ICE
Image Composite Editor (ICE) is a product that was created by Microsoft Research and is free to use. It needs to be downloaded and installed, the software can be downloaded from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/computational-photography-applications/image-composite-editor/. There are two version of the software, 64 and 32 bit, use the higher version if your computer will support 64 bit technology. ICE was used to compose the image shown below. If you explore the image carefully, you will determine several problems in the stitching of the image, this whole process took only a few minutes as compared to other image stitching programs. The required imagery data can be obtained at:
To someone not knowing what this part of campus should look like they might not initially locate any problem areas.
- On observing more closely the building on the far left does not have straight outside walls (Auditorium).
- The letters ADM are shifted, in actuality they are straight (Administration and home of the GeoTech Center).
- The front wall on the LRC (far right building) is broken after the angle section and the letters LRC are not all visible on the roof.
- The far wall of the right most building is not straight.
- There are additional issues but require a much closer observation.
Process
Open the application
Choose ‘New Panorama for images’
Choose ‘New Panorama for images’
Select image data, choose open, make sure the images have been decompressed prior to this step.
Choose next to start image processing
After processing is complete zoom in to the image to examine the stitch results. Use the cursor tool to adjust the image location and rotate it. Orient the image to the size and position desired and choose ‘Next’ to crop the image.
After image is cropped, choose next to export. Then select ‘Export to disk…’ to save the image.
Select the desired location for storing the image. The image should be able to be loaded into a geospatial software such as ArcMap Desktop.