Simple, reliable 2.5D photography

More and more people are experimenting with home-made, cheap 3D scanning devices, or something similar:

http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/25d/

Dynamic Models to Reconstruct Ancient Landscapes - CAA

"In this paper a method of landscape analysis is
demonstrated through raster-based digital elevation
models (DEM) using the case-study of the Helike
Delta, Gulf of Corinth, Greece. In the Classical
Period, Helike was the seat of the Achaean League
and the worship centre of the god Helikonian
Poseidon. With the focus on the earthquake and
tsunami of 373BC, DEMs are generated using
dynamic models of sea level rise, tectonic and pulse
tectonic uplift, subsidence, and sediment deposition.
Starting with a DEM from the present day
landscape, simulated DEM models are generated for
the Early Helladic (2500-2100BC), Classical (480-
323BC), Hellenistic (323-1st Century BC), and
Roman (1st Century BC – 4th Century AD) periods...."

This presentation was the first which I saw. Landscape reconstruction is a very popular research direction. We try to create new digital terrain models with surface analysis. After this step, it is possible to visualize the environment changes.

That was a great presentation from Mariza Kormann and Gary Lock, University of Oxford.

Workshop III - The CIDOC conceptual reference model as a tool for integrating cultural information - CAA

"This seminar is about the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM), a top-level ontology and ISO standard (ISO21127:2006) for the semantic integration of cultural information. It will explain the scope and objectives of the model. It will detail the construction principles used and the major concepts it defines.

In order to use the model for information integration, multiple data structures have to be mapped to the model, so that data contents can be transformed automatically into a CRM compatible form and be merged. Alternatively, the mappings can be used to transform queries against the CRM into queries against local data structures. The mapping is the critical step, in which the domain expert’s knowledge is needed. IT tools can automatically execute later steps. The mapping process also shows compatibility with the CRM.

The seminar will explain in practical examples and exercises how to map a data structure to the CIDOC CRM."

I found the second and the third Workshop really interesting.

Open source software are in the focus of future work. MESHLAB is a also a great opensource program. Mesh and edit of point cloud are possible in this software.

Next days I want to present the most interesting works.

source: caa2010.org

Sculpting a Large Bust of Bethoven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjMJOfCyDaA

Ancient Cockroach Relative Revealed in 3D

"... The researchers created their images using a CT scanning device, based at the Natural History Museum in London, which enabled them to take 3142 x-rays of the fossil and compile the images into an accurate 3-D model, creating a 'virtual fossil' of the creature, using specially designed computer software. The scientists used the models to visualize the Archimylacris eggintoni's legs, antennae, mouth parts and body, which had never been seen by human eyes before. ..."



source: http://www.livescience.com/animals/ancient-cockroach-relative-100413.html

More Efficient Solar Panel by MIT

http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/08/solar-origami-mit-working-on-super-efficient-folded-solar-panels/

Workshop II - An introduction to open source GIS: GRASS - CAA

"Grass is the leader open source GIS nowadays. It manage both raster and vector information, 2D and 3D models, and can be used on different operating systems and platforms. features more than 350 functions, including image processing, raster analysis, import and export, and vector and network analysis.

GIS are frequently used for archaeologist as a documentation tool, and also to analyse archaeological data. For this purpose it is necessary to have a powerful GIS system with a complete set of analysis tools.

Open source software is a wonderful choice for this purpose. As anyone can improve the system and add new functionality, open source systems are more dynamic.

One of the main characteristic of Grass GIS is that it can be operated, besides the usual graphical user interface, from the operating system shell. This provides it with a powerful scripting capability.

This workshop aims to introduce in a concise way the main functionality of Grass and its usage paradigms. Special attention will be devoted to the scripting capability. Basic GIS knowledge is required."

source: caa2010.org

Workshop I - Laser Scanner Systems for Archeological Surveys - CAA

"This workshop pretends to divulgate information on The State of the Art of the laser scanner technology as far as the software and hardware is concerned when solving the usual problems encountered on arqueological surveys.

To this end, we are limiting ourselves to the description of the features offered by a Laser Scanner system, model IMAGER 5006i, manufacturer by Z+F in Germany as well as the software programs JRC Reconstructor and Cloud Cube.

The problems we will focus on are the following:

• Logistic and portability of the equipment, in the concern that field work sites are not always easy to access
• Need of facing small and big objects with high accuracy

The IMAGER 5006i laser scanner concentrates its power on the following characteristics:

1. Very high speed in data acquisition combined with high resolution on the captured files. This feature makes it valid either for surveys of great targets at very far distances or when we are surveying small pieces at close range.
2. The system is very easy to set up and handle. The equipment can be configured without requiring any external connections. This feature is tremendously appreciated as far as the arqueological field work is concerned. Since the batteries, the data storage unit and the file configuration processor are part of the unit, it is not necessary to connect or use any other external complement to perform the data capture. This feature facilitates the work in scenarios which can be uncomfortable, far from urban areas and often of difficult access.
3. Capacity for data acquisition when working with targets coloured close to black.
4. Merging of images captured using the complementary camera with the scanner acquired data, in a integral and automatic fashion, for each of the scenes involved.

With regard to the software programs, we will discuss them in the same manner as we will discuss the hardware and we will try to demonstrate the tools which are used to solve the most common problems in handling the data acquired with the laser scanner: large files corresponding the huge clouds of points within the Auto Cad environment; how the final products are obtained, including profiles, cross sections, contours and volumes; all of them directly on DXF format or on some other CAD compatible systems.

Finally we will explain the working procedures and proper tools to be used to obtain the final products mentioned above: profiles, volumes, slopes, DTM, surface comparisons, and how to obtain the different results on DXF files or on files which are compatible with other CAD systems, in concrete we will discuss the following characteristics:

• Possibility of registering different files without requiring man-made marks, only using natural marks.
• Work aids to digitize plans, profiles and cross sections in general, starting with the cloud of points; all within the Auto CAD environment.
• Automatic generation of a wire mesh, over flats or curved surfaces by using average cross lines or cross planes.
• Integration of different data capture files in only one using a common reference system .
• Work aids to be used in the generation of a wire mesh.
• Registration of different survey files when the target has been changed in position or location while the scan files were being taken."

source: www.caa2010.org

Book Flipping Scanning - University of Tokyo

Book flipping scanning system developed at University of Tokyo, great research!



link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCOXC5PTJj8&feature=player_embedded#

TerraFormatics Live Report CAA, Granada

Hallo everybody,

we will send on next week some information from CAA. The program of the congress is very interesting, lot of laser scanning case studies, great meeting!

First day

Tuesday great workshops: Laser Scanner systems for Archeological surveys, Digital Documentation in Archaeology, Use of 3D techniques in Cultural Heritage……

More news later!

Program on this website: http://www.caa2010.org/