CH1 3D Imaging

Sunoikisis Digital Cultural Heritage, Spring 2021

Session 1. 3D Imaging and Scanning

Thursday Jan 21, 16:00 UK = 17:00 CET

Convenors: Gabriel Bodard (University of London), Kelly McClinton (Indiana University), Alicia Walsh (Recollection Heritage)

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/e0DKINLIzRE

Slides: PDF

Session outline

In this session we will give a general overview of 3D imaging/scanning and modelling techniques, some of which will be taken up in the later sessions in weeks 7 and 9. We will then present two case studies of 3D scanning heritage objects and archaeological sites, respectively, to show some of the technical and cost implications of different imaging methods, and put the technologies in a research context. Finally we will offer a hands-on tutorial in photogrammetry, taking multiple photographs of an object and then running them through the Agisoft Metashape software (trial version) to create a 3D model. Students will be invited to try this out as an exercise at home.

Seminar readings

For discussion in this forum thread

• K. Sengoku-Haga, 2017. "Polykleitos and his followers at work: how the Doryphoros was used." In J. M. Daehner et al. Artistry in Bronze: the Greeks and their Legacy. LA: Getty Conservation Institute. Available: http://www.getty.edu/publications/artistryinbronze/the-artist/10-haga-et-al/
• Davide Tanasi. 2019. "Best Practices for 3D Digital Recording and Global Sharing of Catacombs from Late Roman Sicily." Studies in Digital Heritage 3.1. Pp. 60.82. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.14434/sdh.v3i1.25290

Further Reading

• Ryan Baumann, Dorothy Carr Porter and W. Brent Seales (2008), “The Use of MicroCT in the Study of Archaeological Artefacts.” 9th International Art Conference in Jerusalem on Non-destructive Investigation and Analysis. Available: http://rfbaumann.com/papers/Israel-EDUCE.pdf
• A. Bentkowska-Kafel & L. MacDonald, 2017. Digital Techniques for Documenting and Preserving Cultural Heritage. Arc Humanities Press.
• Bonacchi, C. et al. (2014). "Crowd-sourced Archaeological Research: The MicroPasts Project." Archaeology International 17, pp. 61–68. Available: http://doi.org/10.5334/ai.1705
• H. Geismar, 2018. Museum Object Lessons for the Digital Age. UCL Press.
• Gabriele Guidi, Michele Russo, et al. 2009. “A Multi-Resolution Methodology for the 3D Modeling of Large and Complex Archeological Areas.” International Journal of Architectural Computing 7-1, 39–55. (Not open access.)
• Historic England, 2017. Photogrammetric Applications for Cultural Heritage. Historic England. Available: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/photogrammetric-applications-for-cultural-heritage/heag066-photogrammetric-applications-cultural-heritage/
• Giacomo Landeschi, Nicolò Dell'Unto, et al. 2016. “3D-GIS as a platform for visual analysis: Investigating a Pompeian house.” Journal of Archaeological Science 65, 103–113. (Not open access.)
• Matthew Magnani, Matthew Douglass et al. 2020. “The Digital Revolution to Come: Photogrammetry in Archaeological Practice.” American Antiquity 85-4, 737–760. Available: https://www.academia.edu/44297686/The_Digital_Revolution_to_Come_Photogrammetry_in_Archaeological_Practice
• Barry Molloy, Mariusz Wiśniewski, et al. 2016. “Tracing edges: A consideration of the applications of 3D modelling for metalwork wear analysis on Bronze Age bladed artefacts.” Journal of Archaeological Science 76, 79-87. Available: https://www.academia.edu/30379988/Tracing_edges_A_consideration_of_the_applications_of_3D_modelling_for_metalwork_wear_analysis_on_Bronze_Age_bladed_artefacts
• S. Robson, S. MacDonald et al. (2011). "Chapter 5: 3D recording and museums." In C. Warwick et al., Digital Humanities in Practice. Facet Publishing. Available: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/dh-in-practice/chapter-5/
• Anca Timofan et al (2019). "PANTHEON 3D: An Initiative in the Three-Dimensional Digitization of Romanian Cultural Heritage." Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Digitalia 63.2, pp. 65-83. Available: https://digihubb.centre.ubbcluj.ro/journal/index.php/digitalia/article/view/52
• Valeria Vitale (2018), "The Monster in Your Pocket." In ed. Bridges/al-Ayad, Making Monsters: An anthology of classical monsters. Futurefire.net Publishing. Pp. 107–120. Available: https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/9287/

Other resources

• Agisoft Metashape tutorials
• AliceVision MeshRoom tutorial from Sketchfab
• Samantha Porter, Aligning and merging 3D images (YouTube video)
• Tom O'Mahony, “How can we use 3D imaging and printing as tools for studying human evolution?” (podcast)

Exercise

1. Following the guidance in this week's video, and any other tutorials or guides you find useful, choose an object of your own to attempt to 3D image. Taking several photographs with your own camera, phone or tablet, use the Metashape trial version and work through the workflow to create your 3D model and texture.
2. Look carefully at your model. Are there any parts missing or ill-formed? Were there any errors in the build process? You may want to go back and add more photographs to replace missing parts or improve out-of-focus or overexposed images (note you must not have moved your object or light-source if you want to add photographs to the existing set; otherwise you will need to discard your photographs and start again from scratch). This should help you to identify important parts of the object to photograph.
3. Once you have a model you are happy with, save it both in Metashape's native format and export it as OBJ and Collada files. Bring these to class to share your model with your colleagues and tutor. Be prepared to talk about any lessons you learned from this process.

• If you have any technical difficulties with this exercise, you may ask questions in this forum thread and we or your colleagues may be able to help.