Integration of Low-Resolution ALS and Ground-Based SfM Photogrammetry Data. A Cost-Effective Approach Providing an ‘Enhanced 3D Model’ of the Hound Tor Archaeological Landscapes (Dartmoor, South-West England)

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) data is increasingly distributed freely for ever larger territories, albeit usually in only low resolution. This data source is extensively used in archaeology; however, various remains of past human activities are not recorded in sufficient detail, or are missing compl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRemote sensing (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 10; no. 9; p. 1357
Main Authors Holata, Lukáš, Plzák, Jindřich, Světlík, Radek, Fonte, João
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2018
Subjects
3D models
airborne laser scanning
Airborne lasers
Archaeology
Architecture
augmented reality
Classification
Cultural heritage
data integration
deserted medieval settlement
Documentation
Excavation
field systems
Landscape
Lasers
Photogrammetry
point cloud
Preservation
Remote sensing
Residential areas
Software
structure from motion
Three dimensional models
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Vegetation
Visualization
England
Czech Republic
Austria
United Kingdom > UK
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Summary:Airborne laser scanning (ALS) data is increasingly distributed freely for ever larger territories, albeit usually in only low resolution. This data source is extensively used in archaeology; however, various remains of past human activities are not recorded in sufficient detail, or are missing completely. The main purpose of this paper is to present a cost-effective approach providing reliable and accurate 3D documentation of the deserted medieval settlement of Hound Tor, a complex site consisting of preserved stone building walls and field system remains. The proposed procedure integrates ALS data with structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry into a single data source (point cloud). Taking advantage of the benefits of both techniques (reclassified ALS data documents the hinterland, while SfM records the residential area in high detail), an enhanced 3D model has been created surpassing the available ALS data and reflecting the actual state of preserved features. The final outputs will help with the management of the site, its presentation to the general public, and also to enrich understanding of it. As both data sources are currently easily accessible and the proposed procedure has only limited budget requirements, it can be easily adopted and applied extensively (e.g., for virtual preservation of threatened complex sites and areas).
ISSN:2072-4292
2072-4292
DOI:10.3390/rs10091357