Testing GoPro for 3D model reconstruction in narrow spaces

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the potential as well as the limitations of an action camera (GoPro Hero 3 Black) in photogrammetric applications for architectural cultural heritage reconstruction. The investigations were carried out in a site of notable historical interest, "Villa di Giulia Felice" in Pompeii. In order to estimate the work pipeline, the time-consuming processing and the output product accuracy using fisheye camera images, three commercial image processing software packages were tested: Agisoft PhotoScan, Pix4Dmapper and 3DF Zephyr Aerial. Several comparisons among the final 3D models produced have been developed and the results achieved. Despite the problems found related to lens distortion and the small distance from the camera to the object (average distance ~80 cm), the test provided good results in terms of accuracy (average error [2-3.5] cm) and reliability.