Our inverse procedural modeling process produces 3D models representing/explaining the structures we see in our input sensor data, so it doesn't require hand-modeling first.
> Is the benefit that you then can store the parameters and use the model to regenerate the building, thus compressing the representation a bunch?
A few benefits - we can automatically generate the mesh model at different levels of detail by stripping out elements of the procedural recipe (rather than relying on mesh decimation which gives ugly results). And yeah, compression + error-correction also play a role. Plus compared to photogrammetric models, we have the metadata needed for interactive lighting/simulation.
> Is the benefit that you then can store the parameters and use the model to regenerate the building, thus compressing the representation a bunch?
A few benefits - we can automatically generate the mesh model at different levels of detail by stripping out elements of the procedural recipe (rather than relying on mesh decimation which gives ugly results). And yeah, compression + error-correction also play a role. Plus compared to photogrammetric models, we have the metadata needed for interactive lighting/simulation.