Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MicMac

micmac.ensg.eu

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
Visit micmac.ensg.eu
Spec score 8.5 #7 of 34 in Photogrammetry Software

What it is

MicMac is free, open-source desktop software for reconstructing 3D models from imagery. Developed at IGN and ENSG within the LASTIG lab, it runs on Linux, macOS and Windows under the CECILL-B license. It supports frame cameras, pushbroom sensors and scanned analogue images, along with camera calibration models and dense image matching for deformation studies. Outputs can include point clouds, 3D models and ortho-imagery in a desired coordinate system. Intermediate results in open formats let users work at different stages, and 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 initially built for experts and researchers, with use also described in architecture, archaeology and forestry. Documentation, tutorials, a wiki and user forum are available. Building from source involves multiple dependencies, and the Mac guide cautions that a current revision may not compile or may be unstable on a given OS.

Spec sheet

Purpose
MicMac is a photogrammetric suite for 3D reconstruction.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
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.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audience
The software is aimed mainly at professional and academic users, with efforts to make it more accessible to the general public.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Platforms
The installation guide lists Windows, Mac OS X, Fedora, RHEL, and Ubuntu among supported platforms and also describes Raspberry Pi installation.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Integrations
The Windows installation guide identifies ExifTool, Exiv2, ImageMagick convert, and PROJ among dependencies checked by MicMac.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
License
The project is distributed under the CECILL-B license.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Calibration and matching
It supports a range of camera calibration models and dense two-dimensional image matching for deformation studies.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Container
The project repository describes a precompiled Docker image and instructions to build an image from its Dockerfile.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Coordinate conversion
MicMac provides ChgSysCo, OriConvert, and GCPConvert with the ChSys option to transform coordinates between systems.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Coordinate systems
Reconstruction products can be delivered in a desired coordinate system.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Data scale
Its architecture is adapted to big datasets.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Dense matching
The C3DC command automatically computes a point cloud from a set of oriented images.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Developer
MicMac is developed at IGN and ENSG within the LASTIG lab.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation and help
The project links to its documentation, wiki, and a user forum for further information.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
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.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Image sources
It supports frame cameras, pushbroom sensors, and scanned analogue images.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation requirements
Building from source uses tools including Git, CMake, make, ImageMagick, exiftool, exiv2, and PROJ; some GUI tools require optional Qt or Xlib.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Known limit
AperiCloud does not support 64-bit PLY, and its documentation recommends local or truncated coordinates for that tool.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
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.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Maintainer
The MicMac wiki says it is maintained by ENSG's Department of Aerial and Spatial Imagery (DIAS).Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Methods
The presentation describes applications including cartography, environmental work, industry, forestry, heritage, and archaeology.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Metrology
The software provides quality indicators including bundle adjustment residuals, covariance matrices, parameter sensitivity, and correlation images.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Outputs
MicMac can create 3D models and ortho-imagery, and its tools can georeference outputs in local, global, or absolute coordinate systems.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Support and learning
The site provides tutorials covering workflows such as image matching, camera orientation, dense point clouds, video processing, and historical orthoimagery.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Visualization
AperiCloud generates a sparse 3D cloud with camera positions and orientations, which can be viewed in MeshLab.Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu
Workflow access
Intermediate results in open data formats let users interact with the processing chain at different stages.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

MicMac Free Free, open-source photogrammetric suite · CeCILL-B licence Read 5 Oct 2026 · micmac.ensg.eu

Every MicMac plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free, open-source software for Linux, macOS and Windows.
  • Supports frame, pushbroom and scanned analogue imagery.
  • Produces point clouds, 3D models and ortho-imagery.
  • Provides quality indicators for reconstruction results.
  • Intermediate results use open data formats.

Limits

  • Source builds require several dependencies.
  • Mac guide warns current revisions may be unstable.
  • AperiCloud does not support 64-bit PLY.

Who it suits

MicMac is aimed mainly at professional and academic users working with imagery and 3D reconstruction. Its tools may also suit users in architecture, archaeology and forestry who can work with its processing chain and installation requirements.

Verdict

MicMac offers a broad photogrammetric workflow, coordinate-system options and inspection indicators without a software charge. Installation and the documented AperiCloud format limit are worth considering before choosing it.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MicMacAll alternatives →