Agisoft Metashape 2.0.0 pre-release

[bassistas]

Hello bassistas,

Do you use Import Depth Images or Import Point Cloud for E57 files? Also can you share the processing log related to the file import (enable Write Log to File option in the General Preferences tab and try to reproduce the issue)?

I'm using the import point cloud option for the E57 files. Here is my log file, I don't see any errors, it just crashes:

2022-10-18 18:29:52 ImportPointCloud: path = D:/Faro scene projects/arnaia scans 1-10-2022/Faro scene Gerovasiliou/e57 export/gerovasiliou_Gerovasiliou000.e57, format = PointCloudFormatE57, crs = Local Coordinates (m), shift = [0, 0, 0], precision = default, point neighbors = 28, use trajectory (origin)
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Working in temporary directory D:/temp//import_points.tmp.11
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Importing point cloud in memory. Save project in .psx format for big file import.
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Importing point cloud...
2022-10-18 18:29:53 Analyzing points...
2022-10-18 18:29:53 processing 68983239 points...
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Calculating normals...
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Required 25.9399 GB RAM for extended block
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Available: 80.6923 GB
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Using extended block
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Using 32 threads
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Expected max memory usage: 25.9399 GB
2022-10-18 18:31:17 computed normals in 32.536 sec

[jedfrechette]

To align images and laser scans you need to use Align Photos command from the Workflow menu and enable the Reset current alignment parameter in the Align photos dialog window (alignment within the group will be preserved).  But please note, before run alignment you need to group laser scans into a fixed group.
To create a group: Select laser scans on the Workspace pane and choose Move Laser Scans > New Laser Scan Group.
Fixed group: select Set Group Type > Fixed from the Group context menu.

From reading this and the knowledge base entry I'm still not clear on exactly what effect this procedure will have on the transforms of the Laser Scans. Will the grouped and fixed laser scans maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move?

I think what a lot of us who use laser scans want is to be able to lock the transforms of the laser scans so that they are never moved and the laser scans are only ever used as imovable reference to align photos to prior to reconstruction.

[Kiesel]

Dear Agisoft team,

during the installation of version 2.0 our former installed version 1.8.4 is removed. When I try to reinstall version 1.8.4, I get an error message that it isn't possible to install an older version. 
After deinstallation of version 2.0 and a new installation of version 1.8.4 in a extra folder named  'Metashape Pro_1_8_4' and after that a new installation of version 2.0 in an own folder 'Metashape Pro_2_0' version 1.8.4 is nevertheless removed again.
(B.t.w. the even older version 'Metashape Pro_1_7_1' , also installed in an own folder, isn't removed during installation of version 2.0.)

Could you please help me to install both versions side by side, one for production and one for testing the new functions?

Best regards,

Kiesel

[bassistas]

Hello bassistas,

Do you use Import Depth Images or Import Point Cloud for E57 files? Also can you share the processing log related to the file import (enable Write Log to File option in the General Preferences tab and try to reproduce the issue)?

I'm using the import point cloud option for the E57 files. Here is my log file, I don't see any errors, it just crashes:

2022-10-18 18:29:52 ImportPointCloud: path = D:/Faro scene projects/arnaia scans 1-10-2022/Faro scene Gerovasiliou/e57 export/gerovasiliou_Gerovasiliou000.e57, format = PointCloudFormatE57, crs = Local Coordinates (m), shift = [0, 0, 0], precision = default, point neighbors = 28, use trajectory (origin)
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Working in temporary directory D:/temp//import_points.tmp.11
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Importing point cloud in memory. Save project in .psx format for big file import.
2022-10-18 18:29:52 Importing point cloud...
2022-10-18 18:29:53 Analyzing points...
2022-10-18 18:29:53 processing 68983239 points...
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Calculating normals...
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Required 25.9399 GB RAM for extended block
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Available: 80.6923 GB
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Using extended block
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Using 32 threads
2022-10-18 18:30:45 Expected max memory usage: 25.9399 GB
2022-10-18 18:31:17 computed normals in 32.536 sec

I just tried to export the laser scans in another format (pts) and now they are loading without any errors but it takes a lot of time to load as the files are double the size now.
So maybe there is a bug with the e57 format.
Now I'm stuck on the "reset current alignment" option which is not active (greyed out) and if I proceed with the alignment it doesn't align the photos with the scans.

[e.spiridonova]

Dear bassistas,
It would be helpful, if you can share the sample data (your E57 file).
If you are able to share the data, please send the download link to support@agisoft.com

[e.spiridonova]

Dear Kiesel,
To keep both versions you need to uninstall the latest version first, then install the older version, then copy/move the installation directory to the custom location and then install the latest Metashape version to the default location.

[vmpakas@culture.gr]

Dear Elizaveta,

all your suggestions regarding the procedure are understood. I apply them exactly as you suggested.

The point cloud used for my test project is in .e57 format and contains, apart from the point cloud, a panoramic image embedded. This file was exported from Z+F software.
Please note that  in the case of another format (.obj), the panoramic image is missing. In this case when align photos the "reset current alignment" option is inactive and cannot be selected. I suspect that the alignment uses the panoramic image for matching with the rest of the frame images.
As for the case of .e57, the result of alignment is wrong. In particular,  the to block of the frame images was not connected on the point cloud . See attached image and log file.
Last, when i save and try to open the project i get "invalid sensor id" message.

best regards
Vasilis

[e.spiridonova]

From reading this and the knowledge base entry I'm still not clear on exactly what effect this procedure will have on the transforms of the Laser Scans. Will the grouped and fixed laser scans maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move?

Dear Jed,
Yes, the grouped and fixed laser scans will maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move.

[e.spiridonova]

Dear Elizaveta,

all your suggestions regarding the procedure are understood. I apply them exactly as you suggested.

The point cloud used for my test project is in .e57 format and contains, apart from the point cloud, a panoramic image embedded. This file was exported from Z+F software.
Please note that  in the case of another format (.obj), the panoramic image is missing. In this case when align photos the "reset current alignment" option is inactive and cannot be selected. I suspect that the alignment uses the panoramic image for matching with the rest of the frame images.
As for the case of .e57, the result of alignment is wrong. In particular,  the to block of the frame images was not connected on the point cloud . See attached image and log file.
Last, when i save and try to open the project i get "invalid sensor id" message.

best regards
Vasilis

Dear Vasilis,
Please send your project that you have problems with to support@agisoft.com.
If this is not possible, please send a screenshot of the Workspace pane.

[bassistas]

Dear bassistas,
It would be helpful, if you can share the sample data (your E57 file).
If you are able to share the data, please send the download link to support@agisoft.com

Here is a link to a sample e57 file https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KXlUsAUTf8BV-qOzeN3-cm3G11Q7WFNA/view?usp=sharing
Please let me know if you are able to reproduce the problem.

[jedfrechette]

From reading this and the knowledge base entry I'm still not clear on exactly what effect this procedure will have on the transforms of the Laser Scans. Will the grouped and fixed laser scans maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move?

Dear Jed,
Yes, the grouped and fixed laser scans will maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move.

Can the entire group be locked in to place easily so that it is not allowed to move? That's something we've been asking for ever since laser scan support was introduced, e.g. this comment in the 1.7.0 prerelease thread:

https://www.agisoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=12653.msg56372#msg56372

[e.spiridonova]

Here is a link to a sample e57 file https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KXlUsAUTf8BV-qOzeN3-cm3G11Q7WFNA/view?usp=sharing
Please let me know if you are able to reproduce the problem.

Dear bassistas,
Thank you for the data set. We managed to reproduce the problem on our side.
The fix of this bug will get into the next pre-release version.
Thanks again for the provided file and we apologize for the inconvenience.

[e.spiridonova]

From reading this and the knowledge base entry I'm still not clear on exactly what effect this procedure will have on the transforms of the Laser Scans. Will the grouped and fixed laser scans maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move?

Dear Jed,
Yes, the grouped and fixed laser scans will maintain their position relative to each other while the entire group is still allowed to move.

Can the entire group be locked in to place easily so that it is not allowed to move? That's something we've been asking for ever since laser scan support was introduced, e.g. this comment in the 1.7.0 prerelease thread:

https://www.agisoft.com/forum/index.php?topic=12653.msg56372#msg56372

Dear Jed,
Currently alignment with preserving absolute transform is not supported. However, even after resetting alignment for fixed laser scan group the relative orientations will be preserved and group as a rigid structure will be aligned to photogrammetric tie points.

[jedfrechette]

Currently alignment with preserving absolute transform is not supported.

That's unfortunate, but thank's for the the clear reply.

[Shadow]

Update from Metashape 1.x to Metashape 2.0 is completely free and does not require any additional payments from the licensed users.

Sweet, thanks!

You might want to update this page https://www.agisoft.com/buy/licensing-options/ , it says that "Metashape license [...] entitles the licensee to free updates of the software up to the version 1.9.x : this should probably be edited to "2.0.x" or something similar?