Building Three-Dimensional Building Three-Dimensional Models of Archeological Sites by Models of Archeological Sites by

Creating a Specialized GIS for Creating a Specialized GIS for ArcheologistsArcheologists

John SamuelsenJohn Samuelsen

CIS 4914 Senior ProjectCIS 4914 Senior Project

4/14/044/14/04

SummarySummary

►MotivationMotivation Archaeologists are lacking tools to represent Archaeologists are lacking tools to represent

their sites in three dimensions.their sites in three dimensions.► ProblemProblem

Current GIS do not have functions for common Current GIS do not have functions for common archeological uses and previous research archeological uses and previous research projects for building 3D models of archaeological projects for building 3D models of archaeological sites are site specific.sites are site specific.

► SolutionSolution Create a GIS that incorporates important Create a GIS that incorporates important

archaeological data for any site.archaeological data for any site.

Literature SourcesLiterature Sources

[1][1]Acevedo, Daniel, Eileen Vote, David H. Laidlaw, and Martha S. Joukowsky.Acevedo, Daniel, Eileen Vote, David H. Laidlaw, and Martha S. Joukowsky.““Archaeological Data Visualization in VR: Analysis of Lamp Finds Archaeological Data Visualization in VR: Analysis of Lamp Finds

at the at the Great Temple of Petra, a Case Study”, Proceedings of IEEE Great Temple of Petra, a Case Study”, Proceedings of IEEE Visualization Visualization 2001 (San Diego, California. October 2001).2001 (San Diego, California. October 2001).

[2][2]Devlin, Kate, Alan Chambers, and Duncan Brown. “Predictive Lighting andDevlin, Kate, Alan Chambers, and Duncan Brown. “Predictive Lighting andPerception in Archaeological Representations", AFRIGRAPH 2001, Perception in Archaeological Representations", AFRIGRAPH 2001,

pp. pp. 43—47 (2001). 43—47 (2001). [3][3]Kennelly, Pat. "Createing Three-Dimensional Displays with ArcScene",Kennelly, Pat. "Createing Three-Dimensional Displays with ArcScene",

http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0103/files/3display.pdf, CW http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0103/files/3display.pdf, CW Post Post Campus/Long Island University (as-of 12 Apr 2004).Campus/Long Island University (as-of 12 Apr 2004).

[4][4]Papagiannakis G., A. Foni, and N. Magnenat-Thalmann. “Real-Time Papagiannakis G., A. Foni, and N. Magnenat-Thalmann. “Real-Time RecreatedRecreated

Ceremonies in VR Restituted Cultural Heritage Sites”, CIPA XIXth Ceremonies in VR Restituted Cultural Heritage Sites”, CIPA XIXth International Symposium (30 September, July 2003).International Symposium (30 September, July 2003).

[5][5]Sundstedt, Veronica A High Fidelity Reconstruction of Ancient Egypt: The Sundstedt, Veronica A High Fidelity Reconstruction of Ancient Egypt: The temple of Kalabsha, M.S. Dissertation, University of Bristol, UK, temple of Kalabsha, M.S. Dissertation, University of Bristol, UK,

Department of Computer Science, (2003).Department of Computer Science, (2003).

Work CompletedWork Completed

► Site’s topography is represented with satellite imagery Site’s topography is represented with satellite imagery overlaid.overlaid. Able to represent any site given a set of 3D points.Able to represent any site given a set of 3D points.

► Test Units are modeled and the corresponding textures Test Units are modeled and the corresponding textures can be mapped to the walls.can be mapped to the walls.

► Multiple movements and views, including the virtual first Multiple movements and views, including the virtual first person view.person view. Sounds and trees help to make the site a virtual Sounds and trees help to make the site a virtual

environment.environment.► Data and settings can be saved to a file.Data and settings can be saved to a file.► More than one site topography can be shown at once to More than one site topography can be shown at once to

show changes over time.show changes over time.► New sites can be created by digitizing a contour map.New sites can be created by digitizing a contour map.

Results from “Site Explorer”Results from “Site Explorer”

Figure 1.

Hontoon Island in the present.

LayerLayer

Mesh/TrianglesMesh/Triangles PointsPoints Test Unit ListTest Unit List TextureTexture TreesTrees SoundSound

TTUU11 TU2TU2

Side1Side1

Side2Side2

......

……

Results ContinuedResults Continued

Figure 2. Hontoon Island in the past.

Figure 3. Test Unit

Test unit demo as an .avi file.

Figure 4. View from the present with the past shown to be 30

feet higher.

ConclusionsConclusions► Positives:Positives:

Site Explorer’s ability to load data from any site and represent the data accurately Site Explorer’s ability to load data from any site and represent the data accurately will allow any archaeologist to get valuable information from the program.will allow any archaeologist to get valuable information from the program.

The ability to travel on the surface of Hontoon Island’s past allows archaeologists to The ability to travel on the surface of Hontoon Island’s past allows archaeologists to see what the island would have looked like if they were in the past and walking on see what the island would have looked like if they were in the past and walking on the island.the island.

Although excavating is a destructive process, using Site Explorer can help preserve Although excavating is a destructive process, using Site Explorer can help preserve the data that is collected like the data shown in Figure 3.the data that is collected like the data shown in Figure 3.

Common archaeological functions such as test units give archaeologists the ability Common archaeological functions such as test units give archaeologists the ability to look at stratigraphy in 3D and keep multiple data sets together in one location.to look at stratigraphy in 3D and keep multiple data sets together in one location.

► Negatives:Negatives: Not compatible with 2D commercial software that is commonly used by Not compatible with 2D commercial software that is commonly used by

archaeologists.archaeologists. Site Explorer does not include complex objects such as buildings.Site Explorer does not include complex objects such as buildings.

► It would have been useful to take a class on MFC or user interfaces before It would have been useful to take a class on MFC or user interfaces before having worked on the project. Much time was spent on the understanding and having worked on the project. Much time was spent on the understanding and building the project within the windows interface.building the project within the windows interface.

► Future work:Future work: The inclusion of more functions for archaeologists.The inclusion of more functions for archaeologists. Allowing for the insertion of artifacts. Problems exist with generalization of artifacts.Allowing for the insertion of artifacts. Problems exist with generalization of artifacts. Multiple levels on the bottom of test units for textures of features, levels, or strata.Multiple levels on the bottom of test units for textures of features, levels, or strata.