A Multi-Data Source and Multi-Sensor Approach for the 3D Reconstruction and Web Visualization of a Complex Archaelogical Site: The Case Study of “Tolmo De Minateda”

Abstract

Abstract:The complexity of archaeological sites hinders creation of an integral model using the current Geomatic techniques (i.e., aerial, close-range photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanner) individually. A multi-sensor approach is therefore proposed as the optimal solution to provide a 3D reconstruction and visualization of these complex sites. Sensor registration represents a riveting milestone when automation is required and when aerial and terrestrial datasets must be integrated. To this end, several problems must be solved: coordinate system definition, geo-referencing, co-registration of point clouds, geometric and radiometric homogeneity, etc. The proposed multi-data source and multi-sensor approach is applied to the study case of the "Tolmo de Minateda" archaeological site. A total extension of 9 ha is reconstructed, with an adapted level of detail, by an ultralight aerial platform (paratrike), an unmanned aerial vehicle, a terrestrial laser scanner and terrestrial photogrammetry. Finally, a mobile device (e.g., tablet or smartphone) has been used to integrate, optimize and visualize all this information, providing added value to archaeologists and heritage managers who want to use an efficient tool for their works at the site, and even for non-expert users who just want to know more about the archaeological settlement.

4d Reconstruction and Visualization of Cultural Heritage: Analyzing Our Legacy Through Time

“…Moreover, the data exchange and rendering it is an issue under study, since it could improve the data transmission and data streaming by means of a Level of Detail (LoD) visualization (Limper et al, 2014). An implementation of the above-mentioned simplification, optimization for web visualization of a large extension archaeological site (landscape scale) is shown in Torres-Martínez, et al, (2016).…”

3D Digitisation of Large-Scale Unstructured Great Wall Heritage Sites by a Small Unmanned Helicopter

“…In the field of 3D modeling of cultural heritage sites, most previous studies [3,5,7,13] have utilized TLS instead of airborne laser scanning (ALS). Although ALS technology has shown its …”

“…In the field of 3D modeling of cultural heritage sites, most previous studies [3,5,7,13] have utilized TLS instead of airborne laser scanning (ALS). Although ALS technology has shown its promising applicability in the large-scale environment and has been a focus of much research in the last two decades, the high-cost impedes its widespread use [30].…”

Geomatic Archaeological Reconstruction and a Hybrid Viewer for the Archaelogical Site of Cáparra (Spain)

“…This question is not new, since every acquisition technique presents some limitations, being their intercomparison a not trivial task since the acquisition protocol is intimate relate to the particularities of the study case (Grussenmeyer et al, 2008). In the case of aerial photogrammetry from drones, it is possible to provide 3D products in large scale that satisfy the archaeologist analysis requirements, while at the same time is generated a dataset which can be used for other purposes such as touristic promotion, heritage preservation or web dissemination (Hernández-Fernandez et al, 2015) (Torres-Martínez et al, 2016. However, as shown in the aforementioned study, the covered area has to be large to be efficient (in that example 30 ha).…”