We present a scheme for reliable and accurate surface reconstruction f
rom stereoscopic images containing only fine texture and no stable hig
h-level features. Partial shape information is used to improve surface
computation: first by fitting an approximate, global, parametric mode
l, and then by refining this model via local correspondence processes.
This scheme eliminates the window size selection problem in existing
area-based stereo correspondence schemes, These ideas are integrated i
n a practical vision system that is being used by environmental scient
ists to study wind erosion of bulk material such as coal ore being tra
nsported in open rail cars.