3D modeling of cultural heritage objects like artifacts, statues and buildings is nowadays an important tool for virtual museums, preservation and restoration. In this paper, we introduce a method to automatically design a minimal imaging network for the 3D modeling of cultural heritage objects. This becomes important for reducing the image capture time and processing when documenting large and complex sites. Moreover, such a minimal camera network design is desirable for imaging non-digitally documented artifacts in museums and other archeological sites to avoid disturbing the visitors for a long time and/or moving delicate precious objects to complete the documentation task. The developed method is tested on the Iraqi famous statue “Lamassu”. Lamassu is a human-headed winged bull of over 4.25 m in height from the era of Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BC). Close-range photogrammetry is used for the 3D modeling task where a dense ordered imaging network of 45 high resolution images were captured around Lamassu with an object sample distance of 1 mm. These images constitute a dense network and the aim of our study was to apply our method to reduce the number of images for the 3D modeling and at the same time preserve pre-defined point accuracy. Temporary control points were fixed evenly on the body of Lamassu and measured by using a total station for the external validation and scaling purpose. Two network filtering methods are implemented and three different software packages are used to investigate the efficiency of the image orientation and modeling of the statue in the filtered (reduced) image networks. Internal and external validation results prove that minimal image networks can provide highly accurate records and efficiency in terms of visualization, completeness, processing time (>60% reduction) and the final accuracy of 1 mm.

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Terrestrial laser scanners (TLSs) are 3D imaging systems that provide the most powerful 3D representation and practical solutions for various applications. Hence this is due to effective range measurements, 3D point cloud reliability, and rapid acquisition performance. Stonex X300 TOF scanner delivered better certainty in far-range than in close-range measurements due to the high noise level inherent within the data delivered from Time of Flight (TOF) scanning sensors. However, if these errors are manipulated properly using a valid calibration model, more accurate products can be obtained even from very close-range measurements. Therefore, to fill this gap, this research presents a user-oriented target-based calibration routine to compute the calibration parameters of Stonex X300 TLS. The proposed routine investigates range and angular measurements to mitigate mechanical misalignment error sources of this device. Distance and angular index errors were computed, and environmental error sources were considered for optimal modeling estimation. The approach is based to reference measurements in a close-range environment within a 10-meter distance to user-defined ground truth targets. Experiment results show that the errors in the distance are generally increased following the increase in range distance between the laser device and the targets. However, error variations between laser and reference measurements nearly constant relational to the range value. The index error of the Stonex X300 was computed based on mean measurements and found to be equal to 4.6717 mm. On the other hand, the horizontal angular measurements delivered from the TLS device were found to be more consistent with the reference measurements than with thee vertical angular measurements. However, the vertical angular measurements show more significant variations in particular measures compared to horizontal angular measurements. Following this, the angular error index was computed and found to be equal to 0.07 seconds and 0.13 seconds in horizontal and vertical angular measurements, respectively.

Assessment the actual accuracy of laboratory devices prior to first use is very important to know the capabilities of such devices and employ them in multiple domains. As the manual of the device provides information and values in laboratory conditions for the accuracy of these devices, thus the actual evaluation process is necessary. In this paper, the accuracy of laser scanner (stonex X-300) cameras were evaluated, so that those cameras attached to the device and lead supporting role in it. This is particularly because the device manual did not contain sufficient information about those cameras. To know the accuracy when using these cameras in close range photogrammetry, laser scanning (stonex X-300) device is used to obtain photos of a board including (23) ground control points on it, those observed from two stations and adjusted by using equations of the 3D adjusted triangulation networks by lengths and angles (hybrid routine). (10) GCPs and (13) checkpoints were used to compare the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of checkpoints that result from using laser scan cameras with (RMSE) of the same checkpoints that result from using digital photos (Nikon 5200D). The result of (RMSE) comparison was ) in the X direction, ) in the Y direction and ) in the Z direction.

Real Time Extended (RTX) technology works to take advantage of real-time data comes from the global network of tracking stations together with inventor locating and compression algorithms to calculate and relaying the orbit of satellite, satellite atomic clock, and any other systems corrections to the receivers, which lead to real-time correction with high accuracy. These corrections will be transferred to the receiver antenna by satellite (where coverage is available) and by IP (Internet Protocol) for the rest of world to provide the accurate location on the screen of smartphone or tablet by using specific software. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) low-cost external antenna and possibility for using it with a smartphone to measure the points in Real Time Kinematic (RTK) and (RTX) modes, obtaining the same accuracy by using high-cost (GNSS) receiver with same modes. The assessment has applied through comparing the control points measured in static mode (3 to 5 hours) and corrected by Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) web-based processing software with same control points measured in RTX mode by GNSS low-cost external antenna (5 minutes). The results of an assessment were obtained horizontal and vertical location error in real time, by receiver getting the RTX correction data over the satellite link were RMS (east 41cm, north 35 cm, elevation 94 cm), that means it’s more suitable for automotive, agriculture, and forestry application, As for the RTK mode, the comparison of the differences in RTK mode between the two antennas were RMS (north 5 cm, east 6 cm, elevation 10). This result indicates that the GNSS low-cost external antenna might be very useful in accurate surveying application.