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In recent years, illegal felling of and damage to the incense tree Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng. have been reported in Hong Kong. Their native populations are under increasingly severe threat. Therefore, the development of a standard and efficient method to classify and document wounds on vulnerable trees is urgently needed for conservation purposes. In this study, photogrammetry was used to document wounds in A. sinensis through 3D modeling. A total of 752 wound records from 484 individual A. sinensis trees from Hong Kong were included to establish a new wound classification system. Our major findings include a novel standardized procedure for photogrammetric documentation and a wound classification system. The results of this study will facilitate A. sinensis conservation, by enhancing wound documentation and information transfer to law enforcement and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The documentation and visualization of ephemeral CH, especially for World’s Fairs architecture, remains a neglected endeavor on the global scale. While digital products like 3D models find extensive application in CH, the use of a WebGIS has scarcely been explored in this domain. When a WebGIS is used for CH, it serves to communicate the output of research, not as a tool to support the development of the research itself. Moreover, aspects like procedural development for the creation of a WebGIS platform, its upgrading, and its long-term preservation are key factors for the maintenance of the digital tool, but they have scarcely been considered in the literature. Through the Turin 1911 project, this paper defines a procedure for the creation of a WebGIS for ephemeral architectural documentation, showing how a WebGIS platform can be designed, implemented, tested, and maintained. The novelty of this study lies in the creation of a 2D/3D WebGIS based on a tailored spatial database; the WebGIS is coupled with a dedicated website for the constant updating of the research data documenting the Turin 1911 International Exposition. The discussion emphasizes the transformative role of a WebGIS in not only sharing information but also serving as a dynamic platform for conducting digital humanities studies in 3D environments.

The changes that occur to the human body after death reflect a multitude of complex biological processes, which can be impacted by a collection of variables that are not yet fully understood. Typically, information is obtained through in-situ examination and/or 2D data collection, which may restrict the availability of data and prevent collection of valuable information. To address this gap, the aim of this paper is to present a protocol for 3D data collection of human decomposition in outdoor environments. The specific objectives include presenting an approach and framework using wildlife cameras and performing 3D observation of a decomposing body. The method includes the design and construction of a walk-in cage including five frames holding 31 cameras, installed at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research. Preliminary trials completed on one subject in Zurich and various objects provided promising results through the generation of a 3D model. Comparing the wildlife cameras 3D model with a high-quality 3D model showed only minor discrepancies. This approach will be used in a study designed to improve our understanding of the human decomposition process to ultimately assist investigators with PMI estimations and to help reconstruct the sequence of events and time of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The documentation and visualization of ephemeral CH, especially for World's Fairs architecture, remains a neglected endeavor on the global scale. While digital products like 3D models find extensive application in CH, the use of a WebGIS has scarcely been explored in this domain. When a WebGIS is used for CH, it serves to communicate the output of research, not as a tool to support the development of the research itself. Moreover, aspects like procedural development for the creation of a WebGIS platform, its upgrading, and its long-term preservation are key factors for the maintenance of the digital tool, but they have scarcely been considered in the literature. Through the Turin 1911 project, this paper defines a procedure for the creation of a WebGIS for ephemeral architectural documentation, showing how a WebGIS platform can be designed, implemented, tested, and maintained. The novelty of this study lies in the creation of a 2D/3D WebGIS based on a tailored spatial database; the WebGIS is coupled with a dedicated website for the constant updating of the research data documenting the Turin 1911 International Exposition. The discussion emphasizes the transformative role of a WebGIS in not only sharing information but also serving as a dynamic platform for conducting digital humanities studies in 3D environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to currently available very high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) models via photogrammetric techniques as a primary method of archaeological documentation, constructing immersive, high-fidelity simulacra is imminently possible. This paper considers how the scale at which the human body interacts with immersive digital models is especially important for understanding the affordances and ergonomics of past things and places. The implications of this isometry between archaeological objects of analysis and emerging capabilities to interact with them through digital surrogates in the present are manifold. By enabling interaction with objects and contexts in immersive virtual space, such observational experiences create in silico engagements that are repeatable, distributable, and collaborative. In particular, it is the collaborative capacity of this technology that this paper explores using online immersive virtual reality (iVR). Collaborative online iVR is used in this research as a key instrument for enhancing understanding and reinterpreting the digital records of two archaeological sites under excavation in Peru. The case studies analyzed show a variety of cultural, geographic, and temporal contexts in the Andean region, which illustrates the broad potential of iVR for archaeological hermeneutics. Through iVR frameworks, the authors engage with embodied reconsiderations of Catholic ritual spaces within a planned colonial town in the southern Peruvian highlands and the pre-Columbian site of Huaca Colorada on the north coast. Synchronous scalar experiences that privilege the affordances of architectural space within digital models create opportunities for embodied experience and collaborative dialogue. A fundamental argument is the capacity to digitally inhabit these places and manipulate materials holds subtle as well as profound epistemological and hermeneutic implications for archaeological knowledge construction.

Over the past decade, virtual reality has been quickly growing in popularity across disciplines including the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage. Despite numerous artifacts being uncovered each year by archaeological excavations around the world, only a select few are displayed and recorded in museums while the rest remain hidden away in storage facilities. The creation of virtual reality museums provides a potential solution to this problem. This project aims to optimize a computational workflow for digitally documenting these artifacts and designing virtual museum spaces for them to be displayed online. This project focuses on a selection of the most representative artifacts that have been conserved and restored from the Necropolis of Baley collection of burial vessels from Bulgaria. The prehistoric settlement of Baley dates to the Bronze and Early Iron Age in the Middle and Lower Danube Basin and the collection thus far includes over 450 burial artifacts. Through the use of photogrammetry and 3D scanning, photorealistic 3D models were created and used as the basis of a virtual exhibition to showcase this important collection to the public and scientific community that can easily be shared online. A comparison of the 3D results from the photogrammetry and the 3D scanner was conducted to determine the optimal workflow for large-scale documentation of archaeological artifacts. This project showcases the applications of integrating documentation techniques in an online environment in order to showcase important collections to the public in an interactive way to promote cultural heritage to the public that may otherwise be unavailable.

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Due to increasingly capable algorithms and more available processing power, photogrammetry is becoming a simple, cheap, and accurate alternative to 3D optical surface scanning. With adequate application, it can be a swift documentation technique for reconstructing the geometry and body surface of deceased persons in autopsies or other forensic medical examinations. Sufficiently easy and swift 3D documentation techniques may allow 3D imaging technologies to become part of the daily routine of any forensic medical examiner or other medical personnel. This paper presents a consistent and systematic photographing methodology (as an alternative to automated or intuitive methods) for photogrammetry scanning of human remains. Although it requires manual photography, the methods presented in this paper offer a swift and easy way to capture an accurate 3D model of human remains under almost any conditions. Four different photographing procedures were tested on four subjects: (i) a systematic circular technique with 100 photos, (ii) a systematic circular technique with 50 photos, (iii) a technique loosely mimicking cameras mounted on a postmortem CT device with 98 photos, and (iv) a technique mimicking cameras mounted on a postmortem CT device with 49 photos. Measurement accuracy was tested with the aid of six adhesive control points placed at approximately the same locations on each subject. Five different distances defined by these control points were measured and compared to the measurements taken by hand. 3D photogrammetry meshes created using these techniques were also compared with point clouds acquired using a 3D laser scanner. We found that a carefully composed, tested, and systematic photographing procedure significantly improved the quality of the photogrammetry models. In terms of relative difference compared to the hand measurements, both Techniques 1 and 2 produced close results, with an average relative difference of 0.160% and 0.197% and a maximum relative difference of 0.481% and 0.481%, respectively, while models reconstructed from images taken using Techniques 3 and 4 seemed to be much less accurate, with an average relative difference of 0.398% and 0.391% and a maximum relative difference as high as 1.233% and 1.139%, respectively. This study highlights the importance of a scientifically tested methodology for obtaining high-quality 3D models in forensic applications. Key points Close-range photogrammetry is an easy, fast, and cheap way to acquire 3D models of human remains of forensic importance. A carefully composed, tested, and systematic photographing procedure has a key role and can greatly increase the quality of photogrammetry models. A photogrammetry-based 3D-digitalization technique could be developed and adopted as part of the daily routine during autopsies. Photogrammetry-based 3D models are much quicker to acquire, look more photorealistic, and are almost as accurate as certain laser scanner–based models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectus is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study reports the conservative first aid concerning the human cranium known as the “Skull with Ears”, which is conserved in the crypt of Santa Luciella ai Librai’s church in Naples, Italy. These remains have historically been worshipped by devotees within the cult of the “abandoned souls”. The skulls were “adopted” by the Neapolitan population and treated with particular care in exchange for divine favors. The critical preservation status of the “Skull with ears” required a multidisciplinary approach aimed at defining the taphonomy and anthropological features of the cranium, while determining the state of its conservation by using a multi-analytical approach. Multispectral imaging, 3D modeling, X-ray imaging, microscopical observations, and microbiological tests enabled the documentation of the cranium while assessing this state of conservation. Electron scanning microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode, and radiocarbon dating allowed for essential data to be obtained on the cranium’s history and constituent components. The results that were obtained from both the analysis of the cranium and the environmental monitoring of the crypt showed the advanced degradation of the bones due to a significant bacterial attack, which was facilitated by the inadequate environmental conditions at the site of conservation. The acquired data enabled the definition of the most suitable conservation strategy and the securing of the cranium.

This paper provides the results of a 3D photogrammetric survey of the apsidal conch of St. Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (L'Aquila, Italy). The images were acquired and then processed in order to obtain a three-dimensional model available on Sketchfab platform. The five panels and the vault of the apsidal conch were exported from the 3D model as orthomosaics and then imported into CAD software for the mapping of the main degradation phenomena. The examined surface was almost entirely covered by mural painting and restoring mortars, the latter mainly located in the lower part of the apsidal conch. The whole surface of the apsidal conch was also examined by means of raking light that enabled highlighting of conservation problems and the presence of incision marks and giornata/pontate boundaries indicating the use of the fresco painting technique. Several degradation phenomena, attributable both to the executive technique of wall painting and the microclimate conditions, could be observed. According to the overlapping of weathering forms and the material involved, most of the examined surfaces exhibited moderate to very severe degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the conservative first aid concerning the human cranium known as the "Skull with Ears", which is conserved in the crypt of Santa Luciella ai Librai's church in Naples, Italy. These remains have historically been worshipped by devotees within the cult of the "abandoned souls". The skulls were "adopted" by the Neapolitan population and treated with particular care in exchange for divine favors. The critical preservation status of the "Skull with ears" required a multidisciplinary approach aimed at defining the taphonomy and anthropological features of the cranium, while determining the state of its conservation by using a multi-analytical approach. Multispectral imaging, 3D modeling, X-ray imaging, microscopical observations, and microbiological tests enabled the documentation of the cranium while assessing this state of conservation. Electron scanning microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode, and radiocarbon dating allowed for essential data to be obtained on the cranium's history and constituent components. The results that were obtained from both the analysis of the cranium and the environmental monitoring of the crypt showed the advanced degradation of the bones due to a significant bacterial attack, which was facilitated by the inadequate environmental conditions at the site of conservation. The acquired data enabled the definition of the most suitable conservation strategy and the securing of the cranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wealth of cultural heritage objects in Indonesia, some of which are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites, more documentation still needs to be done. One of the reasons behind this problem is that the documentation of complex cultural heritage objects is more complicated than most modern objects, which are often more simplistic. This preliminary study aimed to document vernacular heritage buildings in 3D to be used as a conservation and building management tool. The built digital model can then be used as a building assessment tool. The data acquisition method used in this study was a combination of photogrammetry and laser scanner technology. The building model was stored as BIM (IFC model) and then georeferenced before being converted to IndoorGML. The building elements' information contained in the building model was retrieved as input to analyze the building. This research included analyses for building assessment, natural room temperature, natural lighting, and indoor space and relation. All results from the analysis were used as input to calculate the reliability value of the building using the AHP method. The case study for the heritage building was the house of Prince Arya Denda at Kasepuhan Palace, Cirebon, Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum has been conducting excavation works on the site of the former German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, related to the implementation of projects to preserve the authenticity and other ad hoc maintenance works, as well as those related to the extension of the necessary infrastructure network in the area of the former camp. These works, carried out in various parts of the former Birkenau, are subject to obligatory archaeological research. Over the years, a large number of reports on archaeological works have been collected. Researchers faced the challenge of accumulating dispersed archaeological information, mainly about the location of archaeological research sites and about the findings that were noted during the works. The chosen solution was the use of GIS software. Initially, this was QGIS, which is to be replaced by ArcGIS Pro over time. This makes it possible to place excavation sites in a generalised form on a map (contemporary or historical) or on a properly prepared aerial photo (for any year from the years available: 1944-2022). The outline of the excavation in the above-mentioned programs is interactive with the user. The description of the findings from a given place is added to it. The set of data thus prepared can then be filtered and selected, like in a popular spreadsheet. The amount of information on one map can be enhanced with underground infrastructure networks (as information about possible collisions) and road and construction infrastructure of the camp area which enables better orientation in the surroundings. Introduction of the possibilities of deeper analytics of large data sets is the main basis for outlining the possibilities of Geographic Information Systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the restoration work carried out on the mudbrick structures uncovered at the Iron Age (c. 1300-300 BC) site of Salūt, in central Oman. In the region, traditional earthen architecture represented the key building technique until modern times. The traditional concept of constant upkeep is arguably the only way of efficiently preserving ancient structures. However, different mud plaster compositions were tested which could provide a better aspect and a lower static load on the structures. The work strategy was meant to be sustainable from an economic, ecological, and sociological point of view, as it also aimed at documenting and hopefully reviving the traditional earthen architecture currently endangered by the disinterest of younger generations.

The Smart Eye Application is an augmented reality app for mobile devices that enables the in-situ 3D visualization of underground and inaccessible to the public archaeological sites and monuments. Accessibility to excavated archaeological sites and monuments is often hindered for reasons of preservation or urban development. Portable finds are transferred and, in some cases, exhibited in local museums, but the non-portable remains of ancient structures become eventually effaced from the landscape and the collective memory of local communities. The Smart Eye app provides an “x-ray” type view of excavation sites that have been backfilled and are now invisible. While common practice in heritage sites’ digital dissemination to the general public uses 2D or 3D reconstructions in augmented or virtual reality environments, the Smart Eye app presents archaeological remains in the shape and form they were found in by archaeologists supplemented with augmented reality markers that provide simplified textual and visual information aimed toward a non-scholarly public. The aim is to re-instate these heritage sites into the interactive relationship that people have with their landscape and their history. The present paper discusses the chaîne-opératoire of developing the app, from the acquisition of primary documentation data of the excavation sites to the methodology used for the production of the 3D models of the archaeological sites and the development of the app itself and the technical equipment used. Finally, we discuss the results of the preliminary evaluation of the application and future steps to improve it before final testing by the local communities where the archaeological sites are located.

This paper provides the results of a 3D photogrammetric survey of the apsidal conch of St. Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (L’Aquila, Italy). The images were acquired and then processed in order to obtain a three-dimensional model available on Sketchfab platform. The five panels and the vault of the apsidal conch were exported from the 3D model as orthomosaics and then imported into CAD software for the mapping of the main degradation phenomena. The examined surface was almost entirely covered by mural painting and restoring mortars, the latter mainly located in the lower part of the apsidal conch. The whole surface of the apsidal conch was also examined by means of raking light that enabled highlighting of conservation problems and the presence of incision marks and giornata/pontate boundaries indicating the use of the fresco painting technique. Several degradation phenomena, attributable both to the executive technique of wall painting and the microclimate conditions, could be observed. According to the overlapping of weathering forms and the material involved, most of the examined surfaces exhibited moderate to very severe degradation.

The archaeological site of Ani is located in the city of Kars in northeast Turkey. The archeology area provides a thorough account of the development of medieval architecture and showcases virtually all of the numerous architectural advances that the area experienced between the seventh and thirteenth century AD. The Redeemer Church is one of the architectural monuments of the medieval city of Ani, "known as the city of the thousand and one churches or the city with 40 Doors." The Redeemer Church is one of the few structures still standing in Ani from the prosperous Armenian Bagratid era of AD's tenth and eleventh. In this study, the Church, scanned with 3D terrestrial laser scanning technology by World Monument Fund (WMF) partner Solvotek, was modeled and analyzed using an Open Source program (Cloud Compare) and MatLab Program for 3D documentation. The 3D mesh models, the non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surfaces, and the inscriptions of the Church were firstly generated after analyzing the object details measured by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) in this study. Also, a new approach is proposed to automatically extract the surfaces and the inscriptions (such as handwriting and complicated shaped surfaces) of historical artifacts using parametric features. When the results are evaluated, the RANSAC algorithm applied for NURBS surfaces has extracted the surfacial information successfully. Furthermore, the lines were obtained by using geometric features and the inscriptions on the wall both were obtained automatically with available applications, but with new approaches; the newly proposed approaches have shown that they can be applied successfully in cultural heritage studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unthinkable just a few years ago, the precise laser‐scanning survey of a kilometer‐long tunnel in one day by one operator has become possible. This article describes how 261 scans were taken with a RIEGL VZ‐400i laser scanner to digitize the Zentrum am Berg (ZaB) research tunnel with millimeter resolution. The data has been automatically registered during the acquisition process within the instrument. After applying multistation adjustment, a block adjustment postprocess step, the high accuracy of the point cloud with respect to a network of 35 retroreflective bireflex targets has been approved. For further applications such as analysis, simulation, or visualization, a homogeneous 3D‐meshed surface model has been created automatically from the point cloud representing an as‐built 3D documentation of the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new tools for 3D survey and modelling (as portable scanners and software packages), often in combination with diagnostics, are nowadays able to provide indispensable elements for the study of archaeological artefacts; their applications to museum’s heritage can be also useful to integrate the traditional graphic documentation and contribute to enhancement and dissemination. This paper shows the benefit of using the aforementioned tools to study the peculiar clay mask No. 11114-E, discovered in 1973 in the Greek necropolis of Lipára, inside tomb No. 1558. The specimen, now exhibited in the Classical Section of the Aeolian Museum, is considered unique both in the Aeolian Islands and in the ancient Greek world, as it is the only one merging two half faces attributable to different characters. This feature, unknown at the time of discovery, has been highlighted in 2018, thanks to a restoration intervention by which a hard concretion layer covering a large portion of the mask surface was removed, bringing to light a smiling young half-face next to an old one with Silenic features. In 2019, the mask was surveyed in situ through a portable and performing laser-scanner arm (the QuantumTM FaroArm by FARO) to produce a high-resolution 3D model useful to enhance the reading of the two halves (not evident enough, due to its state of preservation). The data processing was performed using the Geomagic Wrap software, able to align and merge multiple scans into a single model and to export results in multiple formats, easily shareable and viewable in free software or via the web. Finally, thanks to this method, the successful generation of a digital replica was performed; the resulting replica is useful for dissemination and as a support for the hypothetical reconstruction of the two prototypes taken as models by the craftsman who created the mask. Highlights: • A 'mobile laboratory’ consisting of portable equipment has been set up to perform 3D metric surveys on a selection of artefacts preserved at the Museum of Lipari. • By means of an ultra-precision laser-scanner arm, a 3D survey on a miniaturistic double-faced mask, belonging to the classical theatrical terracotta, has been performed. • A geometrically accurate and realistic 3D final model has been created. This helped the study and reconstruction of the two characters composing the mask.

Rock art carvings, which are best described as petroglyphs, were produced by removing parts of the rock surface to create a negative relief. This tradition was particularly strong during the Nordic Bronze Age (1700–550 BC) in southern Scandinavia with over 20,000 boats and thousands of humans, animals, wagons, etc. This vivid and highly engaging material provides quantitative data of high potential to understand Bronze Age social structures and ideologies. The ability to provide the technically best possible documentation and to automate identification and classification of images would help to take full advantage of the research potential of petroglyphs in southern Scandinavia and elsewhere. We, therefore, attempted to train a model that locates and classifies image objects using faster region-based convolutional neural network (Faster-RCNN) based on data produced by a novel method to improve visualizing the content of 3D documentations. A newly created layer of 3D rock art documentation provides the best data currently available and has reduced inscribed bias compared to older methods. Several models were trained based on input images annotated with bounding boxes produced with different parameters to find the best solution. The data included 4305 individual images in 408 scans of rock art sites. To enhance the models and enrich the training data, we used data augmentation and transfer learning. The successful models perform exceptionally well on boats and circles, as well as with human figures and wheels. This work was an interdisciplinary undertaking which led to important reflections about archaeology, digital humanities, and artificial intelligence. The reflections and the success represented by the trained models open novel avenues for future research on rock art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wealth of cultural heritage objects in Indonesia, some of which are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites, more documentation still needs to be done. One of the reasons behind this problem is that the documentation of complex cultural heritage objects is more complicated than most modern objects, which are often more simplistic. This preliminary study aimed to document vernacular heritage buildings in 3D to be used as a conservation and building management tool. The built digital model can then be used as a building assessment tool. The data acquisition method used in this study was a combination of photogrammetry and laser scanner technology. The building model was stored as BIM (IFC model) and then georeferenced before being converted to IndoorGML. The building elements’ information contained in the building model was retrieved as input to analyze the building. This research included analyses for building assessment, natural room temperature, natural lighting, and indoor space and relation. All results from the analysis were used as input to calculate the reliability value of the building using the AHP method. The case study for the heritage building was the house of Prince Arya Denda at Kasepuhan Palace, Cirebon, Indonesia.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has forced forensic dentists to improve infection control methods. This search investigated the practical utilization of different 3D scanners to record and to analyze bite marks in the skin- and inanimate objects with this aim in mind. A systematic review of the literature using keywords like "human bite mark", "bite mark analyzes", "3D analyzes", "3D scanning", "forensic odontology", and "forensic dentistry" was performed in three scientific databases: MEDLINEOvid®, Pubmed® and Google Scholar. The initial search yielded 263 full-text articles, of which 15 were considered eligible and current within the last 10 years. 3D scanners and computer-assisted human bite mark analyzes showed potential advantages and can be effectively used in forensic odontology on skin and inanimate objects. These technologies minimize the number of people being exposed to pathogens, simplify the chain of evidence, facilitate immediate information exchange between the team members and enable the virtual presentation of the expert witnesses in a court of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Smart Eye Application is an augmented reality app for mobile devices that enables the in-situ 3D visualization of underground and inaccessible to the public archaeological sites and monuments. Accessibility to excavated archaeological sites and monuments is often hindered for reasons of preservation or urban development. Portable finds are transferred and, in some cases, exhibited in local museums, but the non-portable remains of ancient structures become eventually effaced from the landscape and the collective memory of local communities. The Smart Eye app provides an "x-ray" type view of excavation sites that have been backfilled and are now invisible. While common practice in heritage sites' digital dissemination to the general public uses 2D or 3D reconstructions in augmented or virtual reality environments, the Smart Eye app presents archaeological remains in the shape and form they were found in by archaeologists supplemented with augmented reality markers that provide simplified textual and visual information aimed toward a non-scholarly public. The aim is to re-instate these heritage sites into the interactive relationship that people have with their landscape and their history. The present paper discusses the chaîne-opératoire of developing the app, from the acquisition of primary documentation data of the excavation sites to the methodology used for the production of the 3D models of the archaeological sites and the development of the app itself and the technical equipment used. Finally, we discuss the results of the preliminary evaluation of the application and future steps to improve it before final testing by the local communities where the archaeological sites are located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological restoration of monuments is a practice requiring extreme caution and thorough study. Archaeologists and conservation experts are very reluctant to proceed to restoration and indeed to reconstruction actions without detailed consultation and thought. Nowadays, anastylosis executed on the real object is practically prohibited. Contemporary technologies have provided archaeologists and other conservation experts with the tools to embark on virtual restorations or anastyloses, thus testing various alternatives without physical intervention on the monument itself. In this way, the values of the monuments are respected according to international conventions. In this paper, two such examples of virtual archaeological anastyloses of two important Macedonian tombs in northern Greece are presented. The anastyloses were performed on three-dimensional (3D) models which have been produced using modern digital 3D documentation techniques, such as image-based modelling and terrestrial laser scanning. The reader is introduced to the history and importance –as well as the peculiarities– of the Macedonian tombs. In addition, the two tombs are described in detail mainly from an archaeological point of view The process of field data acquisition and processing to produce the 3D models are described. Simple and more or less standard methods were employed in acquiring the raw data. Processing was carried out using commercial software. The resulting 3D models and other documentation products are assessed for their accuracy and completeness. The decisions for the virtual anastylosis are explained in detail and the actual process is also described. The restored monuments are presented and evaluated by the conservation experts. Thus, it is shown how important virtual anastylosis of monuments is to archaeological researchers, as it enables them to conduct in-depth studies, without actually tampering with the monuments themselves. Digital 3D models are contributing to many disciplines, especially in archaeology, as they enable a wider audience to easily access both archaeological and geometric information as well as offering a high degree of interaction possibilities.

In recent years, an on-going project investigating the urban landscape of Naxos has surveyed and produced several new digital reconstructions of the settlement’s simple non-peripteral temples, most with highly decorative roofs. Three Archaic sacred buildings of Sicilian Naxos are used to demonstrate different approaches to recording the remains and reconstructing their architectural features. This work reflects changes in digital strategies over the past ten years. Tempietto H is a small shrine located outside the city’s boundaries and the site is currently inaccessible, so its reconstruction is based on excavation documentation and roof terracottas. The visible half of Tempietto C was documented using three-dimensional line-drawing with total stations and photogrammetry; the back-filled south-western part was surveyed with ground penetrating radar. Temple B is the largest sacred structure in Naxos. A geophysical survey gives new data on the eastern extent of the sanctuary. The area has been recorded with handheld and aerial photography to create a three-dimensional model of the sanctuary. A new orthogonal grid of the city was established circa 470 BCE and a rectangular base was placed in the south-east corner of every crossroad. These bases were the starting point for the plan, and their interpretation as altars converts the entire urban plan into a sacred landscape.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic forced universities to switch to distance online education, there was an urgent need to find some virtual/digital alternatives in order to continue teaching. Opportunities such as watching pre‐recorded autopsy videos or creating and analyzing post‐mortem computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging with various 3D surface imaging techniques are usually time‐consuming and cost‐intensive. Photogrammetry, which allows the creation of 3D textured surface models from a series of overlapping photographs taken from varying viewpoints, is a less common approach compared with post‐mortem imaging. We created 3D autopsy case models for a special online forensic pathology course in which students could try the models. Then, formal feedback was requested regarding the possible application of this method in education. Most of the students were satisfied with the new method and ranked photogrammetry higher than the other available methods. Our results indicate that photogrammetry has a high potential in undergraduate education, especially in the case of distance education or in those countries where declining autopsy rates have resulted in a decline in the use of the autopsy as an educational tool. Photogrammetry can also be used as a supplementary tool in traditional autopsy‐based education and has potential applications in various fields of medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to highlight the vanished and not-so-well-known material culture of historical southern Moroccan Jewry. Jewish settlements could be found practically in the whole of North Africa before the Second World War; however, afterwards, it almost completely disappeared due to the political changes in the region and the establishment of the state of Israel. In southern Morocco, the last Jewish communities were present until the 1950s. Thanks to the interest of the Moroccan authorities, an effort has been made to restore some monuments and keep them as part of the cultural heritage that has attracted foreign tourists for the last few years. As part of the expeditionary research of Charles University and the Czech Technical University in Prague, several documentation projects were carried out in 2020, some of the results of which are described in this paper. Modern automatic methods of geomatics, such as easy to use laser scanning, mobile laser scanning in PLS modification (personal laser scanning), and close-range photogrammetry were used. The results of documentation were processed in the form of 3D models and basic plans, which are used mainly for analyzing residential zones of the Jewish population, the so-called mellahs. In this article, two case projects are described. In both cases, all the mentioned documentation methods were used. The technologies used were analyzed in terms of data collection speed, price, transport, and possible difficulties in use. The PLS technology is relatively new and still under development, such as miniaturising of other measuring instruments. Accuracy testing and usability of above-mentioned technology in cultural heritage documentation real practice is the benefit of this research. Finally, a second aim was to provide information of abandoned cultural places and constructions, which are on the edge of interest and endangered by destruction. It clearly shows that PLS technology is very fast and suitable for these types of objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to present a new practical approach to digital photogrammetry to obtain 3D models of polychromatic sculptures under ultraviolet fluorescence and near-infrared by starting from photographic images. This digital photogrammetry was applied recently to a 17th-century reliquary bust representing St. Rodonio, a saint particularly venerated by the Orthodox Church, presently under restoration in the Laboratories of University of Tuscia and belonging to the Museum of Colle del Duomo of Viterbo (Italy). The acquisitions of ultraviolet fluorescence and infrared frames were performed using a Nikon D5300 digital SLR camera and a modified low-cost digital camera (Samsung Model NX3300), respectively. The three-dimensional UV and IR models were obtained using Agisoft PhotoScan® software. The generated ultraviolet 3D model of the bust makes visible, in a single file, the fluorescence induced by UV radiation on the entire sculpture, highlighting surface abrasions, organic dyes, and ancient protective features. The infrared 3D model allowed for better definition of the details of the drawing used for eyes, nose and mouth definition. In conclusion, the ultraviolet fluorescence and IR 3D models of Saint Rodonio were particularly useful as documentation tools for the conservation status and for the painting construction, allowing us to perfectly map the original and restoration materials and to detect the drawing in single dynamic 3D files following a totally non-invasive, cost-effective, and rapid approach.

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Documenting the existence, size, position and shape of injuries is an important part of medical forensic examinations. In the photography of an injury, the documentation is limited to an approximation of size and position of the injury based on a ruler included in the image. The documentation of injuries can be improved with photogrammetry, which allows the creation of scaled 3D models of an injury that can be used to not only document and visualize the injury but also to match the injury with an injury-causing object. In this paper, the multicamera device "Botscan" was used to perform 3D whole-body documentation and measure the positions of injuries. A major advantage of 3D whole-body documentation compared to photography is that the former can be performed at a later stage of the investigation. This makes the whole-body 3D documentation of injuries an important tool for re-examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historic rock reliefs are magnificent monuments that represent special events of the past. Due to exposure to the natural environment, these monuments are affected by natural and human erosion mechanisms. Many of them have disappeared over time and are no longer recognizable. This research seeks to find a way to understand the initial shapes of the rock reliefs that have been exposed to steady and prolonged erosion. For this purpose, a case study was selected in southern Iran that has been damaged over hundreds of years by a stream of water and has partially disappeared. The water flow has caused a groove to be formed along the cliff and apparently a strip of the relief has disappeared. Documenting the inner surface of the groove revealed that this surface is not smooth and there are still remnants of unclear reliefs in eroded sections. By examining the erosion effects on initially vertical smooth sections, it was possible to arrive at a formula to determine the damage caused by the water flow on cliffs. Based on this, it was determined to what extent the water flow had reduced the amount of rock at each height. Accordingly, each level of the damaged relief was virtually moved forward to the same extent. In this way, parts of the disappeared rock relief were virtually rebuilt. The results of this study showed that by measuring the gradual and continuous erosion factors and determining the extent of damage, the original shape of the damaged rock reliefs could somehow be reconstructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present a unique case study in Indianapolis, Indiana, where cultural resource management (CRM) archaeologists, alongside various university archaeologists, tested the use of SfM photogrammetry to effectively replace traditional archaeological methods of mapping and documentation during the excavation of over 500 historic burials. This project was designed with the intention of using SfM photogrammetry for 3D mapping and documentation from its inception, implementing formal procedures and protocols for data collection creating a standard workflow. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated use of SfM at this scale on an archaeological project in Indiana. By the close of fieldwork, over 300 burials had been digitally recorded, and measurable 3D models were generated. We found that the standard photogrammetry workflow implemented for single context excavation was largely successful. First, we outline the data collection process for 3D mapping of single-context excavations at Bethel Cemetery. This is followed by a description of the problems encountered during data collection and the ways the photogrammetry team adapted to variability in field environments for photocapture. Finally, we recommend the adoption of these methods by practitioners/academics as standard practice in the archaeological excavation of human remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, moving from a two-dimensional environment to a more advanced interactive three-dimensional (3D) environment in the industries of architecture, engineering, and construction has become one of the most significant topics of interest. This is due to several primary advantages that the 3D environment can offer. Building information modeling (BIM) can be used as a highly advanced system to present a desired reality in a 3D interactive environment accompanied with 3D reality captured data, such as the point cloud data. As such, these 3D environments can be employed for more advanced uses, such as virtual reality and augmented reality technologies (VR and AR). Recently, BIM has been employed in the context of heritage (known as HBIM, or Heritage Building Information Modeling) for different purposes, such as to provide as-built information with the ability to interact with the end user and uploading information (e.g., historical photographs, documents about materials, or any past restoration projects) into the BIM model. This research will focus on providing an interactive rich virtual 3D model for heritage management. This virtual environment can be employed in cultural tourism and used for the abovementioned purposes. The research project has been adopted in the case of the Zainal Historical House (Bayt Zainal) located in the Historic District of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This house is described as one of the significant historical buildings in the historic district. The key aim for selecting this case study is to bridge the gap in architectural knowledge regarding these heritage buildings and their hybrid structural systems (i.e., integration of steel or concrete with the traditional “Mangbi” stone technique).

The paper presents results of a study focused on usability of a 3D laser scanning system by fire rescue units during emergencies, respectively during preparations for inspection and tactical exercises. The first part of the study focuses on an applicability of a 3D scanner in relation to an accurate evaluation of a fire scene through digitization and creation of virtual walk-through of the fire scene. The second part deals with detailed documentation of access road to the place of intervention, including a simulation of the fire vehicle arrival.

This paper discusses some enhancements concerning 3D modelling, and the integration and comparison of 3D data from aerial and terrestrial sensors, developed by innovative geomatics techniques around the metric documentation of cultural heritage. In archaeology, it is interesting to deal with the considerable advantages of new multi-sensor approaches for the data acquisition and the management phases in terms of the sustainability (automated acquisition, quickness, precision, time and cost cutting). In particular, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs)photogrammetry with the joint use of nadir and oblique cameras can be usefully combined with the large-scale details acquired by the terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)in vast areas or complex objects, especially in mostly vertical sized objects. Here, we will report the results of an integrated 3D survey in an archaeological context in the Piedmont region of Italy. The Hercules Fountain is located in the gardens of the Venaria Reale (a Savoy Royal Palace included in the UNESCO heritage list) and has witnessed several events and historical phases during the past centuries–from its construction in the 16thcentury to its disuse and decline in the 17thcentury, right up to the 21stcentury when it was eventually brought back to light. The goal of the test is the creation of a3D continuous model of the site for documentation purposes, future consolidation, and enhancement projects finalised fora public promotion. To meet these strategic aims, a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS henceforth) survey has been designed together with multi-flights by a multi-rotor UAV and terrestrial close-range photogrammetry (CRP) acquisition to produce a highly detailed 3D textured model from which we have inferred standard 2D drawings, digital orthoimages, and further 3D products. In conclusion, the entire workflow and the outputs have been compared together to evaluate the effectiveness of each elaboration according to the different goals of the survey.

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Three‐dimensional (3D) documenting and rubbing of rock art is aimed to produce descriptive and analytic graphic documentation with metric scale and geospatial information for archaeological analysis. Although the integrated surveying technologies of aerial photogrammetry, close‐range photogrammetry, and laser scanning have been widely used to generate the 3D models of archaeological sites, the implementation of these technologies in complex surroundings with steep terrain, such as riverside cliffs, remains challenging. In this study, we present an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)‐based structure‐from‐motion (SfM) photogrammetry approach to obtain the 3D geospatial data of rock paintings. A field data collection approach for high‐resolution multiperspective images using UAV equipped with a high‐resolution camera is implemented together with high accuracy ground control points (GCPs). An appropriate flowchart of multi‐view stereo (MVS) photogrammetry processing is designed including multi‐view dense matching, bundle adjustment (BA) and metric rectification for the orthoimages production of the rock paintings. A digital rubbing approach based on the orthoimages is proposed to obtain the geometry contents, including symbols and characters, of the rock paintings. The Huashan rock paintings, which are located on the vertical faces of the cliffs that line the course of Zuo River, is taken as a case study. Our proposed approach can obtain orthoimages of the Huashan rock paintings with 2 mm resolution. The reality‐based 3D model can reach the absolute accuracy of 5 mm. Clear, exact, and blur‐free metric rubbing images of the Huashan rock paintings are produced, which are useful for the research and preservation of Zhuang culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and precise documentation of lesions is an important aspect of the forensic pathologists' work. Photogrammetry provides a useful tool to take precise measurements from photographs. These photographs are normally acquired with single camera photographs, but the procedure is quite time-consuming. Video recording has the potential to record a larger amount of image data faster. We documented 33 cadaveric skin lesions, using photographs and video recordings. The dimensions of the lesions ranged between 0.27 and 21.8 cm. The measurements of the lesions were extracted with both manual and automatic point measurements from photographs and from video frames, respectively. Very small differences (mean and median < 1 mm) were found between measurements taken in photographs versus video frames. Video frames were often blurred, preventing clear demarcation of the edges of the lesions and presenting a larger amount of noise in the 3D models. The differences between the manual point and automatic point measurements were very small (mean and median < 1 mm), but the manual procedure is to be preferred, since automatic points were not always located on the edges of the lesions. The only aspect in which video frames were superior to photographs was the recording time: video recording was almost five times faster than the photo sessions. In conclusion, this study shows that precise and comparable measurements can be extracted both from photographs and video frames. The video is the fastest method, but the use of photographs is still recommended. Manual measurements are more precise than automatic measurements and equally time-consuming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to highlight the vanished and not-so-well-known material culture of historical southern Moroccan Jewry. Jewish settlements could be found practically in the whole of North Africa before the Second World War; however, afterwards, it almost completely disappeared due to the political changes in the region and the establishment of the state of Israel. In southern Morocco, the last Jewish communities were present until the 1950s. Thanks to the interest of the Moroccan authorities, an effort has been made to restore some monuments and keep them as part of the cultural heritage that has attracted foreign tourists for the last few years. As part of the expeditionary research of Charles University and the Czech Technical University in Prague, several documentation projects were carried out in 2020, some of the results of which are described in this paper. Modern automatic methods of geomatics, such as easy to use laser scanning, mobile laser scanning in PLS modification (personal laser scanning), and close-range photogrammetry were used. The results of documentation were processed in the form of 3D models and basic plans, which are used mainly for analyzing residential zones of the Jewish population, the so-called mellahs. In this article, two case projects are described. In both cases, all the mentioned documentation methods were used. The technologies used were analyzed in terms of data collection speed, price, transport, and possible difficulties in use. The PLS technology is relatively new and still under development, such as miniaturising of other measuring instruments. Accuracy testing and usability of above-mentioned technology in cultural heritage documentation real practice is the benefit of this research. Finally, a second aim was to provide information of abandoned cultural places and constructions, which are on the edge of interest and endangered by destruction. It clearly shows that PLS technology is very fast and suitable for these types of objects.

A key issue in the study of cultural assets is theiroften fragmentary condition. This causes serious problems and questions regarding theirstudy and presentation. Pottery fragments are the most numerous findings in every excavation. Furthermore, pottery plays an essential role for the reconstruction of the past, since it providesinformation for all aspects of life (private, public, religion, death, economy, society, trade,etc.). Therefore,a thorough study and presentation of pottery fragments contribute to a better knowledge of the past.The focus of this work is the visualisation of an ancient Greek drinking vase, a kantharos, which was unearthed during the excavations at the settlement of Karabournaki (ancient Therme) in the area of Thessaloniki (Greece). It dates to the Archaic period (7th-6thc. B.C.) and it was found in fragments among the settlement's architectural remains. The vase is of great archaeological significance due to its peculiarities in terms of shape, decoration and function. Therefore,its digital completion and 3D reconstruction willcontribute to its betterstudy and scholarly publication along with a general contribution to the field of pottery studies.We discuss on the 3D digitisation of the kantharosfragments that werebased onStructure from Motion/Multiple View Stereovision (SfM/MVS) and a custom automated data collection system. A detailed description of the digitisation pipeline is given along with details related to the quality of the 3D digital replicas of the sherds. Furthermore, we presentour manual virtual reassembly and reconstruction pipelineof the kantharosby describing the challenges, issues and ambiguities discovered while analysing the geometrical features of each sherd. A number of photorealistic reconstruction visualisations of the artefact are presented in order to question the applicability of the solution for the actual reconstruction

3D heritage documentation has seen a surge in the past decade due to developments in reality-based 3D recording techniques. Several methods such as photogrammetry and laser scanning are becoming ubiquitous amongst architects, archaeologists, surveyors, and conservators. The main result of these methods is a 3D representation of the object in the form of point clouds. However, a solely geometric point cloud is often insufficient for further analysis, monitoring, and model predicting of the heritage object. The semantic annotation of point clouds remains an interesting research topic since traditionally it requires manual labeling and therefore a lot of time and resources. This paper proposes an automated pipeline to segment and classify multi-scalar point clouds in the case of heritage object. This is done in order to perform multi-level segmentation from the scale of a historical neighborhood up until that of architectural elements, specifically pillars and beams. The proposed workflow involves an algorithmic approach in the form of a toolbox which includes various functions covering the semantic segmentation of large point clouds into smaller, more manageable and semantically labeled clusters. The first part of the workflow will explain the segmentation and semantic labeling of heritage complexes into individual buildings, while a second part will discuss the use of the same toolbox to segment the resulting buildings further into architectural elements. The toolbox was tested on several historical buildings and showed promising results. The ultimate intention of the project is to help the manual point cloud labeling, especially when confronted with the large training data requirements of machine learning-based algorithms.

Today, laser scanning technology has many application areas in areas such as medicine, civil engineering, geodesy engineering and architecture. Photogrammetry, the ability to obtain fast, detailed and accurate information with terrestrial laser scanning and lidar technology, contribute a new dimension to architectural documentation research. Data from terrestrial laser scanners and 3D digital orthoimages provide high speed and accuracy in designing digital surface models. Since it is now possible use 3D precise digital documentation with dimensional accuracy at the millimeter level, it has become essential to support surveying studies with technology in Turkey. This article will describe the learning acquisitions and experience gained by surveying and drawing the front facades of nine wooden buildings in Beylerbeyi's Camlıca Street using laser scanning technology and discuss the use of technology in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survey of archaeological sites by appropriate geomatics technologies is an important research topic. In particular, the 3D survey by terrestrial laser scanning has become a common practice for 3D archaeological data collection. Even if terrestrial laser scanning survey is quite well established, due to the complexity of the most archaeological contexts, many issues can arise and make the survey more difficult. The aim of this work is to describe the methodology chosen for a terrestrial laser scanning survey in a complex archaeological environment according to the issues related to the particular structure of the site. The developed approach was used for the terrestrial laser scanning survey and documentation of a part of the archaeological site of Elaiussa Sebaste in Turkey. The proposed technical solutions have allowed providing an accurate and detailed 3D dataset of the study area. In addition, further products useful for archaeological analysis were also obtained from the 3D dataset of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) measurement techniques are gaining importance in many areas. The latest developments brought more cost-effective, user-friendly, and faster technologies onto the market. Which 3D techniques are suitable in the field of forensic medicine and what are their advantages and disadvantages? This wide-ranging study evaluated and validated various 3D measurement techniques for the forensic requirements. High-tech methods as well as low-budget systems have been tested and compared in terms of accuracy, ease of use, expenditure of time, mobility, cost, necessary knowhow, and their limitations. Within this study, various commercial measuring systems of the different techniques were tested. Based on the first results, one measuring system was selected for each technique, which appeared to be the most suitable for the forensic application or is already established in forensic medicine. A body of a deceased, a face and an injury of a living person, and a shoe sole were recorded by 11 people with different professions and previous knowledge using the selected systems. The results were assessed and the personal experiences were evaluated using a questionnaire. In addition, precision investigations were carried out using test objects. The study shows that the hand-held scanner and photogrammetry are very suitable for the 3D documentation of forensic medical findings. Their moderate acquisition costs and easy operation could lead to more frequent application in forensic medicine in the future. For special applications, the stripe-light scanner still has its justification due to its high precision, the flexible application area, and the high reliability. The results show that, thanks to the technological advances, the 3D measurement technology will have more and more impact on the routine of the forensic medical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]