Abstract: A system and method for minimizing the amount of photographic data to be collected to reconstruct a model of a three-dimensional object such as a building. In one embodiment a systematic process is used to collect survey and detailed photographic data from designated facades and architectural components of the facades to be processed into graphical tiles. The graphical tiles are textured or coated onto a three-dimensional wireframe model of the building. In one embodiment, the amount of photographic data to be collected is based on the footprint of the building, the height of the building and the number of unique facades and architectural details on the facades. In one embodiment, photographic data of the objects surrounding the building is also collected for modeling with the building. The virtual three-dimensional building models can be incorporated into the virtual three-dimensional city model which is a realistically accurate depiction of a city environment including all the details of an actual city.