The Metroplex360 Blog

Exponential Growth for Matterport 3D Spaces fueled by ‘Lite’ Option

Today, Matterport announced their new ‘Cortex’ AI-powered image-processing software. This amazing new technology allows consumer level ‘one-shot’ cameras to be used to build to create Matterport 3D Spaces.

The new ‘entry-level’ solution creates the same 3D Dollhouse and Floorplan modes for clients who don’t require the accuracy, performance and image quality of Matterport’s professional products.

At Metroplex360, we have had the joy of beta testing Matterport’s new technology and finding interesting use-cases to augment our existing products.

Matterport Cortext Provides New Solutions for Capture

This is an example of a 3D Space of an as-built garage that was captured with the Matterport Pro-2 Camera. Due to direct sunlight interference with the infrared sensors, sections of the space are missing their 3D MESH. This is visible in dollhouse and floorplan modes and also creates a strange shimmering effect while navigating in walkthrough mode:

This is the same space with professional 134 megapixel imagery captured as a panorama and synthesized using Cortext technology. Note that all missing sections are complete:

Matterport Cortex Solves Capture Problems

With Cortex technology as a tool that augmenst our existing offerings, we will be able to tackle complex solutions that often fail 3D capture including:

• Large Open Areas – The Infra-red sensors on the Matterport Pro-2 Camera have a limited range of 6 – 10 meters. This can create difficulties when capturing large open spaces. By using Cortex, we can align the same, high quality imagery, using image-processing to align when out of range for 3D Scanning
• Small Spaces – When capturing a full 3D model, the Pro-2 Camera can have difficulty fitting into smaller spaces due to the span of the tripod and the device itself. With the ability to add scans from a smaller camera mounted to a monopod, we are able to add views in tight spaces that were impossible before.
• Sunlight – As demonstrated above, the Pro-2 camera’s infra-red sensor cannot penetrate direct sunlight, thus creating holes in 3D models where sunlight is present. This can happen when there is a large window without blinds or if there is an open garage space. This also happens when capturing patio areas where sun is unevenly streaming into the space. With Cortex image-processing, these areas can be filled in and captured without alignment issues.
• Image Distortion – The Matterport Pro-2 camera creates amazing 134 megapixel imagery, but struggles with objects that are too close to it’s image sensor. This is often seen when the camera is close to the rails in a staircase or a window with multiple sections. The result is that images are sometimes mangled. By using alternate cameras that have less problems with short range capture, we are able to serve customers with high expectations image fidelity. While imagery may fall short of the quality of the Pro-2 camera, it may make the difference between an accurate representation of a product and one that compromises the subject.

Matterport Cortex is the Tip of the Iceberg

With the combination of 3D Scanning and AI-powered image processing for generation of 3D models, we are excited about Matterport’s continued dedication for innovation and the increasing strength of their 3D Showcase platform. We expect to see increased interest in multiple markets creating more demand and opportunity to use Matterport 3D Showcase as a marketing and documentation tool for our existing and new clients.

Metroplex360 is an innovator in applying Matterport 3D Technology to solving the problems of our clients. We were the first service provider in Texas to obtain and begin using the high-resolution Matterport Pro-2 3D Camera and the first service provider to offer and provide 3D Capture with Leica’s BLK360 LIDAR Camera.

Founder, Chris Hickman, is also the author of mpembed (https://mpembed.com), a leading solution for enhancing and extending the capabilities of Matterport’s 3D Showcase platform by using the Matterport SDK to provide new experiences within Matterport Spaces.

Why Real Estate is Latching on to 3D Technology

This is a blog post originally seen at Propmodo.com.

Image above is a 3D Model of a Large Estate shot by Metroplex360 with the Leica BLK 360 and Matterport Pro-2 Cameras.

As the real estate industry continues to catch up to the break-neck pace of technology, leading real estate professionals are building a veritable arsenal of technologically advanced tools. In order to create better efficiencies and sell properties quicker to discerning renters and buyers, 3D technology has become one of the go-to tools in the real estate tech arms race, helping to disseminate immersive imagery and information to all parties in the home-buying and renting process.

Cutting-edge technologies, once considered groundbreaking, are increasingly embraced by real estate agents, developers, and home-buyers alike as they become easier to use and less costly than ever before. At Matterport, we have done our best to bring the power of 3D technology to the early adopters of the real estate industry. Here are some of the reason that we have seen that 3D technology has become so prevalent in the real estate industry.

3D technology makes home showing easier and less expensive

Because physically showing a space is a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive process, agents and property managers are constantly looking for ways to cost-effectively show properties. Ultimately, using a 3D camera to create a virtual model can dramatically increase the comprehensiveness of home or apartment documentation, providing a level of dimensionality and detail that is paramount when it comes to managing the sale or lease of a property.

Clients have myriad considerations when choosing a place to lease and immersive 3D digital experiences solve for this by letting them virtually walk through potential homes at their own pace, as many times as they’d like. It’s more proficient than 2D photography, which limits a user’s ability to view a property holistically. Static 2D imagery lacks depth and detail, and often doesn’t allow for an accurate understanding of spatial relationship within a property, which can hamper a prospective buyer or renter’s ability to make important decisions. With immersive media, brokers and property managers can capture a 3D digital copy of a space, allowing remote viewers to move about and view that space from different perspectives and zoom into details. Instead of a limited gallery of 2D images that were selected only for their ability to show the best parts of a property, brokers can provide a guided experience in a 3D tour which can help increase conversions.

Our immersive media technology, True3D™ give the experience of real-world spaces where users can see properties as a high-definition digital “dollhouse,” allowing them to virtually walk through the space. Today’s most innovative real estate firm incorporate are using these technologies into their marketing programs to differentiate themselves to building owners and potential clients. By using technology to make the sales process more efficient and effective, agents and their clients can spend less time managing site visit logistics and can instead engage around important aspects of the bidding and negotiation process.

Easy come, easy go-go-go

Across both residential and commercial real estate, there already exists an ecosystem for capturing and distributing 2D media. You’re probably already familiar with it: most if not all of the apartment images you’ve seen on online portal sites are two-dimensional. 3D immersive media has been able to leverage these platforms to provide both immersive walkthroughs and a set of 2D media that’s more cost-effective than it would be to just capture the 2D photo gallery of a space with a DSLR camera.

Think of it this way: Capturing in 3D is just like capturing in 2D, with one extra dimension that makes the experience immersive. In order to turn this into reality we designed out Pro2 camera and Capture app that actually automates the process of capturing a space so that non-technical people without any photography background can complete the process quickly and reliably. And, once the content is captured, it can be embedded directly into agent/owner websites or mobile applications through the 3D Showcase application, allowing anyone to incorporate Matterport content into their existing feature sets.

This ease-of-use has made 3D media companies much more popular. We recently t reached the 500 million mark of virtual tours taken by unique users across the globe, and now has more than one million tours in its international digital tour library – the largest of its kind. Within the residential real estate industry alone, we saw over 100,000 immersive tours created between 2017 and 2018. Beyond this, our 3D database scans help professionals from industries as diverse as architecture to insurance create efficiencies through simple design and implementation. Architecture, engineering, and construction pros, for instance, can feature completed projects in their portfolios to drive more business, while also functioning as a workflow tool to document and collect measurements from in-progress build-outs and construction projects. Doing so can cut field-to-finish time by 50 percent. We think that there are many uses for 3D images that have not even been thought of yet.

Brands get it: “Seeing is believing”

Tastemakers are also beginning to see the value in 3D technology. In a recent GE Shopper research study, 81 percent of shoppers today said they research online before making big purchases, which is one reason why big brands are turning to 3D technology to make the biggest impact at first click and deliver a new shopping experience for consumers. Just recently, Walmart announced that it is using our technology to deliver a walkthrough of an apartment/dorm room where all of the furnishings, gadgets, and accoutrements are for sale within the space.

Celebrity brands are riding the 3D technology wave too. Rachael Ray’s home furnishing company also used Matterport 3D virtual tours to give online visitors the experience of walking through an expertly designed and decorated residence. On behalf of top celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Eddie Murphy and Denise Richards, real estate agents have incorporated our home touring capabilities to list their homes for sale and allow the discerning public an insider view on the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Whether you’re looking for an apartment, an office, or a mansion, however, there’s no doubt that 3D virtual tours will continue to be adopted by professionals beyond real estate, including construction, architecture, engineering, insurance, and business listings. Be ready for the day when 3D will be as common as digital photography is today – it may be here sooner than you think.

Marketing and Documentation for Home Builders in Frisco, TX

We love working with home builders to create extensive marketing photos and documentation. Unlike a Realtor shoot, we’re shooting high quality — magazine ready — HDR photos that document all features of a home for the primary purpose of the builder’s website. In addition, sales associates are able to use our imagery to show different interior finishes and features.

Matterport 3D tours add an additional level of immersion and are an incredible value as one tour will be used multiple times to sell the same floorplan for years! It’s a no brainer!