3 3D imaging

SunoikisisDC Digital Approaches to Cultural Heritage, Spring 2022

Session 3: 3D imaging in museum research

Thursday January 27, 2022, starting at 16:15 GMT = 17:15 CET (for 90 minutes)

Convenors: Gabriel Bodard (U of London), Daniel O'Flynn (British Museum), Daniel Pett (Cambridge)

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/YoR_ZPyS9sU

Slides: Combined slides (PDF)

Outline

In this session we present some of the methods for 3D scanning and imaging that are used in museums and other heritage institutions and projects. We discuss some concrete case studies from the British Museum science department and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and think about the research, conservation, access, engagement and other benefits of using and sharing advanced imaging of archaeological and heritage objects. We briefly introduce the technique of photogrammetry—production of a 3D model from multiple 2D photographs—and suggest an exercise for viewers to create their own model using this method.

Seminar readings

1. Davide Tanasi, Ilenia Gradante & Stephan Hassam. 2019. "Best Practices for 3D Digital Recording and Global Sharing of Catacombs from Late Roman Sicily." Studies in Digital Heritage 3.1. Pp. 60.82. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.14434/sdh.v3i1.25290
2. Anca Timofan et al (2019). "PANTHEON 3D: An Initiative in the Three-Dimensional Digitization of Romanian Cultural Heritage." Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Digitalia 63.2, pp. 65-83. Available: https://digihubb.centre.ubbcluj.ro/journal/index.php/digitalia/article/view/52

Further reading

• Ryan Baumann, Dorothy Carr Porter and W. Brent Seales. 2008. “The Use of MicroCT in the Study of Archaeological Artefacts.” 9th International Art Conference in Jerusalem on Non-destructive Investigation and Analysis. Available: http://rfbaumann.com/papers/Israel-EDUCE.pdf
• A. Bentkowska-Kafel & L. MacDonald, 2017. Digital Techniques for Documenting and Preserving Cultural Heritage. Arc Humanities Press.
• A. Bevan et al, 2014. Computer vision, archaeological classification and China's terracotta warriors Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440314001927
• Bonacchi, C. et al. (2014). "Crowd-sourced Archaeological Research: The MicroPasts Project." Archaeology International 17, pp. 61–68. Available: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/27671
• Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., Galeazzi, F. and Camporesi, C., 3D Virtual Dig: a 3D Application for Teaching Fieldwork in Archaeology. Internet Archaeology. 32 (32)
• Galeazziup, F. and Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, P., (2017). Theorising 3D Visualisation Systems in Archaeology: Towards more effective design, evaluations and life cycles. Internet Archaeology. 44 (44)
• H. Geismar, 2018. Museum Object Lessons for the Digital Age. UCL Press.
• Gabriele Guidi, Michele Russo, et al. 2009. “A Multi-Resolution Methodology for the 3D Modeling of Large and Complex Archeological Areas.” International Journal of Architectural Computing 7-1, 39–55. (Not open access.)
• Historic England, 2017. Photogrammetric Applications for Cultural Heritage. Historic England. Available: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/photogrammetric-applications-for-cultural-heritage/heag066-photogrammetric-applications-cultural-heritage/
• Giacomo Landeschi, Nicolò Dell'Unto, et al. 2016. “3D-GIS as a platform for visual analysis: Investigating a Pompeian house.” Journal of Archaeological Science 65, 103–113. (Not open access.)
• Historic Environment Scotland 2018 Short Guide APPLIED DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION IN THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT Available: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/publications/publication/?publicationId=9b35b799-4221-46fa-80d6-a8a8009d802d
• A.Jeffs et al 2018. _Disciplining the Digital: Virtual 3D Reproduction, Pilgrim Badges, and the Stuff of Art History_Available: https://www.britishartstudies.ac.uk/index/article-index/virtual-reproduction/article-category/conversation-piece
• Matthew Magnani, Matthew Douglass et al. 2020. “The Digital Revolution to Come: Photogrammetry in Archaeological Practice.” American Antiquity 85-4, 737–760. Available: https://www.academia.edu/44297686/The_Digital_Revolution_to_Come_Photogrammetry_in_Archaeological_Practice
• Barry Molloy, Mariusz Wiśniewski, et al. 2016. “Tracing edges: A consideration of the applications of 3D modelling for metalwork wear analysis on Bronze Age bladed artefacts.” Journal of Archaeological Science 76, 79-87. Available: https://www.academia.edu/30379988/Tracing_edges_A_consideration_of_the_applications_of_3D_modelling_for_metalwork_wear_analysis_on_Bronze_Age_bladed_artefacts
• S. Robson, S. MacDonald et al. (2011). "Chapter 5: 3D recording and museums." In C. Warwick et al., Digital Humanities in Practice. Facet Publishing. Available: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/dh-in-practice/chapter-5/
• K. Sengoku-Haga, 2017. "Polykleitos and his followers at work: how the Doryphoros was used." In J. M. Daehner et al. Artistry in Bronze: the Greeks and their Legacy. LA: Getty Conservation Institute. Available: http://www.getty.edu/publications/artistryinbronze/the-artist/10-haga-et-al/
• Vandenbeusch, M., O’Flynn, D., & Moreno, B. 2021. “Layer by Layer: The Manufacture of Graeco-Roman Funerary Masks.” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 107(1–2), 281–298. Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/03075133211050657
• Victoria and Albert Museum 2018 ReACH (Reproduction of Art and Cultural Heritage) Available: https://www.vam.ac.uk/research/projects/reach-reproduction-of-art-and-cultural-heritage
• Valeria Vitale (2018), "The Monster in Your Pocket." In ed. Bridges/al-Ayad, Making Monsters: An anthology of classical monsters. Futurefire.net Publishing. Pp. 107–120. Available: https://sas-space.sas.ac.uk/9287/
• C. Voon 2016. Could the Nefertiti Scan Be a Hoax — and Does that Matter? Available: https://hyperallergic.com/281739/could-the-nefertiti-scan-be-a-hoax-and-does-that-matter/

Other resources

• Photogrammetry tutorials from University of London
• Sample photogrammetry photographic archive - Daniel Pett includes British Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cleveland Museum, Ashmolean Museum objects
• Photogrammetry tutorial
• British Museum on Sketchfab
• Fitzwilliam Museum on Sketchfab
• Kylie Thomsen. 2021. The utilization of SfM and RTI to study ancient Egyptian statuary reuse (Video seminar)
• Jari Pakkanen. 2019. Digital Tools for Classical Archaeology and Architecture: Combining Total Station Drawing and Photogrammetry in Fieldwork Documentation (Video seminar)
• Kelly McClinton. 2019. The Application of Photogrammetric 3D Modeling to Roman Domestic Space (Video seminar)
• Monica Berti, Franziska Naether & Eleni Bozia. 2018. The Digital Rosetta Stone Project (Video seminar)
• Daniel Pett & George Oates. 2016. 3D in Museums; Museums in 3D (Video seminar)

Software

• Capturing Reality PPI - 8000 free credits via Sketchfab (you will need a pro account)
• Capturing Reality Educational licensing
• Metashape

Exercise

1. Install Agisoft Metashape on your computer, and request a free 30-day trial license. (NB the trial license is for the professional version, not the standard.)
2. Choose an object you would like to 3D image—for the purpose of this exercise it can be a heritage object or monument you have access to, or a replica, toy or other suitable object you have at home. Following the suggestions in the live session or the photogrammetry tutorials linked above, use your camera or smartphone to take as many photos as you need to capture the entire surface of the object in overlapping shots.
3. Transfer the photographs to your computer, making sure to use a compatible file format such as JPEG (not e.g. the iPhone proprietary HEIF format). Discard any images that are out of focus, over-exposed, or otherwise inadequate. If you are not left with enough photos, you may want to take some more.
4. Import your images to Metashape, and follow the Metashape walkthrough video to process your photos to a 3D model. You may need to use the lowest quality for the first pass, but can increase to medium (which will take longer) if you want sharper results.
5. Save your project progress after each step, and export your 3D model into a format such as STL or Collada that you can use elsewhere, as we will come back to this in future seminars.
6. Bring your 3D model along to show in class, and discuss difficulties faced and lessons learned. Think about what metadata you would like to attach to this model?