Computer vision-based orthophoto mapping of complex archaeological sites: the ancient quarry of Pitaranha (Portugal-Spain)
Verhoeven, G., Taelman, D., Vermeulen, F., 2012. Computer vision-based orthophoto mapping of complex archaeological sites: the ancient quarry of Pitaranha (Portugal-Spain). Archaeometry. (In press, online available)
Ancient quarries are intriguing archaeological sites, but their detailed recording is complex. This paper presents a... more Ancient quarries are intriguing archaeological sites, but their detailed recording is complex. This paper presents a cost-effective approach to mapping of the Roman quarry site of Pitaranha (Portugal–Spain). First, aerial photographs were acquired using a radio-controlled digital reflex camera attached to a Helikite, which allowed the acquisition of the necessary low-altitude aerial footage in the very unstable wind conditions above the quarry. Using computer vision algorithms, the resulting set of photographs was semi-automatically transformed into a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and a corresponding orthophotograph. Besides focusing on the acquisition and processing method, this paper evaluates the accuracy of the generated products. The orthophotograph proved to be satisfactorily accurate for 1:200 hard-copy mapping.
Catalog essays: Metereological Balloon with Camera Attached, Megiddo; & "Air-Mosaic" of the Mound at Megiddo.
by Jack Green
Catalog Nos. 30-31, In, J. Green, E.Teeter & J.A. Larson (eds.), Picturing the Past: Imaging and Imagining the Ancient Middle East. Chicago: The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. Pp.154-158.
Excerpt: "From the excavator’s perspective, the purpose of the aerial photographs was twofold. Firstly, they... more
Excerpt: "From the excavator’s perspective, the purpose of the aerial photographs was twofold. Firstly, they provided accurate and detailed records of excavated buildings, surveying points, and other features on the mound. These images are still invaluable to archaeologists as many structures were subsequently removed to expose the strata beneath. Secondly, the air-mosaic was used for checking the excavations as they progressed. Philip L. O. Guy (field director, Megiddo Expedition,
1927–1935) and his assistant Robert S. Lamon (surveyor), took the large-scale air-mosaic out onto the mound during the course of excavation, seeing it as a “very great help in disentangling one stratum from another,” helping to verify wall alignments that may have been difficult to locate at surface level and comparing buildings of similar size and design separated by several hundred feet. Guy recommended the projection of lantern slide images of the aerial photographs on to a screen for quiet study off-site...
