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Architectural, Engineering and Historic Geomatics

 

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An NSF Sponsored 3D Recording and Visualization Training Program at the University of Arkansas for High School and College Students

June 21, 2010 - July 23, 2010

The use of 3D measurement and visualization technologies is quickly becoming a key element in architecture, urban planning, construction design and landscape architecture; in fields dealing with cultural heritage such as classical studies and archaeology; and in areas of art and drama such as set design. In computer science and engineering these methods are used in the creation of virtual and augmented reality and in the development of computer games. This five-week summer program will provided an unique opportunity to introduce students to the latest methods, hardware, and software across a broad range of 3D recording, mapping, animation, and visualization methods. Students were given hands-on instruction in these methods and had the opportunity to gain practical experience by applying them to buildings and structures on the University of Arkansas campus and selected historic architectural sites in Northwest Arkansas. The summer program was offered with support from the National Science Foundation as part of the CI-TRAIN Project (http://www.ci-train.org/).

 

Merged scans of the study area

 These are the merged scans that were collected by the students using the Leica C10 laser scanner and the Z+F Imager 5006i laser scanner. 


Students recorded the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Center for Academic Excellence, Sam M. Walton College of Business, Willard J. Walker Hall, Kimpel Hall and Donald W. Reynolds Center For Enterprise Development buildings using modern geomatics techniques including terrestrial laser scanning, aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, GIS, and GPS (mapping and survey grade).

 

The ZF Imager 5006i collects photographs along with scans.
These are a series of images that were collected by the Z+F Imager 5006i after the scan data is collected.

 

Merged images

Merged together, these images provide the color data for the scans.

 

3D computer visualization and animation technologies were also used to enhance and re-create these areas. The class covered the use of these methods across these areas via practical field and lab training in these methods. As a result they were exposed to the full 3D lifecycle from acquisition (via multiple methods) though processing to visualization and presentation.

Kimpel Hall in Google Earth

Kimpel Hall modeled in SketchUp and placed in Google Earth.



An extensive suite of hardware, software, and computer systems is available through the existing facilities of Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (see http://www.cast.uark.edu/home/about/facilities.html) and has been recently enhanced with equipment acquired through the NSF CI-TRAIN project. Instruction and fieldwork involved a wide range of state-of-the-art measurement systems including long-, mid-, and short-range laser scanners from Optech, Leica, Konica-Minolta, and Z & F and scanner software including PolyWorks, RapidForm, Cyclone, and MeshLabs. The ArcGIS suite was used for GIS applications, and Trimble and Leica mapping and survey grade GPS were used. Aerial photogrammetric applications uesed the Leica Photogrammetry Suite, while PhotoModeler and Alice Labs were used for terrestrial photogrammetry. Software available for visualization included SketchUP, Cinema4D, Vue, and others.