micmacIGN/micmac

What it solves

Photogrammetry is the process of turning ordinary photographs into accurate 3D models and measurements. MicMac solves the problem of doing this in a professional, scientific way without paying for commercial software. It lets users reconstruct 3D geometry from sets of overlapping images, which is used in mapping, surveying, archaeology, and other fields where precise 3D data from photos is needed.

How it works

MicMac is a software suite that you install and run from the command line (or via optional graphical tools). The README shows that it depends on several external tools: Git, CMake, ImageMagick for image conversion, exiftool and exiv2 for reading/writing image metadata, and PROJ for coordinate system transformations. To use it, you either download pre-compiled binaries or compile the source code yourself on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Once installed, you can process an example dataset by running a script (like gravillons_test.sh) that presumably orchestrates the reconstruction pipeline. The software also can be used inside a Docker container, which simplifies installation.

Who it's for

MicMac is aimed at professionals, researchers, and students who need photogrammetric 3D reconstruction. It is developed by the French National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information (IGN) and the National School of Geographic Sciences (ENSG), so it is particularly relevant for mapping agencies, geomatics engineers, and anyone working with aerial or terrestrial imagery for 3D modelling.

Highlights

• Free and open-source under the CECILL-B license since 2007
• Developed and maintained by IGN and ENSG, giving it a strong scientific background
• Available for Linux (Ubuntu), Windows 10, and macOS
• Pre-compiled binaries are provided for easier installation
• A Docker image is available for container-based use
• Includes an example dataset to test the software quickly
• Relies on widely used open-source tools like ImageMagick, exiftool, and PROJ