SIGMA360 Team Completes First Field Recording of 360° Video Sequences

First 360° Field Recording Completed

At the end of June and the beginning of July, members of the SIGMA360 project team conducted the first multi-day field recording of 360° video material in Istria. This activity represents an important step in the creation of original video content that will later be used to prepare standardized test sequences for subjective quality assessment research.

The main objective of the field recording was to collect diverse 360° video material suitable for future studies of immersive video quality and user experience. The recorded content will provide the basis for the development of test sequences that will be used in controlled experimental conditions, including subjective evaluations with participants.

During the recording activities, the team used an Insta360 Pro2 camera mounted on a tripod, which enabled the capture of high-quality spherical video scenes. The tripod-based setup was used to record stable 360° scenes at selected locations, while additional recordings were made in dynamic conditions to capture movement and changes in the visual environment.

Special attention was given to the selection of locations that could provide a varied and representative set of video content. In addition to technical characteristics such as scene dynamics, spatial structure, movement, lighting conditions, and visual complexity, the team also considered the attractiveness of the recorded scenes. This is important because subjective quality assessment studies require video materials that are both methodologically suitable and engaging for participants.

The five-day fieldwork included recording at several locations in Istria, including Poreč, Višnjan, Motovun, Kotli, the Mirna River area, Buzet, Veliki Brijun, and Rovinj. The team captured a wide range of scenes, including natural landscapes, historic town centres, cultural and historical heritage sites, coastal environments, and visually dynamic road and movement-based sequences.

The use of different locations and recording conditions will support the creation of a balanced set of test sequences. Such diversity is important for the SIGMA360 repository, as the project aims to include content with different levels of spatial and temporal complexity. These characteristics will later be used in the analysis of how video content, technical parameters, and compression-related impairments influence perceived quality.

A specific part of the recording was carried out on Veliki Brijun, where the team captured natural environments, wildlife, and valuable cultural and historical sites. Dynamic 360° video sequences were also recorded during rides in an electric vehicle, providing material that will be useful for analysing the impact of camera movement on the perception of immersive video quality.

The field recording also provided practical insights into the technical workflow required for producing high-quality 360° video material. This includes camera positioning, scene selection, recording logistics, storage requirements, and the preparation of materials for later processing. These experiences will help refine future recording sessions and support the development of consistent procedures for video acquisition within the project.

In the next phase, the collected material will be reviewed and technically processed. This will include stitching, editing, quality inspection, and selection of suitable video segments. After that, selected sequences will be prepared for the creation of degraded versions with different technical parameters, such as resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and compression level.

The completed field recording marks another important milestone for SIGMA360. By collecting original 360° video material under real field conditions, the project team has taken a significant step toward building the project’s video dataset and preparing the content that will later support subjective testing, quality modelling, and open research in immersive multimedia services.