3D storytelling techniques have the potential to make journalism more understandable by helping to visualize everything from the real world to abstract concepts. Constructing 3D models with photogrammetry allows journalists to share objects and environments with their audiences in a comprehensive, immersive way that can’t be achieved with photography or videography alone.

Over the past several years, the R&D team at The Times has worked to simplify the production of photogrammetry-driven stories. We have supported our newsroom’s publication of large-scale 3D environments — such as “Hear a Harlem Choir Rejoice Again,” “Chinatown, Resilient and Proud” and “The New Corporate Campus” — and, along the way, honed our tools and processes.

Sophisticated 3D experiences can be expensive and complex productions, often requiring the use of specialized equipment such as mirrorless cameras and drones, as well as a fair amount of custom coding. Fortunately, the latest generation of smartphones contain powerful cameras, processors and apps that make it increasingly possible for anyone with a little technical proficiency to create publication-quality 3D models. 

With the support of Online News Association’s Journalism 360 grant, we have spent the last six months developing a process for how journalists can best use these powerful tools to report stories with greater depth. This resource compiles what we've learned into a series of guides, demos and open-source software tools that we hope will aid anyone seeking to capture, process and deliver high-quality 3D models.