What is Gaussian splatting?

Gaussian splatting is a cutting-edge 3D reconstruction technique that creates photorealistic, interactive 3D models from photographs.

How much does 3D product scanning cost?

3D product scanning starts from £500 for basic documentation, with most e-commerce projects ranging £750-1,500.

Brixton Windmill Heritage Site

Exterior Gaussian Splat Documentation of London's Last Working Windmill

Brixton Windmill - London's last working windmill captured with aerial drone Gaussian splat

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Location

Brixton, South London

Technique

Aerial drone orbital Gaussian splat capture

Equipment

DJI Mavic 2 Pro, Ricoh Theta Z1

Status

Exterior complete, interior in progress

The Project

Built in 1816, Brixton Windmill is London's last working windmill and a Grade II* listed heritage structure. Located in Windmill Gardens on Brixton Hill, the windmill is open for public tours on the second weekend of every month from March to October.

The goal was to create an accurate exterior 3D model using drone-based Gaussian splatting that would allow people to explore the windmill's traditional architecture from any angle, complementing the physical tours with digital accessibility.

The Approach

Using aerial drone orbital flights to capture the windmill's exterior structure for Gaussian splat processing. Interior 360° photography documentation is currently in progress to create a complete virtual tour.

1. Aerial Orbital Capture

Flew multiple orbital passes around the windmill using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro, capturing the exterior structure, traditional sails, weatherboarding texture, and surrounding context. The drone footage provided continuous coverage of the building from all angles.

2. Gaussian Splat Processing

Processed drone footage through Kiri Engine to generate a high-quality Gaussian splat model, then refined using Supersplat for optimal web performance and visual quality.

3. Interactive Viewer Development

Built a web-based viewer using 3DVista Pro, allowing users to orbit around the windmill and explore architectural details from any perspective with smooth, intuitive navigation.

4. Interior Documentation (In Progress)

Currently capturing interior spaces using the Ricoh Theta Z1 360° camera to document the millstones, wind-powered machinery, and internal structure for a complete virtual tour experience.