

These types of representative data include (but are not limited to) site plans, technical artifact or timber drawings, shipwreck section profiles, georeferenced archaeological information databases, site-monitoring systems, digital hull fragment models and many other types of usable and practical 3D models. Using this method, archaeologists can create 3D models that accurately represent submerged cultural heritage sites, and these can be used as representative archaeological data. With this idea, the author composed a new methodology that fuses Computer Vision Photogrammetry and other digital tools into traditional research methods of nautical archaeology. Thus, Computer Vision Photogrammetry can substantially reduce archaeologists’ working time in water, and maximize quantity and quality of the data acquired.įurthermore, the author believes that the acquired photogrammetric data can be utilized in traditional ship reconstruction and other general studies of shipwrecks. This means that archaeologists never need to revisit the archaeological site to take additional measurements. After creation of a 1:1 scale constrained photogrammetric model, any measurements of the site can be obtained from the created 3D model and its digital data. The author believes that creating a 1:1 scale constrained photogrammetric model of a submerged shipwreck site is not difficult as long as archaeologists first establish a local coordinate system of the site. Today (2015), there are still active discussions regarding the accuracy and usage of Computer Vision Photogrammetry in the discipline of nautical archaeology.
Photogrammetry photoscan software#
Choose ‘File’ and ‘Export Model’ from the main menu.In 2010, a new off-the-shelf software for Computer Vision Photogrammetry, Agisoft PhotoScan, became available to nautical archeologists, and this technology has since become a popular method for recording underwater shipwreck sites. You may select a different format for archiving, depending on your project’s system. Export the models and save them as collada files (.dae) for import into ArcGIS. The decimated model will likely have a smoother appearance when rendered based on vertex color, but will appear similar to the higher poly-count model once the texture is applied.Įxport the model Under ‘Tools’ in the main menu you can select ‘Decimate’ and set the desired poly-count for the model. Then select ‘Workflow’ and ‘Build Texture’.ĭecimate the model

So… Select ‘Workflow’ and ‘Build Geometry’ from the main menu as before. To make sure the lower poly-count model looks good, we build the textures using the high poly-count model and apply them to the lower poly-count model. Keeping the polycount low (circa 100,000 faces) in the ArcGIS database helps conserve space and speeds up loading time on complicated scenes with multiple models. Photoscan produces very high poly-count models, so we like to build two models, a high resolution one for archiving and measurements and a lower resolution one for import into ArcGIS for visualization and general reference. Rebuild GeometryĪfter the model is georeferenced, rebuild geometry at the desired resolution. Hint: You can click on any image to see a larger version.
Photogrammetry photoscan how to#
This post will show you how to build the geometry and texture for your 3D model and how to export it for use in ArcGIS.
