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Computer Modeling of Heritage Resources, Peru

 

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Models and video created by Peter Olsen, Brighton-le-Sands, Sydney, Australia using scan data gathered from 2005 and 2009.
 

During the summer of 2009, students of the Geomatics for Archaeology School offered through the UCLA Cotsen Institute gathered at 11,600 feet above sea level in the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, Peru to learn skills required to digitally record and virtually reconstruct the impressive architectural remains of this great civilization. Here they were introduced to geospatial and remote sensing technologies, many of which they employed in the colonial and Incan city over their two week stay. They then moved on to test their skills for three additional weeks at one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Machu Picchu.

 

2009 Field School
2009 Field School
(image courtesy Amanda Hobbs)

 

Throughout the field school students were trained in Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), photogrammetry, laser scanning, and 3D visualization using a full suite of instruments and software.  Data was collected in the field using a survey grade GPS, hand-held GPS, a long-range laser scanner, and digital cameras, and returned to a field computer lab where it was stored, processed, and analysed using a variety of software packages including LPS (ERDAS), Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office, ESRI ArcGIS, EOS Systems Photomodeler, Vue 6 Infinite, Google SketchUp, InnovMetric PolyWorks, Microsoft Access, and Adobe's Photoshop and 3D Acrobat.  

 

Students on one of the computer labsDavid scanning at nightGroup scanning room
Students in the lab and scanning at Machu Picchu

 

The students successfully created several datasets of both Cuzco and Machu Picchu that will serve a multitude of functions including highly precise, 3D site documentation for digital preservation of the archaeology, site monitoring for natural erosion and wear due to visitation, as well as prehistoric and historic reconstructions for visualization applications in education and research.  These products will be provided to the students for their personal research pursuits, on this website for further use by casual visitors and researchers, and to the Instituto National de Cultura (INC) of Peru, who made this field school possible.

 

Main Temple field pic 2009Main Temple PolyWork view of Scanner Data 2009
The Main Temple (Photograph and Scan)

 

Main Temple, SketchUp ModelMain Temple, Vue Model
The Main Temple (SketchUp recreation and VUE recreation)

 

 

Geomatics Field School Outline:

Week 1 - Introductions

    * Overview of the class
    * Introduction to the history of the area
    * Introduction to the available technologies

        * Documentation standards
        * GIS and mapping
        * Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
        * Photogrammetry
        * Laser scanning
        * Visualization

Week 2 - Applying the technology

    * Photography for close-range photogrammetry
    * Collecting ground control with survey GPS
    * GIS data processing
    * High density survey with laser scanner
    * Data processing and organization

Week 3 - Data collection

    * Organize into teams and collect data

        * Photography
        * Survey GPS
        * Laser scanning

    * Thoroughly process data as collection progresses

Week 4 - Data collection and visualization

    * Continue data collection/processing (teams rotate technologies)
    * Begin visualizations

Week 5 - Final outputs

    * Scanner data processed and in multiple formats
    * Georefereced photos
    * CAD/GIS data
    * Orthoimages
    * High quality visualizations