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Open source Structure-from-Motion pipeline and More

14 starsPython

OpenSfM v1.0

by AlgerianSam·Jun 29, 2026·3 points·0 comments
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AI Analysis

●●SolidBig BrainNiche Gem

Former maintainers revived abandoned OpenSfM with C++ rewrite and OpenCL GPU acceleration.

Strengths
  • •C++ SfM loop replaces Python, delivering significant speed improvements for large scenes.
  • •GPU-accelerated dense pipeline outputs LAS/LAZ/PLY, DSM, and orthophoto GeoTIFFs.
  • •Stochastic bundle adjuster handles very large scenes that would choke other tools.
Weaknesses
  • •Mesh generation still noted as 'crap' in the release notes, not production-ready.
  • •Niche audience limits broader appeal despite solid engineering.
Category
Open Source
Target Audience

GIS professionals, photogrammetry engineers, drone mapping teams

Similar To

COLMAP · Meshroom · OpenDroneMap

Post Description

OpenSfM v1.0 is here, and it's a big leap.

The original OpenSfM (github.com/mapillary/opensfm), the Structure-from-Motion engine behind OpenDroneMap and WebODM, is no longer maintained. As former maintainers, we couldn't let it go. So we went back to work, and improved it on many fronts : faster, more scalable (a long standing issue was speed) and capable of taking you from raw photos to finished GIS deliverables in a single pipeline.

We focused the v1.0 on aerial and GIS workflows :

- Much faster SfM (from Python to C++ SfM loop, GPU OpenCL matching) and support for very large scenes (randomised bundle adjuster). - More robust SfM in general. - A completely new dense pipeline, on GPU (OpenCL), with PatchMatch + TSDF-on-SVO + Refinement. Produces clean dense clouds quite fast, to LAS/LAZ/PLY exports. However, the mesh is crap (but it's in the works) - On the side of the dense, a new DSM & Orthophoto pipeline, again on GPU (OpenCL). GeoTIFF export (with correct CRS projection warps) - A revamped quality report : clear SfM metrics, GPS/GCP and checkpoint accuracy tables, and DSM/ortho previews. It can be now localized (metric/imperial, 5 languages) and also customised. PDF export.

Hopefully it'll be integrated in WebODM/ODX/ODM soon enough. I had a blast working on this these past two months, I hope the mapping/surveying community will enjoy it.

Ha, and it runs on Linux and macOS. Windows just needs some love (update the conda-locks).

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