A SEARCH FOR THE OPTIMUM IMAGE DATABASE FOR HANDLING THE ORTHO-TEXTURES IN VRML Arzu Çöltekin M.Sc., Research and Teaching Assistant Geomatics/Surveying, Helsinki University of Technology P.O.Box 1200, 02015-HUT, Espoo, Finland Tel: +358 9 451 3903, Fax: +358 9 465 077 arzu.coltekin@hut.fi ABSTRACT In virtual 3D works, there has been a great interest in setting the visual photo-realism correctly in the field of computer graphics and in other related fields. In most cases this interest has proven to be more for satisfying the visual perception and left the “measurable” geometry of the surfaces unattended. In this research it is aimed to create an automatic/semi-automatic procedure/set of procedures to create ortho-textures instead of photo-textures. The research specializes in close-range virtual models and the procedure will enable the 2D textures to function as a map for precise measuring when needed on the surfaces of the virtual 3D environments. Within such works, the texture will change as the level of detail and the viewpoint changes. Therefore the number of the images that are stored, utilized and re-utilized is rather high and they must be organized in a proper way, most likely in a database. During this research, a large number of raw and photogrammetrically processed terrestrial images of multi-resolution are being collected. The images must be then called and used by VRML as ortho- textures. In this paper we will discuss the methodology in searching an optimum image-database design suiting the purpose of this work. INTRODUCTION Virtual Reality (VR) is a popular topic in several fields dealing with graphical information (that is from a technical point of view – otherwise it is also popular by its social/psychological and philosophical aspects). The area of use is very large; including (tele)communication, gaming, other entertainment involving multimedia, navigation, planning, extensive visual interpretation possibilities for research, and more. As it is understood and expected to be as close to “reality” as possible, it includes as many signals as possible for human senses. There has been great improvement in visual and audio fields in the last decade(s). The interest of this paper is (also) from a technical point of view and it is to serve more for the visual reality. The whole research does not necessarily omit the other multimedia, but focuses on photo-realism. The discussion that is brought up in the following pages are very specific under this focused research, therefore, at this stage there’s still some talking needed, bear with me! Background In the field of “visualization” research, there is a great domination by computer graphics people, and it is rightly so, as it requires a firm understanding of computer technology. The author of this paper has an educational background of what is called “Geomatics” these days (also known as Surveying Science). What you are reading is a part of a research, which results into a VRML (soon to be X3D) model (VRML: Virtual Reality Modeling Language). The model is a photo-realistic indoor model, and its primary target user group is planners, interior & landscape architects. It may as well be integrated in a 3D navigational map for urban models.