Epipolar image rectification through geometric algorithms with unknown parameters

Image processing in photogrammetry is commonly used for scene reconstruction. Although two-dimensional applications can be solved using isolated images, reconstruction of three-dimensional scenes usually requires the use of multiple images simultaneously. Epipolar image rectification is a common technique for this purpose. It typically requires internal orientation parameters and, therefore, knowledge of camera calibration and relative orientation parameters between images. A reparameterization of the fundamental matrix through a completely geometric algorithm of seven parameters that enables the epipolar image rectification of a photogrammetric stereo pair without introducing any orientation parameters and without premarking ground control points is presented. The algorithm enables the generation of different stereoscopic models with a single photogrammetric pair from unknown cameras, scanned from a book, or frames from video sequences. Stereoscopic models with no parallaxes have been obtained with a standard deviation of <0.5 pixels. © 2013 SPIE and IS&T [DOI: 10.1117/1.JEI.22.4