Beyond the Academic Photo Modeling Applied to Complex

Commercial Archaeology
Moiss Hernndez Cordero, MOLA [mcordero@mola.org.uk],

Azizul Karim, MOLA [akarim@mola.org.uk],

Introduction

Peter Rauxloh MOLA [prauxloh@mola.org.uk]

Historic Building Recording

This is to demonstrate the application of photo modeling techniques within the work carried out
by MOLA, one of the worlds largest commercial archaeological firms. It shows the technique's application
to the recording of excavations and historic buildings, and focus on how it enabled us to overcome
some of the problems habitually faced on pressurized commercial projects.
It aims to demonstrate the
benefits both in terms of time and costs, which it's use can deliver. It is a crucial aspect, since if the
application of such techniques by the commercial sector can be demonstrated in a cost effective
manner, then they have the potential to impact on most of the archaeological investigation carried out
3500
within Western Europe.

Historic building recording is one of the most important aspects of commercial archaeology in Western
Europe. High quality and efficient recording of historic buildings and structures, listed buildings and
monuments within a very short time frame is the key. Furthermore due to the immense competition in
the sector keeping survey expense an absolute minimum is painfully essential. Being one of the largest
commercial archaeology firms in the UK, MOLA started to employ 3D photogrammetry
alongside
conventional recording methods from spring 2013. The result so far is beyond expectation and MOLA is
now confidently using the technique on high profile building recording projects.

3000

Archaeological Survey

2500
2000

Point Cloud
generated by
Photogammetry.

1500

stone-by-stone
drawing generated

1000

from orthophoto
produced by 3D
Photogrammetry.

500
0

Time (min)

Laser Scan

Cost ()

Low Cost Photogrammetry

Cost/Resources Close range photogrammetry

compared with the resources used by LaserScan
Technique during a survey of a section of the
London City Wall.
Close range
Photogrammetry
method is one of the most
precise, reliable, economic and
rapid methods that is currently
available. (2012 anlolu et
all).

The simplicity and speed of 3D photogrammetry recording

on-site, meant that highly detailed records
were achieved in a very limited timespan, which could not be done using conventional methods.

Orthophoto created
from point cloud data.

Cross sections

created from slicing 3D model.

Accuracy. PhotoScan result has more or less the same overall accuracy as the Terrestrial Laser Scanning data set.
(Doneus et alii, 2011: 84) However, the best results can be obtained by combining the mentioned advantages of both
methods. However, the decision for a combination or a single method depends on the aim of the data acquisition and
the application behind. (Grussenmeyer et al, 2008:217)
Comparing Intensity Values
RGB values

Plan of the Ice-well base

created from orthophoto

Survey approach from close range photogrammetry point cloud

3D model created after removal of the structure. Accuracy of
the point cloud match data captured by the Total Station.

Landscape survey and DEM generation

Image 0.5m resolution
LiDAR based DTM of a
grassed
parkland
landscape.
Image
generated using
Agisoft Photoscan from
SUA
(small
unmanned
aircraft)
imagery.
SUA
based
terrain
models
are
a
highly
cost
effective,
and
reactive
means of capturing such
data
with
a
much
higher resolution as a
default.

Physical constraints on site

total station surveying were
photogrammetry meant that
measured survey could be

walls
truncation
drains
trench

meant that rectified photography and

impossible. The use of 3D
a rectified image and an accurate
achieved within budget as required.

GIS processing of SUA based IR imagery allows the production of Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices
(NDVI).
These are useful for identifying buried archaeological features when their presence causes overlying
vegetation to thrive or be under strain. Based on a processing of both visible and Near Infra-red spectrum data,
the technique makes explicit relatively small difference in chlorophyll levels, due to the there being much more
reflected radiation in the NIR wavelength
that visible ones.

Rectified
elevation
photo
Scaffolding
removed from
point cloud

REFERENCES
anlolu, I., Zeybek, M., Karauuz, G. 2012. Photogrammetric survey and 3D modelling of
Ivriz rock relief in Late Hittite Era. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 13, No

(Museum of London Archaeology)

Doneus, M., Verhoeven, G., Fera, M., Briese, Ch., Kucera, K. and Neubauer, 2011W. From
deposit to point cloud a study of low-cost computer vision approaches for the
straightforward documentation of archaeological excavations. Geoinformatics CTU. Praga Pp.
81-88.

www.mola.org.uk
business@mola.org.uk

Grussenmeyer, P., Landes, T., Voegtle, T., Ringle, K. 2008. Comparison methods of terrestrial
laser scanning, photogrammetry
and tacheometry
data for recording of cultural heritage
buildings. In: the XXIth ISPRS Congress, Beijing, China, 3-11 July 2008, Int. Archives of
Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 213218

Map data 2015 Google, London

MOLA

2, pp. 147-157

* MOLA 3D Photogrammetry

processed with Agisoft Photoscan Professional

Edition

+44 (0)20 7410 2200