3D Laser Scanning; Archaeology, Heritage and conse
Description:
3D Laser Scanning; Archaeology, Heritage and conservation
Traditionally, the archaeological survey of a building requires the use of a Total Station to reco
3D Laser Scanning; Archaeology, Heritage and conservation
Traditionally, the archaeological survey of a building requires the use of a Total Station to record subjectively chosen three-dimensional positions. A 'join the dots' process in CAD is then used to generate elevations. The survey is undertaken in the field to generate a particular product which is derived from it.
With laser scanning this has fundamentally changed. The machinery records three-dimensional positions at a predetermined resolution over a chosen area, generating thousands of high-accuracy coordinates. The surface of a scanned structure is therefore represented as a 'point cloud' which three-dimensionally represents its form. This point cloud will also include areas of a structure that might otherwise be inaccessible due to height or H&S.
There are two principal advantages of using laser scanning for recording heritage. Firstly, the technology is extremely rapid, vastly reducing the time required on site, which is commonly an important priority. Secondly, it generates vast quantities of data which means that the archaeologist is not restricted to the skeleton measurements traditionally taken. Once back in the office it is possible to take numerous measurements and to interrogate the data, as well as generate elevation drawings if required. Since one of the key purposes of archaeological survey is to record threatened structures for future generations, the resulting datasets provide an extremely valuable archive. Future investigators will be able to access the whole 'virtual' structure rather than relying on just the subjective drawings.
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