Accurately To Represent Your Scheme , Trustworthy And Reliable
Following appointment, a full list of suggested views is drawn up for review prior to visiting site. The location of the views is typically chosen through consultation with the local authority and required for a visual impact assessment report. Views are often provided in the form of draft photographs or rendered draft 3D views.
Verified view baseline photograph requires careful planning and execution. Every baseline photograph is captured in raw settings using a high-resolution digital SLR camera. It is also necessary to use a prime fixed focal length lens when taking AVR photography so that it replicates what the human eye would see and is not distorted in any way. Usually, a 50mm prime lens is the best to use for architectural visualisation photography. However, for various viewing locations, it is also important to adapt. For close up views, we would use a 35mm or 24mm tilt-shift lens to capture the complete context of the scene. From further away, we would use a 50mm lens as it gives a more accurate interpretation of what the human eye would see. Some projects may require panoramic photography to capture the whole scheme in one image. During this stage our experts also record the time of day, date, weather conditions and season in order to create an accurate model match later in the process.
When all baseline photos are chosen for the verified views, each one is marked up in studio. The ‘Control Points’, such as parapet heights, kerbing, lamp posts etc are coloured coded on each baseline photo. All ‘marked up’ baseline photos are then issued to a qualified topographical surveyor for surveying purposes.
A qualified surveyor will then visit all the viewpoint locations and gather GPS readings to generate survey data for camera position and ‘marked up’ objects within the baseline photos. These ‘control points’ allow the AVR to be verified to +/- 20mm accuracy.
The ‘control points’ were then created within the 3D program in the precise positions. All survey measurements were supplied in CAD format for use in the 3D model.
An accurate digital 3D model of the ‘proposed’ development is produced using 3D software of choice, normally 3D Studio Max. The digital 3D model is created from available design information such as architectural drawings or existing 3D data.
All of the information recorded at the time of the baseline photographic site visit, such as camera co-ordinates, angle and direction of view, and focal lengths, is programmed into the virtual camera within the 3D software – 3D Studio Max.
The ‘control points’ which have been surveyed, are also modelled along with any other relevant survey information from the supplied survey drawings. The proposed 3D model and survey 3D model information are geospatially positioned relative to one another. This is vital to ensure the accurate positioning and camera matching of the proposed digital 3D model within each chosen photo.
In most of the cases, Level 3 Verified Views are required to demonstrate accurate materials and lighting of the proposed development. We use state of the art rendering technology to create photo-realistic renders, so our verified views are not only with a huge degree of accuracy, but also effectively ‘bring your ideas to life’.
Using advanced photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, we accurately montage the base photography and rendered images together and mask any elements of the render that would be occluded by intervening existing features. By adding these final touches, our verified views really come to life and allow audience to visualise how the building will look like when it is really built.
When it is found that the development is not visible due to foreground features, its extremities will be indicated with a red outline.
Upon delivery of the Verified Views, we will always provide a detailed Methodology Statement, outlining the work undertaken and the information used to produce the images.
The before and after views for each viewpoint are presented in the detailed document that includes information of exact viewpoint locations, camera and lens type for each view, survey points, software employed and our overall methodology for the creation of these Verified Views.
Models describing the location and size of the proposal.
Location, size, and degree of visibility of proposal with occlusion.
All level 1 features with the addition of description of architectural form and lighting.
All level 2 features with the addition of materials.