Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the science of extracting precise 3D measurements and models from a series of overlapping 2D photographic images.

This technology converts multiple photographs (taken from various angles) into a high-density point cloud, a textured mesh, or a georeferenced orthomosaic map. The core principle is triangulation: specialized software (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape) identifies common points across images to calculate their exact three-dimensional coordinates. Applications are diverse and critical: drone-based aerial photogrammetry maps large construction sites or agricultural fields, while close-range techniques create millimeter-accurate digital twins for cultural heritage preservation (e.g., fossil sites) and reverse engineering. The output provides reliable, measurable data for GIS, engineering, and film production (VFX).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photogrammetry