-key-theory-alzheimers-disease
• https://www.niemanlab.org/2022/08/number-soup-can-we-make-it-easier-for-readers-to-digest-all-the-numbers-journalists-stuff-into-their-stories/?utm_source=Weekly+Lab+email+list&utm_campaign=8d3f1856c0-weeklylabemail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8a261fca99-8d3f1856c0-396653064
• https://gnm.taleo.net/careersection/in/jobdetail.ftl?job=KIN0002H8&tz=GMT%2B01%3A00&tzname=Europe%2FLondon Head of Visuals and Data Journalism - please apply for this job at the guardian ←—
• https://alpha.kipengine.dev/viewer/60e0a6dc60a4901450f11348 - Example of a 3D scene created using an upcoming web-based 3D technology platform called “KIP Engine”. The platform will make it easy for anyone to build 3D environments with a no-code drag and drop interface. Cool Video of how the KIP editor works. Follow on Twitter to be an early user once launched.
• https://ciechanow.ski/ - probably the best blog I’ve ever found.
• https://www.nature.com/immersive/d42859-021-00002-5/index.html - Nature ‘Milestones in Diabetes’ page - 3D model in the background displayed using three.js

Tutorial

Download the Polycam app on your phone and create an account.

You will also need an object to scan! Something that’s not transparent or reflective will work best. For example, a book, a wallet, your house keys.

1. Follow these short videos to learn how to scan an object (subtitled, you don’t need audio)
2. Log into to your Polycam account on your laptop, and you should see your model after it’s finished processing — click export and choose the GLTF format and it’ll download a .glb file
3. Open Model Viewer Editor and drag your GLTF file onto it to upload — you can then tweak various settings
4. Next, create a basic v file, firstly you’ll need to install a text editor, such as Visual Studio Code
5. Create a new folder for your page and move your GLTF file there