# Single Image Depth Estimation: An Overview Source: [Single Image Depth Estimation: An Overview]() Collection index: [llms.txt]() Data updated: 2025-10-25T23:56:05.140Z Authors: Alican Mertan, Damien Jade Duff, Gozde Unal Published: 2021-04-13T18:58:37.000Z ## Abstract We review solutions to the problem of depth estimation, arguably the most important subtask in scene understanding. We focus on the single image depth estimation problem. Due to its properties, the single image depth estimation problem is currently best tackled with machine learning methods, most successfully with convolutional neural networks. We provide an overview of the field by examining key works. We examine non-deep learning approaches that mostly predate deep learning and utilize hand-crafted features and assumptions, and more recent works that mostly use deep learning techniques. The single image depth estimation problem is tackled first in a supervised fashion with absolute or relative depth information acquired from human or sensor-labeled data, or in an unsupervised way using unlabelled stereo images or video datasets. We also study multitask approaches that combine the depth estimation problem with related tasks such as semantic segmentation and surface normal estimation. Finally, we discuss investigations into the mechanisms, principles, and failure cases of contemporary solutions. ## Recorded benchmark results A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage. ## Original sources and implementation [Original paper]() [PDF]()