The Fifth Elephant 2025 Annual Conference CfP

Abstract

Photogrammetry is a computer vision discipline grounded in projective geometry and primarily relying on handcrafted keypoint detectors (SIFT/SURF). Recent AI advances, particularly learned feature extraction and neural depth priors are reshaping what is possible around accuracy and robustness. This talk will begin by revisiting the core math behind 3D reconstruction: deriving epipolar geometry from camera projection equations, minimising reprojection error via triangulation, and optimising camera poses through bundle adjustment. Next, we will explore how off-the-shelf neural networks integrate into this pipeline: SuperPoint for learned keypoint detection, SuperGlue for attention-based matching, and MiDAS for depth prior fusion, dramatically outperforming classical detectors, especially on low-textured, glossy, or specular surfaces.
 

Why this matters

• AI integration into a technical imaging pipeline with benchmark results
• Reproducible and practical with case studies
• Bridges theory and practice, exploring both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’
• All core tools discussed are open-source
   

Takeaways

We will walk through an end-to-end demo: from image capture to running SuperPoint + SuperGlue, importing matches into COLMAP for sparse reconstruction and bundle adjustment, and fusing MiDAS depth priors. I will bring real-life digitisation case studies of projects where I have implemented this system, and what worked and didn’t.
 

Audience: Anyone interested in seeing how AI-assisted computer vision works in the real world in creative places.

Speaker bio: Sagnik is an academic-turned-media professional based in Bangalore. His academic and published work is centered around computational number theory, arithmetic geometry, and algorithmic bioimaging. As a consultant, he works on projects using multidisciplinary tools at the intersection of tech, research, art, and scicomm. Beyond research, he also leads a film and design production studio that partners with science, tech, heritage, and community initiatives to amplify stories through engaging media.