Adaptive polynomial modelling of the reflectance map for shape estimation from stereo and shading

This paper is concerned with estimation of the reflectance map and its use in surface shape estimation by a method that combines stereo and shading information. There are many advantages to the integrated approach. However, shape from shading algorithms are limited in their applicability by the assumption of idealized reflectance and lighting models involving many preset or hard to estimate parameters. In this paper, it is shown that the difficulties involved in estimation of the reflectance function and light source distribution can be eliminated through direct estimation of the reflectance map using adaptive polynomial models. The reflectance map estimate is used with a surface estimate provided by stereo in an integrated approach to surface shape estimation