Digital Tools for Classical Archaeology and Architecture: Combining Total Station Drawing and Photogrammetry in Fieldwork Documentation
Jari Pakkanen (RHUL)
Digital Classicist London seminar 2019
Friday June 21th at 16:30, in room G11, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
Livecast at Digital Classicist London YouTube channel.
Recent advancements in information technologies have already resulted in three-dimensional documentation of architectural and archaeological features being commonly used in a very large number of fieldwork projects: new developments in hard- and software are fast replacing traditional ways of recording and draughtsmanship. Even though laser scanning is still beyond the budget of most projects, digital photography and total stations are standard equipment used in fieldwork, so additional hardware costs can be kept to a minimum. The most cost-effective way of producing precise two-dimensional line drawings and field documentation is combining photogrammetry with intensive stone-by-stone documentation using reflectorless total stations: the two-dimensional projections can be produced to any required direction (plans, elevations, sections). The benefits of the presented method include speed of production, higher measurement density and precision compared to hand-made drawings. These all allow for more time to be used for the actual study of the documented features. For large complexes drone photography can shorten the time needed in the field. Full three-dimensional documentation of existing features allows also for reconstructions which fit the data better and facilitates subsequent analyses of architecture. The paper author has annually run field training courses for students without previous experience of archaeological documentation since 2014. The presented case studies are of on-going fieldwork projects.
ALL WELCOME