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MicMac
What it is
MicMac is free, open-source desktop software for photogrammetric 3D reconstruction, developed at IGN and ENSG within the LASTIG lab. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows under the CECILL-B license. Supported imagery includes frame cameras, pushbroom sensors, and scanned analogue images; the software also provides camera calibration models and dense image matching for deformation studies. Its tools can create point clouds, 3D models, and ortho-imagery, with outputs georeferenced in local, global, or absolute coordinate systems. Intermediate results in open formats let users work at different processing stages. Quality indicators include bundle adjustment residuals, covariance matrices, parameter sensitivity, and correlation images. The C3DC command computes a point cloud from oriented images. AperiCloud creates a sparse cloud with camera positions and orientations for viewing in MeshLab, but does not support 64-bit PLY. MicMac is adapted to big datasets and was first developed for expert and research use; it is also used in areas such as architecture, archaeology, and forestry. The project offers documentation, tutorials, a wiki, and a user forum.
For and against
For
- Free and open-source under CECILL-B
- Supports several camera and image types
- Can create point clouds and ortho-imagery
- Intermediate results use open data formats
- Provides quality indicators for reconstruction
Against
- Building from source uses multiple tools
- Some GUI tools require optional Qt or Xlib
- AperiCloud does not support 64-bit PLY
- Mac compilation may be unstable or fail
The verdict
MicMac provides photogrammetric reconstruction tools, quality indicators, and outputs in chosen coordinate systems. Its expert-oriented origins and installation requirements are worth considering before starting.
Who it suits
MicMac is aimed mainly at professional and academic users working with photogrammetry. Its documented use in architecture, archaeology, and forestry may also be relevant to practitioners in those fields.
Plans and prices
MicMac
Free, open-source photogrammetric suite · CeCILL-B licence
Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
On the record
- Audience
- The software is aimed mainly at professional and academic users, with efforts to make it more accessible to the general public.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Calibration and matching
- It supports a range of camera calibration models and dense two-dimensional image matching for deformation studies.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Container
- The project repository describes a precompiled Docker image and instructions to build an image from its Dockerfile.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Coordinate conversion
- MicMac provides ChgSysCo, OriConvert, and GCPConvert with the ChSys option to transform coordinates between systems.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Coordinate systems
- Reconstruction products can be delivered in a desired coordinate system.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Data scale
- Its architecture is adapted to big datasets.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Dense matching
- The C3DC command automatically computes a point cloud from a set of oriented images.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Developer
- MicMac is developed at IGN and ENSG within the LASTIG lab.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Documentation and help
- The project links to its documentation, wiki, and a user forum for further information.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Download
- The Windows guide points to GitHub releases for binary downloads and identifies v1.1 as 64-bit and v1.0.beta10 as 32-bit.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Image sources
- It supports frame cameras, pushbroom sensors, and scanned analogue images.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Installation requirements
- Building from source uses tools including Git, CMake, make, ImageMagick, exiftool, exiv2, and PROJ; some GUI tools require optional Qt or Xlib.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The Windows installation guide identifies ExifTool, Exiv2, ImageMagick convert, and PROJ among dependencies checked by MicMac.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The wiki says MicMac was initially developed for experts and researchers and has also become a tool for non-expert users in fields such as architecture, archaeology, and forestry.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Known limit
- AperiCloud does not support 64-bit PLY, and its documentation recommends local or truncated coordinates for that tool.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is distributed under the CECILL-B license.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Mac installation
- The Mac guide describes downloading source code and compiling MicMac with Homebrew and CMake, and cautions that the latest revision may be unstable or fail to compile on a given OS.micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The MicMac wiki says it is maintained by ENSG's Department of Aerial and Spatial Imagery (DIAS).micmac.ensg.eu · read 5 Oct 2026
