Search

Cultural Heritage (CH) resources are partial, heterogeneous, discontinuous, and subject to ongoing updates and revisions. The use of semantic web technologies associated with 3D graphical tools is proposed to improve access, exploration, exploitation and enrichment of these CH data in a standardized and more structured form. This article presents the monitoring work developed for more than ten years on the excavation of the Xlendi site. Around an exceptional shipwreck, the oldest from the Archaic period in the Western Mediterranean, we have set up a unique excavation at a depth of 110m assisted by a rigorous and continuous photogrammetry campaign. All the collected results are modelled by an ontology and visualized with virtual and augmented reality tools that allow a bidirectional link between the proposed graphical representations and the non-graphical archaeological data. It is also important to highlight the development of an innovative 3D mobile app that lets users study and understand the site as well as experience sensations close to those of a diver visiting the site.

Imaging the marine environment is more and more useful to understand relationships between species, as well as natural processes. Developing photogrammetry allowed the use of 3D measuring to study populations dynamics of sessile organisms at various scales: from colony to population. This study focuses on red coral (Corallium rubrum), as known as precious coral. Metrics measured at a colony scale (e.g., maximum height, diameter and number of branches) allowed population understanding and a comparison between an old (Cerbère-Banyuls reserve) vs. a new (Calanques National Park) MPA. Our results suggested a 5-year time step allows the appearance of a significant difference between populations inside vs. outside the Calanques National Park no-take zones. Red coral colonies were taller and had more branches inside no-take zones. A significant difference was still observable for the populations inside the Cerbère-Banyuls reserve after 40 years of protection, reflecting the sustainability and effectiveness of precautionary measures set by the reserve. The impacts at the local level (mechanical destruction) and those presumed to occur via global change (climatic variations) underline the need to develop strategies both to follow the evolutions of red coral populations but also to understand their resilience. Photogrammetry induced modeling is a time and cost effective as well as non-invasive method which could be used to understand population dynamics at a seascape scale on coralligenous reefs.

Photogrammetry needs known geometric elements to provide metric traceable measurements. These known elements can be a distance between two three-dimensional object points or two camera stations, or a combination of known coordinates and/or angles to solve the seven degrees of freedom that lead to rank deficiency of the normal-equation matrix. In this paper we present a novel approach for scaling and levelling to the local vertical direction an underwater photogrammetric survey. The developed methodology is based on a portable low-cost device designed and realized by the authors that uses depth measurements from a high resolution pressure sensor. The prototype consists of a data logger featuring a pressure sensor synchronized with a digital camera in its underwater pressure housing. The modular design, with optical communication and synchronization, provides great flexibility not requiring the camera housing to undergo any hardware modifications. The proposed methodology allows for a full 3D levelling transformation comprising two angles, a vertical translation and a scale factor and can work for surveying scenes extending horizontally, vertically or both. The paper presents the theoretical principles, an overview of the developed system together with preliminary calibration results. Tests in a lake and at sea are reported. An accuracy better than 1:5000 on the length measurement was achieved in calm water conditions.

A key challenge in cultural heritage (CH) sites visualization is to provide models and tools that effectively integrate the content of a CH data with domain-specific knowledge so that the users can query, interpret and consume the visualized information. Moreover, it is important that the intelligent visualization systems are interoperable in the semantic web environment and thus, capable of establishing a methodology to acquire, integrate, analyze, generate and share numeric contents and associated knowledge in human and machine-readable Web. In this paper, we present a model, a methodology and a software Web-tools that support the coupling of the 2D/3D Web representation with the knowledge graph database of Xlendi shipwreck. The Web visualization tools and the knowledge-based techniques are married into a photogrammetry driven ontological model while at the same time, user-friendly web tools for querying and semantic consumption of the shipwreck information are introduced.

3D Virtual Reconstruction and Visualization of Complex Architectures, 1-3 March 2017, Nafplio, Greece.-- 8 pages, 14 figures, PErfECT "Photogrammetry, gEnetic, Ecology for red coral ConservaTion" is a project leaded by the Laboratoire des Sciences de lInformation et des Systmes (LSIS - UMR 7296 CNRS) from the Aix-Marseille University (France) in collaboration with the Spanish National Agency for Scientific Research (CSIC, Spain). The main objective of the project is to develop innovative Tools for the conservation of the Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum. PErfECT was funded by the Total Fundation. The adaptation of digital photogrammetric techniques for use in submarine is rapidly increasing in recent years. In fact, these techniques are particularly well suited for use in underwater environments. PErfECT developed different photogrammetry tools to enhance the red coral population surveys based in: (i) automatic orientation on coded quadrats, (ii) use of NPR (Non Photo realistic Rendering) techniques, (iii) the calculation of distances between colonies within local populations and finally (iv) the use of plenoptic approaches in underwater conditions, This work is partially done in the framework of the PERfECT project, funded by the Foundation TOTAL, project 2014/257

International audience; Augmented Reality (AR) is already transforming many fields, from medical applications to industry, entertainment and heritage. In its most common form, AR expands reality with virtual 3D elements, providing users with an enhanced and enriched experience of the surroundings. Until now, most of the research work focused on techniques based on markers or on GNSS/INS positioning. These approaches require either the preparation of the scene or a strong satellite signal to work properly. In this paper, we investigate the use of visual-based methods, i.e., methods that exploit distinctive features of the scene estimated with Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (V-SLAM) algorithms, to determine and track the user position and attitude. The detected features, which encode the visual appearance of the scene, can be saved and later used to track the user in successive AR sessions. Existing AR frameworks like Google ARCore, Apple ARKit and Unity AR Foundation recently introduced visual-based localization in their frameworks, but they target mainly small scenarios. We propose a new Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) methodology that exploits OPEN-V-SLAM to extend the application range of Unity AR Foundation and better handle large-scale environments. The proposed methodology is successfully tested in both controlled and real-case large heritage scenarios. Results are available also in this video: https://youtu.be/Q7VybmiWIuI. a) b) c) Figure 1. The three large-scale scenarios used in the paper and the AR results based on markerless smartphone solution: (a) historical photographs of the city of Trento, (b) the remains of the underground roman city in Trento and (c) the pile dwelling site of Fiavè.

International audience; This chapter introduces several state of the art techniques that could help to make deep underwater archaeological photogrammetric surveys easier, faster, more accurate, and to provide more visually appealing representations in 2D and 3D for both experts and public. We detail how the 3D captured data is analysed and then represented using ontologies, and how this facilitates interdisciplinary interpretation and cooperation. Towards more automation, we present a new method that adopts a deep learning approach for the detection and the recognition of objects of interest, amphorae for example. In order to provide more readable, direct and clearer illustrations, we describe several techniques that generate different styles of sketches out of orthophotos developed using neural networks. In the same direction, we present the Non-Photorealistic Rendering (NPR) technique, which converts a 3D model into a more readable 2D representation that is more useful to communicate and simplifies the identification of objects of interest. Regarding public dissemination, we demonstrate how recent advances in virtual reality to provide an accurate, high resolution, amusing and appropriate visualization tool that offers the public the possibility to ‘visit’ an unreachable archaeological site. Finally, we conclude by introducing the plenoptic approach, a new promising technology that can change the future of the photogrammetry by making it easier and less time consuming and that allows a user to create a 3D model using only one camera shot. Here, we introduce the concepts, the developing process, and some results, which we obtained with underwater imaging.

In this paper we present a photogrammetry-based approach for deep-sea underwater surveys conducted from a submarine and guided by knowledge-representation combined with a logical approach (ontology). Two major issues are discussed in this paper. The first concerns deep-sea surveys using photogrammetry from a submarine. Here the goal was to obtain a set of images that completely covered the selected site. Subsequently and based on these images, a low-resolution 3D model is obtained in real-time, followed by a very high-resolution model produced back in the laboratory. The second issue involves the extraction of known artefacts present on the site. This aspect of the research is based on an a priori representation of the knowledge involved using systematic reasoning. Two parallel processes were developed to represent the photogrammetric process used for surveying as well as for identifying archaeological artefacts visible on the sea floor. Mapping involved the use of the CIDOC-CRM system (International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC)—Conceptual Reference Model)—This is a system that has been previously utilised to in the heritage sector and is largely available to the established scientific community. The proposed theoretical representation is based on procedural attachment, moreover, a strong link is maintained between the ontological description of the modelled concepts and the Java programming language which permitted 3D structure estimation and modelling based on a set of oriented images. A very recently discovered shipwreck acted as a testing ground for this project, the Xelendi Phoenician shipwreck, found off the Maltese coast, is probably the oldest known shipwreck in the western Mediterranean. The approach presented in this paper was developed in the scope of the GROPLAN project (Généralisation du Relevé, avec Ontologies et Photogrammétrie, pour l'Archéologie Navale et Sous-marine). Financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR) for four years, this project associates two French research laboratories, an industrial partner, the University of Malta, and Texas A &amp, M University.

International audience; Cultural heritage (CH) resources are very heterogeneous since the information was collected from vast diversity of cultural sites and digitally recorded in different formats. With the progress of 3D technologies , photogrammetry techniques become the adopted solution for representing CH artifacts by turning photos from small finds, to entire landscapes, into accurate 3D models. To meet knowledge representation with cultural heritage photogrammetry, this paper proposes an ontology-profiling method for modeling a real case of archaeological amphorae. The ontological profile consists of all needed information to represent a CH resource including typology attributes, geo-spatial information and photogrammetry process. An example illustrating the applicability of this profiling method to the problem of CH resources conceptualization is presented. We also outline our perspectives for using ontologies in data-driven science, in particular on modeling a complete pipeline that manages both the photogrammetric process and the archaeological knowledge.

25 pages, 18 figures, 1 table, This article describes the set of photogrammetric tools developed for the monitoring of Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum populations. The description encompasses the full processing chain: from the image acquisition to the information extraction and data interpretation. The methods applied take advantage of existing tools and new, innovative and specific developments in order to acquire data on relevant ecological information concerning the structure and functioning of a red coral population. The tools presented here are based on: (i) automatic orientation using coded quadrats; (ii) use of non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) and 3D skeletonization techniques; (iii) computation of distances between colonies from a same site; and (iv) the use of a plenoptic approach in an underwater environment., This work is partially done in the framework of the PERfECT project, funded by the Foundation TOTAL, project 2014/257. The plenoptic camera was bought in the frame of the DGA RAPID LORI project (LOcalisation et Reconnaissance d’objets Immergés)

Exploration, documentation and mapping of underwater environment is one of the biggest open challenges for science and engineering. Humankind is not naturally designed to operate in water and, despite the enormous technological advancement that offers nowadays unprecedented opportunities, diving and working underwater is still very dangerous, especially in confined spaces such as underwater caves. Great research efforts are currently devoted to underwater autonomous navigation, but available solutions still mainly rely on complex and expensive systems, due to the difficulty of adapting localization and mapping sensors and algorithms suited for terrestrial or aerial applications. However, small and affordable underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are available, which offer good opportunities for underwater exploration and mapping. This paper focuses on the development of a small, low-cost ROV designed for 3D mapping of underwater environments, like caves. The system is based on a commercially available vehicle, the BluRov2, and relies on the use of up to 12 action cameras (GoPro) mounted on it. A trifocal camera system for underwater real-time visual odometry can also be included. The work describes the photogrammetric procedure developed for the synchronization and calibration of the GoPro cameras and provides a thorough analysis on the achievable results., International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 42 (1), ISSN:1682-1750, ISSN:2194-9034, ISSN:1682-1777

In this article, we present an approach for a deep-sea survey based on photogrammetry using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). A hybrid technique gives us real-time results, sufficient for piloting the ROV from the surface vessel and ensuring a uniform coverage of the site, as well as recording high-definition images using an onboard computer that will later provide a survey with millimetric precision. The measurements are made without any contact and are noninvasive. The time required on-site is minimal and corresponds to the time needed by the ROV to cover the zone. With the photos taken at a frame rate synchronized at 10Hz, the ROV required 2 hours to perform the experiment presented in this article: the survey of the Roman shipwreck Cap Bénat 4 , at a depth of 328m. The approach presented in this work was developed in the scope of the ROV 3D project. This project, financed by the Fond Unique Interministériel (FUI) for 3 years, brings together two industrial partners and a research laboratory. Companie Maritime d’Expertise (COMEX) coordinated this project.

International audience; This work addresses the problem of underwater archaeological surveys from the point of view of knowledge. We propose an approach based on underwater photogrammetry guided by a representation of knowledge used, as structured by ontologies. Survey data feed into to ontologies and photogrammetry in order to produce graphical results. This paper focuses on the use of ontologies during the exploitation of 3D results. JAVA software dedicated to photogrammetry and archaeological survey has been mapped onto an OWL formalism. The use of procedural attachment in a dual representation (JAVA - OWL) of the involved concepts allows us to access computational facilities directly from OWL. As SWRL The use of rules illustrates very well such ‘double formalism’ as well as the use of computational capabilities of ‘rules logical expression’. We present an application that is able to read the ontology populated with a photogrammetric survey data. Once the ontology is read, it is possible to produce a 3D representation of the individuals and observing graphically the results of logical spatial queries on the ontology. This work is done on a very important underwater archaeological site in Malta named Xlendi, probably the most ancient shipwreck of the central Mediterranean Sea.

The paper presents some reflexions concerning an interdisciplinary project between Medieval Archaeologists from the University of Florence (Italy) and ICT researchers from CNRS LSIS of Marseille (France), aiming towards a connection between 3D spatial representation and archaeological knowledge. It is well known that Laser Scanner, Photogrammetry and Computer Vision are very attractive tools for archaeologists, although the integration of representation of space and representation of archaeological time has not yet found a methodological standard of reference. We try to develop an integrated system for archaeological 3D survey and all other types of archaeological data and knowledge through integrating observable (material) and non-graphic (interpretive) data. Survey plays a central role, since it is both a metric representation of the archaeological site and, to a wider extent, an interpretation of it (being also a common basis for communication between the 2 teams). More specifically 3D survey is crucial, allowing archaeologists to connect actual spatial assets to the stratigraphic formation processes (i.e. to the archaeological time) and to translate spatial observations into historical interpretation of the site. We propose a common formalism for describing photogrammetrical survey and archaeological knowledge stemming from ontologies: Indeed, ontologies are fully used to model and store 3D data and archaeological knowledge. Xe equip this formalism with a qualitative representation of time. Stratigraphic analyses (both of excavated deposits and of upstanding structures) are closely related to E. C. Harris theory of “Stratigraphic Unit” (“US” from now on). Every US is connected to the others by geometric, topological and, eventually, temporal links, and are recorded by the 3D photogrammetric survey. However, the limitations of the Harris Matrix approach lead to use another representation formalism for stratigraphic relationships, namely Qualitative Constraints Networks (QCN) successfully used in the domain of knowledge representation and reasoning in artificial intelligence for representing temporal relations.

Since a decade, we develop a photogrammetry tool dedicated to monitoring red coral populations. This tool is used to collect, effectively, accurate data for the study of population dynamics of red coral. In this article, we present new developments that automate the steps of calculating scale and orientation of images. This automation is made possible through the use of coded targets. In measuring red coral by random quadrat sampling, scuba-divers use a set of photographs on which are visible colonies surrounded by a 20×20 cm quadrat. The analysis of the photographs provides reliable measurements on colony sizes (basal diameter and maximum height), occurrence of breakage of colonies and the occurrence of necrosis. To minimize the divers' tasks during the acquisition phase, we opted for multi-view photogrammetric acquisition using a single device to easily adapt the measurement procedure to the scene configuration. The material is quite light: one digital camera, two electronic strobes and a simple procedure with a few photographs taken for each site. To facilitate the measurement phase of colony sizes; the exploitation of photographs consists of four key steps: orientation, scaling, measurement of the characteristic points of coral colonies and result validation (checking measurement consistency to detect possible errors in measurement or interpretation). Since the context of the shooting can vary widely, dominant colors, contrast, etc. may often change. In order to have a stable and common reference in all photographs independently of the site, we decided to use the quadrat in the scene for orientation and scaling phases. The automation of orientation and the lack of constraints to adapt the analytical technique to the features of each site offer the possibility to multiply field surveys and to measure hundreds of quadrats from several different populations in a very efficient manner. The measurement results are exported into a spreadsheet application and integrated into the biologists' workflow. The results obtained from different red coral populations displaying contrasting characteristics (small versus large colony sizes) are presented and discussed at the end of this article.

Since 1973 archaeology and computer science have developed close ties in Marseille. Two departments (computer science and archaeology) from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Marseille started working together and laid the cornerstone of the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) community. Marseille also has the advantage of being located in a very interesting place on the Mediterranean Sea and being the home to several famous laboratories, such as the French Cultural Heritage Department (DRASSM) or private companies like COMEX. In 1980 they performed a series of explorations of a deep-sea wreck with the help of COMEX and DRASSM. In this paper we present new advances in underwater photogrammetry for archaeology based on forty years of experience. The survey described in this article does not only discuss the acquisition of 3D points in difficult conditions but also linking archaeological knowledge to the surveyed geometry. This approach needed to combine automatic data processing and offered the opportunity to experts, archaeologists, to insert knowledge in the process. After an historical introduction on computer science and archaeology, we will present related work in underwater archaeology. The last section is dedicated to two recent experiments in Marseille, based on recent developments in automatic photogrammetry: a World War II plane wreck and a ship from the beginning of the XX century, surveyed using both acoustic and optical sensors.

San Domenico Church (Prato, Tuscan, Italy) is a very peculiar case of terrestrial archaeology surveyed with underwater archaeological photogrammetric approach. The vault of the choir was completely filled by a very important numbers of potteries, which is very interesting building technique. To document this technique a complete photogrammetric survey was realized, layer by layer, following underwater archaeology system. It is interesting to note that in underwater archaeology such a case is quite rare, in fact or the wreck is in shallow water and the digging can be made (but this case is now unrealistic because in shallow water all the wreck have been stolen – or already excavated by archaeologist – !) or we are in deep water, with well conserved wreck but the depth doesn’t allow the excavation. In the last case only a surface survey is possible. Also for these reasons this particular case- study is very interesting in order to test underwater methods on real case. This experimentation is a good opportunity to develop and check methods, algorithm and software to obtain a relevant model of the site merging 3D measure and knowledge about the artefact as typology, theoretical model, spatial relationship between them. Even if this work started in 2006, with now obsolete digital camera and with a photographic campaign which not respect always the current constraints for building a dense cloud of point in photogrammetry,it is now used as a case-study for developing a relevant approach for underwater archaeology survey.

Our seas and oceans hide a plethora of archaeological sites such as ancient shipwrecks that, overtime, are being destroyed through activities such as deepwater trawling and treasure hunting. In 2006, a multidisciplinary team of 11 European institutions established the Venus (Virtual Exploration of Underwater Sites) consortium to make underwater sites more accessible by generating thorough, exhaustive 3D records for virtual exploration. Over the past three years, we surveyed several shipwrecks around Europe and investigated advanced techniques for data acquisition using both autonomous and remotely operated vehicles coupled with innovative sonar and photogrammetric equipment. Access to most underwater sites can be difficult and hazardous owing to deep waters. However, this same inhospitable environment offers extraordinary opportunities to archaeologists because darkness, low temperatures, and low oxygen rates are all favorable to preservation. From a visualization pipeline perspective, this project had two main challenges. First, we had to gather large amounts of raw data from various sources. Then, we had to develop techniques to filter, calibrate, and map the data and then bring it all together into a single accurate visual representation.

International audience; ROV 3D project aims at developing innovative tools which link underwater photogrammetry and acoustic measurements from an active underwater sensor. The results will be 3D high resolution surveys of underwater sites and landscapes useful to keep in memory cultural and natural heritage. The new means and methods developed aim at reducing the investigation time in situ, and proposing comprehensive and non-intrusive measurement tools for the studied environment. In this paper, we are presenting a new method of 3D surveys which are dedicated to high resolution modeling of underwater sites. The main met constraints in situ are taken into account and this method leads to a precise 3D reconstruction. Some examples will present both the main obtained results and their limitations. We will end with the perspectives and the necessary improvements to the method, so as to automate the multimodal registration step.

The main features of a WEB-based tool for digital architectural photogrammetry called Architectural Photogrammetry Ž .Network Tool for Education and Research ARPENTEUR are presented. The aim of this project is to propose a photogrammetric software package made freely available on the Internet as an applet through a simple browser Ž .http:rrwww.arpenteur.net . All the photogrammetric adjustment and image processing classes are written in Javae. The use of large applets in photogrammetry has not been very advanced until now but rate transfers and compatibility levels of Internet browsers will increase in the near future. Users can set up their own projects by transferring their images, camera, and control information on the ARPENTEUR servers from any place in the world connected on the Internet. Various examples of small format architectural photogrammetry projects are also accessible via WWW and can be used for teaching. Ž .This software is an extension of the Traitement d'Images et Photogrammetrie Numerique TIPHON software developed at ́ ́ ENSAIS-LERGEC. The photogrammetric model is currently computed by the traditional steps of inner, relative and absolute orientations. The measurements in the images can be performed manually or by image correlation. The measured points, lines, and geometrical primitives are recorded in text files and visualised inside a standard WEB browser. The plotting module is especially dedicated to architectural surveys and based on a formalisation of architectural and geometrical knowledge. The latest developments of the Java programming language and object-oriented systems are used in ARPEN- TEUR, both in the photogrammetric and in the architectural part, and ensure a high level of compatibility with any hardware platform supporting a WEB browser.

Since 19,3 archeology and computer science have developed close ties in Marseille. Two departments (computer science and archaeology) from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Marseille started working together and laid the cornerstone of the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) community. Marseille also has the advantage of being located in a very interesting place on the Mediterranean Sea and being the home to several famous laboratories, such as the French Cultural Heritage Department (DRASSM) or private companies like COMER. In 1980 they performed a series of explorations of a deep-sea wreck with the help of COMER and DRASSM. More recently, ten years ago, the Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseille (COM) started using underwater photogrammetry to survey and monitor red coral populations in situ. In this paper we present new advances in underwater photogrammetry for archaeology and marine biology based on forty years of experience. The survey described in this article does not only discuss the acquisition of 3D points in difficult conditions but also linking archaeological knowledge to the surveyed geometry. This approach needed to combine automatic data processing and offered the opportunity to experts, archaeologists or biologists, to insert knowledge in the process. After an introduction to the history of computer science and archaeology, we will present related work in underwater archaeology and marine biology. The last section is dedicated to two recent experiments in Marseille, based on recent developments in automatic photogrammetry: a World War II plane wreck, surveyed using both acoustic and optical sensors, and a survey used to monitor red coral growth over several years.

ROV 3D project aims at developing innovative tools which link underwater photogrammetry and acoustic measurements from an active underwater sensor. The results will be 3D high resolution surveys of underwater sites. The new means and methods developed aim at reducing the investigation time in situ, and proposing comprehensive and non-intrusive measurement tools for the studied environment. In this paper, we apply a pre-processing pipe line to increase the SIFT and SURF descriptors extraction quality in order to solve the problem of surveying an underwater archaeological wreck in a very high condition of turbidity. We work in the Rhodano river, in south of France on a roman wreck with 20 centimeters visibility. Under these conditions a standard process is not efficient and water turbidity is a real obstacle to feature extraction. Nevertheless the mission was not dedicated to an exhaustive survey of the wreck, but only a test to show and evaluate the feasibility. The results are positive even if the main problem seems now to be the time processing, indeed the poor visibility increase drastically the number of photographs

Archaeological excavations are often irreversibly destructive, so it is important to accompany them with detailed documentation reflecting the accumulated knowledge of the excavation site. This documentation is usually iconographic and textual. Graphical representations of archaeological sites such as drawings, sketches, watercolors, photographs, topography, and photogrammetry are indispensable for such documentation and are an intrinsic part of an archaeological survey. However, as pointed out by Olivier Buchsenschutz in the introduction to the symposium Images and archaeological surveys, in Arles, France, in 2007 (Buchsenschutz, 2007, Introduction page 5), even a very precise drawing only retains certain observations that support a demonstration, just as a speech retains only some arguments, but this choice is not usually explicit. This somewhat lays the foundation of this work: a survey is both a metrics document and an interpretation of the site by archaeologist.

The paper presents an interdisciplinary project which is a work in progress towards a 3D Geographical Information System (GIS) dedicated to Cultural Heritage with a specific focus application on the Castle of Shawbak, also known as the “Crac de Montreal”, one of the best preserved rural medieval settlements in the entire Middle East. The Shawbak archaeological project is a specific and integrated project between medieval archaeological research and computer vision done thanks to a long cooperation between University of Florence and CNRS. Focusing mainly on stratigraphical analysis of upstanding structures we provide archaeologists a two-step pipeline. First a survey process using photogrammetry, both in a traditional way and using the most advanced technique for obtained dense map and then a tool for statistical analysis. The photogrammetric survey is driven by an archaeological knowledge which is formalized by ontologies as a link between all the archaeological concepts which are surveyed. The archaeological knowledge studied is now limited to stratigraphy of upstanding structure using a stone by stone survey as well as a 3D reprojection of archaeologist design made on photographs. The 3D GIS is the last step of this chain and aims the automatic production of 3D models through archaeological database queries: these 3D models are in fact a graphical image of the database and at the same time the interface through which the user is able to modify it and produce different kind of analyzing. All these developments are written in Java within ARPENTEUR framework.

The paper presents an interdisciplinary project which is a work in progress towards a 3D Geographical Information System (GIS) dedicated to Cultural Heritage with a specific focus application on the Castle of Shawbak, one of the best preserved rural medieval settlements in the entire Middle East). The Shawbak archaeological project is a specific and integrated project between medieval archaeological research and computer vision done thanks to a long cooperation between University of Florence and CNRS, LSIS, Marseille. Focusing mainly on stratigraphical analysis of upstanding structures we provide archaeologists with two-step pipeline. First a survey process using photogrammetry, both in a traditional way with additional annotations and using the most advanced technique to obtain dense maps and then a tool for statistical analysis. Two main applications are presented here, stratigraphy analysis with Harris matrix computed on the fly from the 3D viewer and statistical tools, clustering operation on ashlar in order to show new relationships between the measured artifacts. All these developments are written in Java within Arpenteur framework[4].

The paper presents an interdisciplinary project which is the first step towards a 3D Geographical Information System (GIS) dedicated to Cultural Heritage with a specific focus application on the Castle of Shawbak, also known as the ”Crac de Montral” in Jordan. The project continues to grow thanks to a synergy between a set of laboratories: The LSIS laboratory, France in charge of the pho- togrammetric survey phase connected with the knowledge based approach; ITABC, CNR lab in Roma, Italy in charge of the topometric survey, with DGPS and aerial photography with gas balloon, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kyoto, Japan for the 3D view point seek connected to the database, the image processing aspect managed by Stratos documentation, SimVis from The Department of Computer Science, University of Hull, UK, for the virtual reality aspect and of course the Dipartimento di Studi storici e Geografici from the University of Florence, Italy, in charge of the archaeological part. Our project focuses on a building scale encompassing its atomic elements such as ashlars blocks, cement, stratigraphic units and archi- tectonic elements. At this scale we need a full 3D interface in order to manage accurate measurements, a huge quantity of observations and a mainly heterogeneous archaeological documentation. This project described in this paper is work in progress. After four photogrammetric campaigns in Jordan the first results are available on the project web site: http://www.shawbak.net

International audience; We present here the first steps towards the development of a tool for architectural and patrimonial survey which combines the laserscanning techniques, close range photogrammetry and a fine analysis closer to the studied field, here architecture and archaeology.The present work is the result of a join cooperation between, INN.TEC.srl, an Italian Innovation Technology Consortium, with aCenter of Competence (Topotek) specialized in geomatic problems and in particular in the treatment of cloud of 3D points comingfrom Laser scanner, a French CNRS laboratory working on close range photogrammetry in the context of architecture andarchaeology and a laboratory from the university of Rome III, specialized in the representation of architecture.We present a knowledge based survey tool which combines mixed means of Laser Scanner and photogrammetry measurement.The statement is articulated in three phases:• Laser scanner allows to model objects in 3D with a density of measurements that cannot be acquired within a reasonabletime frame with traditional technologies. The programme used for laser data management creates a triangular 3D model(mesh) from the range information and maps 2D information on the 3D model to create the final result.Generally laser scanning requires to view the surveyed object from several viewpoints to resolve shadows and occlusionsbut displacement of the laser sensor is not always easy to achieve on site• We developed a similar approach in photogrammetry which, using some photographs taken without too many constraints,can supplement the occlusions or lacks from the laser measurements. A survey based on an approximate geometry of theobject and autocorrelation makes it possible to obtain automatically an irregular mesh with appropriate texture. Theorientation phase uses the data provided by the scanner to orient the photogrammetric measurement in the same set of axes.• The last phase involves the use of an expert system based on a knowledge representation of the object measured in order torebuild an architectural or archaeological object while being based to the taken measures and an elaborate ideal model incollaboration with the architects or archaeologists.The work presented here is based on an experimental study of an Etruscan amphora found on the Grand Ribaud F wreck, in HyËres,France, and studied by Dr. Luc Long, Cultural Heritage Curator, DRASSM, Marseilles, France. The survey took place at theUniversity of Rome III in the laboratory of architectural representation directed by Prof. Diego Maestri. The laser scanning wasmade with the Callidus sensor gracefully lent by the company Geosystem group, Roma.After this debugging phase on a simple object as an amphora, we project to extend this method for architectural survey

ARPENTEUR is a web application for digital photogrammetry mainly dedicated to architecture. ARPENTEUR has been developed since 1998 by two French research teams: the 'Photogrammetry and Geomatics' group of ENSAIS-LERGEC's laboratory and the MAP-gamsau CNRS laboratory located in the school of Architecture of Marseille. The software package is a web based tool since photogrammetric concepts are embedded in Web technology and Java programming language. The aim of this project is to propose a photogrammetric software package and 3D modeling methods available on the Internet as applets through a simple browser. The use of Java and the Web platform is ful of advantages. Distributing software on any platform, at any pace connected to Internet is of course very promising. The updating is done directly on the server and the user always works with the latest release installed on the server. Three years ago the first prototype of ARPENTEUR was based on the Java Development Kit at the time only available for some browsers. Nowadays, we are working with the JDK 1.3 plug-in enriched by Java Advancing Imaging library.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This paper present a 3D platform that enables to make both cultural heritage site survey and its virtual exploration. It provides a single and easy way to use framework for merging multi scaled 3D measurements based on photogrammetry, documentation produced by experts and the knowledge of involved domains leaving the experts able to extract and choose the relevant information to produce the final survey. Taking into account the interpretation of the real world during the process of archaeological surveys is in fact the main goal of a survey. New advances in photogrammetry and the capability to produce dense 3D point clouds do not solve the problem of surveys. New opportunities for 3D representation are now available and we must to use them and find new ways to link geometry and knowledge. The new platform is able to efficiently manage and process large 3D data (points set, meshes) thanks to the implementation of space partition methods coming from the state of the art such as octrees and kd-trees and thus can interact with dense point clouds (thousands to millions of points) in real time. The semantisation of raw 3D data relies on geometric algorithms such as geodetic path computation, surface extraction from dense points cloud and geometrical primitive optimization. The platform provide an interface that enables expert to describe geometric representations of interesting objects like ashlar blocs, stratigraphic units or generic items (contour, lines, … ) directly onto the 3D representation of the site and without explicit links to underlying algorithms. The platform provide two ways for describing geometric representation. If oriented photographs are available, the expert can draw geometry on a photograph and the system computes its 3D representation by projection on the underlying mesh or the points cloud. If photographs are not available or if the expert wants to only use the 3D representation then he can simply draw objects shape on it. When 3D representations of objects of a surveyed site are extracted from the mesh, the link with domain related documentation is done by means of a set of forms designed by experts. Information from these forms are linked with geometry such that documentation can be attached to the viewed objects. Additional semantisation methods related to specific domains have been added to the platform. Beyond realistic rendering of surveyed site, the platform embeds non photorealistic rendering (NPR) algorithms. These algorithms enable to dynamically illustrate objects of interest that are related to knowledge with specific styles. The whole platform is implemented with a Java framework and relies on an actual and effective 3D engine that make available latest rendering methods. We illustrate this work on various photogrammetric survey, in medieval archaeology with the Shawbak castle in Jordan and in underwater archaeology on different marine sites.

The paper presents the current state of the ARPENTEUR project (ARchitectural PhotogrammEtry Network Tool for EdUcation and Research), and principally the new photogrammetric module, the 3D measuring and modelling module including an automatic DSM densification tool and the formalization of photogrammetric data in XML. This JAVATM based package has been proposed as a WEB tool since 1998. It is now also available as standard software running on Windows or Linux platforms. Several significant ideas are supporting this project: - The photogrammetric module has been based on the orientation of couples of images (not necessarily stereo pairs, and not necessarily from metric cameras) and well known steps of interior and exterior orientation. Image processing functions from the Java Advanced Imaging Library as well as an area based correlation method for the measurements of homologous points are included. - A semi-automated Primitive Measurement Method called I-MAGE (Image processing and Measure Assisted by GEometrical primitive) has been proposed for the geometric measurement of 3D model. This method is based on the coupling of image correlation and geometric primitive computation as planes, cylinders, cones and sphere shapes of the object. Five methods of generating DSM automatically are completing the previous modules. These methods based on feature point extraction techniques, well known in aerial photogrammetry, have been adapted to close range projects in Arpenteur. Encouraging results have been obtained. - The last important point is the choice of XML to formalize object data, as well as photogrammetric data. Automatic links are generated between the 3D representation of the measured object and the XML formalization of the photogrammetric, dimensional and more general semantic data of a project. As the data in XML can be parsed and queried, the links between textual data and graphical representation can be considered as the first step towards an information system dedicated to architecture and archaeology.

The present paper focuses on a new tool dedicated to the survey and the representation of archaeological and architectural heritage. The tool is based on a photogrammetric process related to an expert system that handles a knowledge base coming from the field of archaeological or architectural expertise. The system was tested on an archaeological field: the Etruscan amphora, Py4. The first step of the photogrammetric survey was presented in VAST 2001 [Drap, Long, 2001]. In this paper we present a new symbolic approach to manage the data surveyed. The use of an Expert System gives us a higher level of abstraction by the insertion of a new abstract layer between surveyed data and the model to compute. The presence of a great number of amphorae on the site of Grand Ribaud F, the Etruscan wreck located in Hyeres, France, together with the archaeologist's survey needs of the wreck, led us to the development of the system. We add also a persistence mechanism for the data, structured in XML. A Web site allows access to all the excavation data. (http://GrandRibaudF.gamsau.archi.fr) The project is articulated in several phases: • Development of the theoretical model: for each identified object, a geometrical description offers a complete set of geometrical primitives, which are the only objects that can be potentially measured, and a theoretical representation of the object. • Photogrammetric measurement being highly incomplete (the object is seen only partially or is in part deteriorated), the Expert System determines the best strategy to inform all the geometrical parameters of the studied object, starting from taken measurements and the default data as defined in the architectural model and the geometrical model. • The resulting object is thus based on a theoretical model, dimensioned more or less partially by a photogrammetric measurement. At the time of the photograph exploitation, the operator can choose the number of attributes of the object, which are regarded as relevant to measure. The choice of attributes is revisable in time, for example at the time of a second series of measurements. The system can be used to position in space some objects of catalogue after a scale phase. If measurement is more complete, in addition to positioning in space, the system allows an analysis of how the measurements vary from the theoretical model and, from there, a study of these deformations or erosions. These, in turn, allow one to question the initial model. The whole developments of the project are written in Java and use the expert system Jess, available on the WEB.

A photogrammetry tool dedicated to the monitoring of red coral populations in situ has been developed by LSIS in Marseille (France). This tool is used to collect in an efficient and precise manner key data for the study of the population dynamics of red coral. In selected red coral populations, scuba-divers obtain a series of photographs from the permanent plots (about 2 m2) on an annual basis. To facilitate the photographic sampling and measurements, the scuba-divers use a 20 x 20 cm quadrat to cover the permanent plots. The analysis of the photographs provides reliable measurements on colony sizes (basal diameter and maximum height), occurrence of breakage of colonies and the occurrence of necrosis. To minimize the divers' tasks during the acquisition phase, we opted for stereoscopic acquisition using a single device to easily adapt the measurement procedure to the scene configuration. The material is quite light, one camera and two electronic strobes and a simple procedure with two photographs taken for each site. To facilitate the measurement phase of colony sizes; the exploitation of photographs consists of four key steps: orientation, scaling, measurement of the characteristic points of coral colonies and result validation (checking measurement consistency to detect possible errors in measurement or interpretation). Since the context of the shooting can vary widely, dominant colors, contrast, etc. may often change. In order to have a stable and common reference in all photographs independently of the site, we decided to always include a quadrat in the scene which then will be used for the orientation and scaling phases. The automation of orientation and the lack of constraints to adapt the analytical technique to the features of each site offer the possibility to multiply field surveys and to measure hundreds of quadrats from several different populations in a very efficient manner. The measurement results are exported into a spreadsheet application and integrated into the biologists' workflow. The results obtained from different red coral populations displaying contrasting characteristics (small versus large colony sizes) are presented and discussed at the end of this article.

In this paper, a series of topics, concerning acquisition, communication, and the analysis of buildings will be discussed. In particular, a strategy aimed at exploiting the visual potentials of reality-based models, will be described inside render engines, real-time applications, as well as their role for the production of conventional drawing for documenting and studying built heritage. This methodology is inspired by pipelines coming from computer-generated imagery (CGI) and the video game industry: areas of research that are progressively showing an increasing interest towards the world of photogrammetry remote sensing, in particular for the new possibilities offered by Structure from Motion (SfM)/Multi View Stereo (MVS) in terms of automatic texturing of complex shapes. Quad-dominant remeshing, displaced subdivision surfaces, and accurate interactive/ automatic parametrization are the main points of this workflow, whose final goal is the achievement of multipurpose models, which are capable to comply with graphic codes of traditional survey, as well as semantic enrichment, and, last but not least, data compression/portability and texture reliability under different lighting conditions.