Question: Is there a tool that can create accurate 3D maps and surveys from aerial or ground-based images?

If you need software to generate 3D maps and surveys from photos or laser scans taken from the air or on the ground, RealityCapture is a top contender. It can automatically generate textured 3D meshes and orthographic projections from photos and laser scans, which is useful for reconstructing historical sites, buildings and environmental features. The software accepts a variety of input formats and has flexible pricing options, including a free version for hobbyists and students.

Another top contender is Polycam, an all-purpose 3D capture and creation tool. You can use it to create 3D models with your iPhone, iPad, Android phone or web browser, and it has tools for LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry and 360-degree panorama capture. Polycam is available as a free app for iOS and Android, with a web app for more advanced features, and has free and paid versions for pros and businesses.

If you're looking for something more focused, Esri offers GIS mapping software and spatial analytics tools with 3D visualization and location intelligence. It's geared for uses like retail site selection, asset management and infrastructure planning, so it's a good option if you need a lot of spatial analysis and visualization abilities. A 21-day free trial lets you try the software.

Last, AI Clearing offers a digital field construction progress tracking tool that uses machine learning to create detailed 3D site reports. It combines drone and other digital data sources for sophisticated 4D geospatial analysis, which can be useful for monitoring construction progress with a high degree of precision and accuracy.