Computer Generated Still Images Composited With Panned Landscape Video Sequences

We present a novel approach to offer at a reasonable cost panned landscape video sequence images well marched with photorealistic computer generated still images of large scale construction projects, such as bridges and electric power transmission towers. Our newly developed compositing algorithms carl be used with the equipment which consists of a regular camcorder sold on the market, a video editing system, and our own software for rendering day-time scenes under various weather conditions. Other types of equipment such as an elaborate camera controller; or special reference points in the landscapes, are unnecessary. The proposed algorithms provide the following features: (I) the computer generated still images are well harmonized with panned video sequence images at any time of day under various weather conditions, in terms of both optical and geometrical accuracy; (2) a precise panorama composited from video sequence images is created, in which varying exposure levels due to changing camera view fields can be coped with and any geometrical distortion is eliminated.