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We address interpretive challenges at multicultural sites by presenting a digital reconstruction of a fort built in 1816 on Kaua'i Island known as "Pā'ula'ula" or "Hīpō" in Hawaiian texts and as "Fort Elizabeth" in Russian texts. Based on archival documents, maps, photographs, and archaeological research, we create diachronic 3D models to illustrate the cultural complexities behind the site's formation. The results of the study provide more public visibility to this poorly understood National Historic Landmark. The 3D models are intended to foster community-based engagement with academic research by providing representations of the fort and surrounding cultural landscape as it changed over time; they would also assist people in better estimating what would be necessary to design and complete a full-scale restoration of the fort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stone rubbing is a traditional method to record surface features of a stone on paper. It has a long history and is still used by Chinese archaeologists and artists up to now. However, stone rubbing can cause permanent damage to precious cultural heritage due to abrasion. We propose a new method to create digital stone rubbing from 3D digital models. We assume the surface of a stone is flat locally and fit a least-squares plane to each point's neighbors individually. To prevent the local plane from being fitted across sharp edges or corners of the model, we make use of the smoothed point normals in the selection of local surface region. The height of a point is defined as the signed distance between the point and its local approximation plane. The estimated height of each point is then mapped to its grey value by a nonlinear transformation function. Finally, we render the 3D model into a rubbing image using orthogonal projection. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method on real experimental dataset in archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over 30 years GIS has been a major theme in archaeology, leading scholars to debate the way geo-spatial platforms can contribute to a better understanding of the ancient landscape and a more thorough interpretation of the archaeological record. Recently, the introduction of more advanced software and hardware solutions have made it possible to use GIS for visualizing and analysing even geometrically complex 3D contents, in a totally unprecedented way. Still, a theoretical debate on the way three-dimensionality could impact GIS-based research has yet to come and only a few pioneering projects have been conducted to show the potential for the discipline. Among the possible lines of enquiry to be developed in this direction, sensory archaeology seems to be one to benefit more from such an approach. Starting from a review of the current state of research this contribution will attempt to show some important results recently obtained in order to generate some insights on theoretical and methodological issues raised by the use of state-of-the-art 3D GIS and to trace new paths for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following research aims to exploit the low-cost technologies, for the survey and mapping of historical archaeology in the Roman context. The main purposes of the research is to implement a large-scale survey campaign to understand the geometry and the materiality of the artefacts examined. Three-dimensional survey from photography, allows an immediate mapping of the materiality, of the degradation and of the architectural elements characteristic of the architecture in question. From the model it is possible to obtain an image that is faithful to the reality that can be the basis for developments in many disciplines such as, for example, in the restoration project, for the material analysis and the mapping of the degradation. The applications for this type of mapping are numerous, one of those proposed in this research concerns the virtual musealisation of historical artifacts. More and more in recent years, museums are exploiting the capabilities of three-dimensional modeling software of architectural elements to interactively convey architectural elements. A methodology of work that in recent archaeological excavations is not based solely on the didactic divulgation of the history of a place, but during the excavation phase on the mapping and cataloging of uncovered finds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Since remote times, mankind has been bound to water bodies and evidence of human life from the very beginning hides under the water level, off the coasts, under shallow seas or deep oceans, but also inland water bodies of countries all around the world. Recording, documenting and, ultimately, protecting underwater cultural heritage is an obligation of mankind and dictated by international treaties like the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage that fosters and encourages the use of “non-destructive techniques and survey methods in preference over the recovery of objects”. 3D digital surveying and mapping techniques represent an invaluable set of effective tools for reconnaissance, documentation, monitoring, but also public diffusion and awareness of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) assets. This paper presents an extensive review over the sensors and the methodologies used in archaeological underwater 3D recording and mapping together with relevant highlights of well renowned projects in 3D recording underwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the ontology of 3-D replicas and simulations of archaeological and heritage sites. In the past 20 years, the use of new technologies for the 3-D documentation and reconstruction of cultural heritage has altered approaches to the analysis and interpretation of tangible heritage. The preservation and re-creation of the past is becoming increasingly "digital." Scholars are debating the authenticity of 3-D digital reproductions in heritage and archaeology. How should we consider these digital and virtual reproductions? Are they original digital representations of our cultural heritage or just virtual "fakes"? It is argued that it is not possible to define universal predetermined categories for the definition of "authentic" in the digital domain, since 3-D digital reproductions of tangible heritage are always influenced by the subjective interpretation of the creator of 3-D content. To support this argument, three case studies are presented that deal with the contested and controversial concept of authenticity in different domains: physical, digital, and a combination of physical and digital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of bone surface modifications (BSMs) such as cut marks are crucial to our understanding of human and earlier hominin subsistence behavior. Over the last several decades, however, BSM identification has remained contentious, particularly in terms of identifying the earliest instances of hominin butchery; there has been a lack of consensus over how to identify or differentiate marks made by human and non-human actors and varying effectors. Most investigations have relied on morphology to identify butchery marks and their patterning. This includes cut marks, one of the most significant human marks. Attempts to discriminate cut marks from other types of marks have employed a variety of techniques, ranging from subjectively characterizing cut mark morphology using the naked eye, to using high-powered microscopy such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or micro-photogrammetry. More recent approaches use 3D datasets to obtain even more detailed information about mark attributes, and apply those to the fossil record. Although 3D datasets open promising new avenues for investigation, analyses of these datasets have not yet taken advantage of the full 3D surface morphology of BSM. Rather, selected cross-sectional slices of 3D scans have been used as proxies for overall shape. Here we demonstrate that 3D geometric morphometrics (GM), under the “Procrustes paradigm” and coupled with a Bayesian approach, probabilistically discriminates between marks caused by different butchery behaviors. At the same time, this approach provides a complete set of 3D morphological measurements and descriptions. Our results strengthen statistical confidence in cut mark identification and offer a novel approach that can be used to discriminate subtle differences between cut mark types in the fossil record. Furthermore, this study provides an incipient digital library with which to make future quantitative comparisons to archaeological examples, including contentious specimens that are key to understanding the earliest hominin butchery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For several decades, Geographic Information Systems (GISs) have held center stage in archaeological studies of ancient landscapes. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) technologies such as airborne LiDAR and aerial photogrammetry are allowing us to acquire inordinate amounts of georeferenced 3D data to locate, map, and visualize archaeological sites within their surrounding landscapes. GIS offers locational precision, data overlay, and complex spatial analysis. Three-dimensionality adds a ground-based perspective lacking in two-dimensional GIS maps to provide archaeologists a sense of mass and space more closely attuned with human perception. This article uses comparative and iterative approaches 'tacking back and forth' between GIS and 3D visualization to explore the role of visibility in conveying sociopolitical and ideological messages at ancient Copan--today a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Honduras. A two-prong approach comprising computational and experiential components explores the potential role of visibility in sending messages that participate in the shaping of social interaction on a daily basis. The organization of built forms within the natural landscape created spatial configurations that sent visual messages targeting specific different groups, subsequently influencing how people negotiated their physical surroundings and the frequency and intensity of social interactions. The ancient Maya belief that sight played a key role in structuring everyday experiences because it triggered perception in the other senses thus serves to bridge the computational and experiential results in this case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

The present paper aims to present a series of experiences and experimentations that a group of PhD from the University of Naples Federico II conducted over the past decade. This work has concerned the survey and the graphic restitution of monuments and works of art, finalized to their conservation. The targeted query of complex point cloud acquired by 3D scanners, integrated with photo sensors and thermal imaging, has allowed to explore new possibilities of investigation. In particular, we will present the scientific results of the experiments carried out on some important historical artifacts with distinct morphological and typological characteristics. According to aims and needs that emerged during the connotative process, with the support of archival and iconographic historical research, the laser scanner technology has been used in many different ways. New forms of representation, obtained directly from the point cloud, have been tested for the elaboration of thematic studies for documenting the pathologies and the decay of materials, for correlating visible aspects with invisible aspects of the artifact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstructive study of the urban arrangement of Susa in the 4th century arose from the intention to exploit some resources derived from local studies, and survey activities, fulfilled by innovative methods from which the modelling of architectural heritage (AH) and virtual reconstructions are derived. The digital Segusio presented in this paper is the result of intensive discussion and exchange of data and information during the urban landscape documentation activities, and due to the technology of virtual model generation, making it possible to recreate the charm of an ancient landscape. The land survey has been accomplished using aerial and terrestrial acquisition systems, mainly through digital photogrammetry from UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and terrestrial laser scanning. Results obtained from both the methods have been integrated into the medium scale geographical data from the regional map repository, and some processing and visualization supported by GIS (Geographical Information System) has been achieved. Subsequently, with the help of accurate and detailed DEM (Digital Elevation Model) and other architectural scale models related to the ancient heritage, this ancient landscape was modelled. The integration of the history of this city with digital and multimedia resources will be offered to the public in the city museum housed in the restored castle of Maria Adelaide (Savoy dynasty, 11th century), which stands in the place where the acropolis of the city of Susa lay in ancient times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ancient plank road is a creative building in the history of Chinese ancient traffic through cliffs. In this paper, a virtual restoration approach for ancient plank road using mechanical analysis with precision 3D data of current heritage site is proposed. Firstly, an aero photogrammetry with multiple view images from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imaging system is presented to obtain the 3D point cloud of ancient plank roads, which adopts a density image matching and aerial triangulation processing. In addition, a terrestrial laser scanner is integrated to obtain detail 3D data of the plank road. Secondly, a mechanical analysis method based on the precision 3D data of the current plank roads is proposed to determine their forms and restore each of their components with detail sizes. Finally, all components and background scene were added to the existing model to obtain a virtual restoration model, which indicates that it is effective and feasible to achieve a three-dimensional digital and virtual restoration of ancient sites. The Chiya Plank Road is taken as a virtual restoration example with the proposed approach. The restored 3D model of the ancient plank can be widely used for digital management, research, and visualization of ancient plank roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer tomography (CT) is an excellent technique for obtaining accurate 3D information about the human body. It allows to visualize the organs, bones and blood vessels, furthermore it enables to diagnose anomalies and diseases. Its spatial reconstruction capability supports other interesting applications, such as inspecting different, even valuable objects like ancient sculptures. Current paper presents a methodology of evaluating CT and video imagery through the example of investigating a wood Madonna with infant Jesus sculpture from the 14th century. The developed techniques extract the outer boundary of the statue, which has been triangulated to derive the surface model. The interior of the sculpture has also been revealed: the iron bolts and rivets as well as the woodworm holes can be mapped. By merging the interior and outer data (geometry and texture) interesting visualizations (perspective views, sections etc.) have been created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High resolution 3D point cloud recording is a demanding task for generating meshed surface and CAD object models. Accurate, complete and realistic 3D point cloud is expected from the adopted recording technique. Due to the complex structural environments of the heritage sites, complete, yet suitable, object coverage by Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) is not guaranteed. The recent improvements in image stereo matching algorithms allow for an automatic dense point clouds acquisition. Acquiring 3D point cloud using images has many advantages related to flexibility and portability. The choice of the best technique relies on the site configuration and the performance of the selected sensor. This paper demonstrates the potential benefits of integrating TLS and Dense Stereo Matching (DSM) techniques in order to form a complete and detailed representation of Dar Es-Saraya Museum. The paper fully discusses the processing and registration of the TLS and DSM data in creating a 3D point cloud of the museum to be used in a more accurate CAD model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, in collaboration with the Czech Institute of Egyptology, we, a Japanese consortium, initiated the Abusir 3D Survey (A-3DS) for the 3D documentation of the site’s pyramids, which have not been updated since the time of the architectural investigations of Vito Maragioglio and Celeste Rinaldi in the 1960s to the 1970s. The first season of our project focused on the exterior of Neferirkare’s pyramid, the largest pyramid at Abusir. By developing a strategic mathematical 3D survey plan, step-by-step 3D documentation to suit specific archaeological needs, and producing a new display method for the 3D data, we successfully measured the dimensions of the pyramid in a cost-effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution shows the application of terrestrial laser scanning in an integrative approach for the documentation and analyses of the Ardales Cave, southern Spain, which is in many respects an important geoarchaeological site. For the survey of the cave, a combination of the Riegl LMS Z420i laser scanner with a real-time kinematic global positioning system (RTK-GPS) from Topcon and further tachymetric measurements were used. The achieved three-dimensional (3D) model of the cave and the surrounding hill documents the current topography and dimensions of the cave. Additional geoarchaeological data were successfully integrated in a 3D geographical information system (GIS) database and high-resolution records of a structured-light scanner were combined with the 3D model of the cave. The 3D model is further used for the estimation of the ceiling thickness that reveals areas for additional entrances. Lighting simulations based on path tracing were conducted for the determination of areas that are reached by natural direct or indirect light. In this case, the weight and size of the instrument was a logistic constraint to reach certain areas and to achieve a complete model of the cave. Overall, the method is feasible for the documentation of this cave and the investigations based on the derived 3D models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the demand for robust character extraction from ancient documents with Script in 3D like cuneiformtablets, we are developing curvature based filter algorithms using integral invariants. While previous work was focused on analyzing 3D-models i. e. irregular triangular meshs in IR³, we introduce a fast, efficient adaption for edge detection in raster images. It is an alternative to the Canny edge detector algorithm and other complex algorithms using first and second order derivative filters. Our approach consists of two steps using (i) zero-crossings of volume integral invariants and (ii) surface integral invariants to discard false positives introduced by noise. The runtime of these Dual Integral Invariants (DII) is comparable with Difference of Gaussian filtering and it is independent of the number and length of edges. An additional benefit is the constant execution time as line tracing is not necessary. As the proposed algorithm has no smoothing included it preserves smaller features than recent variants of the Canny edge detector. We use artificial data sets with and without a known amount of noise to validate the accuracy of our method in comparison with operators supplied by the OpenCV library. The equidistant spacing of raster images allows fast estimation of the integral invariants based on filter masks like Roberts, Scharr and Kirsch. We show the results on well-known standard test images and synthetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium-doped and vanadium- and carbon-doped nanostructured anatase with threedimensional architecture of aggregates has been synthesized by the developed precursor method. Glycolate Ti 1− x V x (OCH 2 CH 2 O) 2 (0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) was used as a precursor. The obtained samples of the compositions Ti 1− x V x O 2 , Ti 1− x V x O 2− y C y and Ti 1− x V x O 2− y C y ∙nC were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, absorption spectroscopy in ultraviolet and visible regions and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods. It was established that the synthesized materials exhibit photocatalytic activity in the oxidation reaction in aqueous solution of hydroquinone under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. First principle calculations of the electronic band structure and optical absorption of vanadium- and carbon-doped anatase have been performed. The calculations showed that doping gives rise to the impurity states inside the band gap, which are responsible for the appearance of absorption, and consequently, visible light photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic and electromagnetic surveying are effective techniques frequently used in archaeology because the susceptibility and the electric resistivity contrast between the cover soil and several buried finds often lead to detectable anomalies. Significant advances were recently achieved by 3D imaging methods of potential field data that provide an estimate of the magnetization distribution within the subsurface. They provide a high-resolution image of the source distribution, thanks to the differentiation of the field and to the stability of the process. These techniques are fast and quite effective in the case of a compact, isolated, and depth-limited source, i.e., just the kind of source generally occurring in archaeological investigations. We illustrate the high-resolution imaging process for a geophysical study carried out at Torre Galli ( Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy), one of the most significant sites of the early Iron Age in Italy. Multi-scale derivative analysis of magnetic data revealed the trends of anomalies shaped and aligned with a regular geometry. This allowed us to make an outline of the buried structures, and then to characterize them in terms of size, shape, and depth by means of the imaging technique. Targeted excavations were therefore addressed to the locations selected by our analysis, revealing structures showing exactly the predicted features and confirming the archaeological hypothesis concerning the settlement organization partitioned in terms of functional differentiation: an intermediate area occupied mostly by defensive structures placed between the village, westward, and the necropolis, eastward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generic representation of skeletal remains from burials consists of three dimensions which include physical anthropologists, replication technicians, and promotional educators. For the reason that archaeological excavation is irreversible and disruptive, detail documentation and replication technologies are surely needed for many purposes. Unearthed bones during the process of 3D digital scanning need to go through reverse procedure, 3D scanning, digital model superimposition, rapid prototyping, mould making, and the integrated errors generated from the presentation of colours and textures are important issues for the presentation of replicate skeleton remains among professional decisions conducted by physical anthropologists, subjective determination of makers, and the expectations of viewers. This study presents several cases and examines current issues on display and replication technologies for human skeletal remains of prehistoric burials. This study documented detail colour changes of human skeleton over time for the reference of reproduction. The tolerance errors of quantification and required technical qualification is acquired according to the precision of 3D scanning, the specification requirement of rapid prototyping machine, and the mould making process should following the professional requirement for physical anthropological study. Additionally, the colorimeter is adopted to record and analyse the "colour change" of the human skeletal remains from wet to dry condition. Then, the "colure change" is used to evaluate the "real" surface texture and colour presentation of human skeletal remains, and to limit the artistic presentation among the human skeletal remains reproduction. The"Lingdao man No.1", is a well preserved burial of early Neolithic period (8300 B.P.) excavated from Liangdao-Daowei site, Matsu, Taiwan, as the replicating object for this study. In this study, we examined the reproduction procedures step by step for ensuring the surface texture and colour of the replica matches the real human skeletal remains when discovered. The "colour change" of the skeleton documented and quantified in this study could be the reference for the future study and educational exhibition of human skeletal remain reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the occasion of the millennium celebration of Strasbourg Cathedral, a transdisciplinary research group composed of archaeologists, surveyors, architects, art historians and a stonemason revised the 1966-1972 excavations under the St. Lawrence's Chapel of the Cathedral having remains of Roman and medieval masonry. The 3D modeling of the Chapel has been realized based on the combination of conventional surveying techniques for the network creation, laser scanning for the model creation and photogrammetric techniques for the texturing of a few parts. According to the requirements and the end-user of the model, the level of detail and level of accuracy have been adapted and assessed for every floor. The basement has been acquired and modeled with more details and a higher accuracy than the other parts. Thanks to this modeling work, archaeologists can confront their assumptions to those of other disciplines by simulating constructions of other worship edifices on the massive stones composing the basement. The virtual reconstructions provided evidence in support of these assumptions and served for communication via virtual visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the present, in trend of shifting the old 2D-output oriented survey to a new 3D-output oriented survey based on BIM technology, the corresponding working methods and workflow for data capture, process, representation, etc. have to be changed.Based on case study of two buildings in the Summer Palace of Beijing, and Jiayuguan Pass at the west end of the Great Wall (both World Heritage sites), this paper puts forward a "structure-and-type method" by means of typological method used in archaeology, Revit family system, and the tectonic logic of building to realize a good coordination between understanding of historic buildings and BIM modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 is said to be a once-in-1000-year catastrophic quake. The Tsunami triggered by the earthquake destroyed broad coastal areas in northeast Japan. As recovery from the earthquake proceeds, the demand for new road construction, housing hill development, and residential construction is rapidly increasing. Culture plays a critical role in the district's recovery. For that reason, before development, cultural properties in the corresponding districts must be urgently investigated. This is a must, although balancing cultural recovery with rapid economic recovery is no easy task. With this in mind, we have developed a new system focusing on speedy archaeological investigation and adequate documentation. The authors reexamined the existing investigation process to categorize tasks into two types: those that must be done only at archaeological sites (site A) and ones available at other places (site B). We then formulated a scheme where the tasks on both sites are performed simultaneously in parallel over the network. Experiments are ongoing. This presentation reports the process and issues of our research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial cavities are tangible signs of past generations' actions: a legacy that holds unique features because every wall, every vault, every recess obtained by material removing is an original and not repeatable piece. The study of these underground spaces requires a specific approach aimed at the recognition of their constructive singularities and should follow rigorous measurement procedures. In this sense, two activities, the one related to the Grotto of Saints in Enna, a space carved into the rock, showing frescoes from 13th century BC and the other to the Necropolis of Realmese (9th-7th centuries BC) in Calascibetta, were conducted based on an integrated approach between traditional techniques and data capture technologies. Both sites represent an interesting field of study in terms of 3D data acquisition and investigation aimed at drawing up conservation and valorisation projects able to give back to the community these important witnesses of civilization and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been a growing interest in 3D acquisition techniques in the field of cultural heritage, yet, at the same time, only a small percentage of case studies have been conducted on the virtual reconstruction of archaeological sites that are no longer in existence. Such reconstructions are, at times, considered “artistic” or “aesthetic” endeavors, as the complete list of sources used is not necessarily provided as a reference along with the 3D representation. One of the reasons for this is likely the lack of a shared language in which to store and communicate the steps in the reconstruction process. This paper proposes the use of a formal language with which to keep track of the entire virtual reconstruction process. The proposal is based on the stratigraphic reading approach and aims to create a common framework connecting archaeological documentation and virtual reconstruction in the earliest stages of the survey. To this end, some of the tools and standards used in archaeological research have been “extended” to taxonomically annotate both the validation of the hypothesis and the sources involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of generative modeling is to allow the generation of highly complex objects based on a set of formal construction rules. Using these construction rules, a shape is described by a sequence of processing steps, rather than just by the result of all applied operations: Shape design becomes rule design. Due to its very general nature, this approach can be applied to any domain and to any shape representation that provides a set of generating functions. The aim of this report is to give an overview of the concepts and techniques of procedural and generative modeling as well as their applications with a special focus on Archaeology and Architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report details the preliminary results of the research focused on Roman archaeological heritage in the Middle Ebro Valley (Spain). The principal objective of this project was to obtain several different readings by means of a UAV equipped with different sensors. Firstly, it has been possible to obtain accurate maps, 3D models and digital elevation models of the site. Secondly, it has been possible to investigate and define archaeological remains still underground, via a new methodology which utilises visible and near-infrared wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most challenging problem in architecture is the automated construction of 3D (and 4D) digital models of cultural objects with the aim of implementing open data repositories, scientifically authenticated and responding to well accepted standards of validation, evaluation, preservation, publication, updating and dissemination. The realization of such an ambitious objective requires the adoption of special technological instruments. In this paper we plan to use portable devices (i.e. smartphones, tablets or PDAs eventually extended to wearable ones), extended with a small plug-in, for automatically extracting 3D models of single objects and building-scale mapping of the surrounding environment. At the same time, the device will provide the capability of inserting notes and observations. Where the instrument cannot be directly applied, for example for exploring the top of a complex building, we consider mounting our device, or using equivalent existing equipment, on a drone, in a modular approach for obtaining data de-facto interchangeable. The approach based on the expansion packs has the advantage of anticipating (or even promoting) future extensions of new mobile devices, when the spectrum of possible applications justify the corresponding increased costs. In order to experiment and verify this approach we plan to test it in two specific scenarios of the cultural heritage domain in which such devices seem particularly promising: Strada Nuova in Genoa and Palazzo Ducale in Urbino, both located in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of 3D sophisticated visualizations and reconstructions of any preserved architectural remains is becoming more frequent in the modern archaeology. However, it is still not common during the process of reconstruction or recreation of the appearance of any preserved architecture of prehistoric (Bronze Age) Crete. The bad condition of prehistoric sites (the bad preservation of the masonry) or structure is probably the main reason for this state. But let's look at this problem from the other point of view: what is really necessary for the creation of an ideal 3D reconstruction of such sites, which complies with the up-to-date state of the archaeological and architectural knowledge and uses the modern software? In accordance with our experience and findings we think that for the creation of really good and up-to-date 3D reconstruction only the plan of the site (at least the schematic one), enough of general and detailed photos of the site (but not necessary the photogrammetric model) and architectural features, some photos of the site's surroundings incl. the Google Earth image and some photos of similar sites and/or structures/architectural features (type of masonry, entrances etc.) are necessary. In case of accepting our findings and principles by the wider academic audience (especially by the archaeologists and architects) the creation of 3D reconstruction could be -- as we hope -- more commonly used or even become a standard of archaeological publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent developments in 3D scanning technologies are not been accompanied by visualization interfaces. We are still using the same types of visual codes as when maps and drawings were made by hand. The available information in 3D scanning data sets is not being fully exploited by current visualization techniques. In this paper we present recent developments regarding the use of 3D scanning data sets for revealing invisible information from archaeological sites. These sites are affected by a common problem, decay processes, such as erosion, that never ceases its action and endangers the persistence of last vestiges of some peoples and cultures. Rock art engravings, or epigraphical inscriptions, are among the most affected by these processes because they are, due to their one nature, carved at the surface of rocks often exposed to climatic agents. The study and interpretation of these motifs and texts is strongly conditioned by the degree of conservation of the imprints left by our ancestors. Every single detail in the remaining carvings can make a huge difference in the conclusions taken by specialists. We have selected two case-studies severely affected by erosion to present the results of the on-going work dedicated to explore in new ways the information contained in 3D scanning data sets. A new method for depicting subtle morphological features in the surface of objects or sites has been developed. It allows to contrast human patterns still present at the surface but invisible to naked eye or by any other archaeological inspection technique. It was called Morphological Residual Model (MRM) because of its ability to contrast the shallowest morphological details, to which we refer as residuals, contained in the wider forms of the backdrop. Afterwards, we have simulated the process of building Polynomial Texture Maps - a widespread technique that as been contributing to archaeological studies for some years - in a 3D virtual environment using the results of MRM calculations. By this, we wish to benefit from the rendering capabilities of RTI-viewer and from its intuitive graphic interface. At the same time, virtual PTM is a way of applying this to areas barred to conventional PTM, like in the case presented of an entire roman city occupying a plateau of several sq. km. The results of this research project are presented and discussed using the two case-studies aforementioned, a Latin inscription from a Roman sanctuary in the north of Portugal and a engraved panel with zoomorphic motifs from a rock art site in the north border of Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, advances in the fields of photogrammetry and computer vision have produced several solutions for generating 3D reconstruction starting from simple images. Even if the potentialities of the image-based 3D reconstruction approach are nowadays very well-known in terms of reliability, accuracy and flexibility, there is still a lack of low-cost, open-source and automated solutions for collecting mass of archaeological findings, specially if one consider the real (and non theoretical) contextual aspects of a digitization campaign on the field (number of objects to acquire, available time, lighting conditions, equipment transport, budget, etc...) as well as the accuracy requirements for an in-depth shape analysis and classification purpose. In this paper we present a prototype system (integrating hardware and software) for the 3D acquisition, geometric reconstruction, documentation and archiving of large collections of archaeological findings. All the aspects of our approach are based on high-end image-based modeling techniques and designed basing on an accurate analysis of the typical field conditions of an archaeological campaign, as well as on the specific requirements of archaeological finding documentation and analysis. This paper presents all the aspects integrated into the prototype: - a hardware development of a transportable photobooth for the automated image acquisition consisting of a turntable and three DSLR controlled by a microcontroller ; - an automatic image processing pipeline (based on Apero/Micmac) including mask generation, tie-point extraction, bundle adjustment, multi-view stereo correlation, point cloud generation, surface reconstruction ; - a versatile (off-line/on-line) portable database for associating descriptive attributes (archaeological description) to the 3D digitizations on site ; - a platform for data-gathering, archiving and sharing collections of 3D digitizations on the Web. The presentation and the assessment of this prototype is based on an interdisciplinary experience carried out on the study of the Tholos in Delphi within the framework of the CNRS's Eloquentia project and the EFA's archaeological program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]