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URL: https://dx.doi.org/DOI:10.17504/protocols.io.bgdcjs2w

Authors: Wyatt Million, Carly Kenkel

Group: Coral Bleaching RCN protocols

Summary: This is a protocol for generating images to be used in 3D model building via Agisoft Metashape for coral photogrametry. This will cover underwater, field-based methods and tips to collect photographs and pre-processing of photos to improve model building. Image capture is the most important part of 3D photogrammetry because the photos taken at this point will be all that you'll have to build models and collect data. As such, you want to ensure you have enough photos to work with in the future so, in general, more is better. That being said, too many blurry or out of focus pictures will hamper model building. You can optimize your time in the field by taking enough photos from the appropriate angles, however efficiency will come with practice. This is the protocol developed and used by the Kenkel lab to phenotype Acropora cervicornis colonies as part of field operations in the Florida Keys. We incorporate Agisoft Metashape markers in this workflow to scale models and improved model building. The scaling objects used by the Kenkel lab are custom-made, adjustable PVC arrays that include unique markers and bleaching color cards, affectionately called the "Tomahawk". Specs for building a Tomahawk are included in this protocol. Filtering and pre-processing of photos is not always necessary but can be used to salvage 3D models that would be otherwise blurry or incomplete. Here, we describe photo editing in Adobe Lightroom to adjust several characteristics of hundreds of images simultaneously.For a walkthrough and scripts to run Agisoft Metashape on the command line, see https://github.com/wyattmillion/Coral3DPhotogram. For directions to phenotype coral from 3D models see our Phenotyping in MeshLab protocol.These protocols, while created for branching coral, can be applied to 3D models of any coral morphology or any object really. Our goal is to make easy-to-use protocols using accessible softwares in the hopes of creating a standardized method for 3D photogrammetry in coral biology.

Affiliations: University of Southern California, University of Southern California

Version: 1

Publication Date: 2020

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