Image-Based Modeling Approaches to 2D and 3D Digital Drafting in Archaeology at Tel Akko and Qasrin

Abstract

As archaeologists continue to adopt geographic information systems and computer-aided design software packages to record and store spatial data, excavations have begun to forgo hand-drawn plans in favor of digital recording. The purpose of this article is to present two case studies that have successfully utilized digital drafting techniques to create architectural plans at multiple scales. The first presents on-site 2D and 3D documentation at the site of Tel Akko, Israel, at the square, field, and tell scales. The second study combines orthophotos and legacy data to create an accurate site plan of Qasrin on the Golan Heights. Both harness image-based modeling to produce 2D and 3D spatial data in order to produce top plans with unprecedented spatial accuracy.

Digital Tools for Data Acquisition and Heritage Management in Archaeology and Their Impact on Archaeological Practices

“…Three-dimensional models resulting from 3D field acquisition campaigns have proven to be a valuable tool for several purposes [92]: (a) creating highly precise sections, twodimensional maps and three-dimensional models of the archaeological site [90,96,97]; (b) monitoring the activities carried out by archaeologists on site [98]; (c) examining the spatial relationships between various materials unearthed at the site [97,99]; and (d) enabling specialists to conduct more precise analyses of the materials excavated during the archaeological dig [100].…”

Quantifying the effects of erosion on archaeological sites with low-altitude aerial photography, structure from motion, and GIS: A case study from southern Jordan

“…Many software packages released in recent years (including Agisoft Photoscan, http://www.agisoft.com/, one particularly popular application) combine SfM-based point cloud generation with mesh model and texture generation functions, for an integrated IBM workflow. Archaeologists have noted the costeffectiveness of these digital photogrammetric techniques, their precision and accuracy (in some cases rivaling laser scanning), and its temporal efficiency in field recording (Verhoeven, 2011;Doneus et al, 2011: 84;Lambers et al, 2007;De Reu et al, 2014;Quartermaine et al, 2014;Forte, 2014: 13;Roosevelt, 2014;Meylemans et al, 2014;Jorayev et al, 2016;Reshetyuk and Mårtensson, 2016;Sapirstein, 2016;Thomas.,). Others have highlighted the capacity of photogrammetric IBM techniques for documentation at many scales, ranging from the artifact-to the sitelevel (Olson et al, 2013).…”

Excavation is Destruction Digitization: Advances in Archaeological Practice

“…Traditional archaeological field drafting, in particular, has been supplanted on some projects by less time consuming and considerably more accurate digitization from georeferenced orthophotos, spatially accurate overhead photographs deriving from image-based modeling (Howland et al 2014;Prins et al 2014;Quartermaine et al 2014). Attempts to incorporate more image-based modeling techniques into excavation recording strategies have had varying levels of success de Reu et al 2014;Killebrew and Olson 2014;Forte 2014;Stal et al 2014;Levy 2012, 2014;Demesticha et al 2014;Hill et al 2014).…”