A Discussion of Approaches to Three Dimensional Illustration

CAD recordings open up such a huge range of possibilities within the field of three-dimensional illustration of archaeological features, that there is only time here to look at them briefly. There are many programs on the market, which can process data from the wiremesh model stage to photo realistic simulation and reconstruction of features. Specialist software is required to create digital terrain models (DGM/DTM), which uses triangulation to create wiremeshes or contour lines from total station measurements or other similar digitised three dimensional points. There are several triangulation programs on the market, including corresponding AutoCAD applications. Our company developed an equivalent application (ArchaeoDGM), which is especially suited to the requirements of archaeology and has been available since March 2000. DGM creates many new possibilities in the area of landscape visualisation (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13 Screenshot of a digital terrain model in ArchaeoCAD. A prehistoric mountain settlement at Bartholomaeberg, Vorarlberg, Austria. Example of a total station landscape recording with the subsequent CAD visualisation.

It is also relatively simple to convert excavations into wiremesh models and convert landscape recordings or drill-core results into contour line plans using stratigraphic negative technology. Such illustration has been fairly commonplace in the field of archaeology for a few years now, so I need not go into this in detail.

Three dimensional relationships within an excavation can be represented either by fold-up sections or by staggering the order of the different plana. In digital surveying, plana (e.g. floor plans of buildings) can also be combined with corresponding sections (e.g. postholes) so that checks can be immediately carried out, for example, for shape and depth of associated postholes. There are several modules integrated into ArchaeoCAD for this purpose. Three dimensional visualisations of excavated areas and reconstructions of buildings from the archaeological plan surface can be generated relatively rapidly. ArchaeoCAD contains various functions for rapid isometric reconstruction of posts, walls, roof frameworks and roofs (Fig. 14). This data can then be transferred across to three dimensional visualisation and animation programs, e.g. 3D Studio from AutoDesk. These media make it possible to view inconspicuous archaeological features such as often occur on settlement excavations more clearly and effectively, especially for lay people.

Fig. 14 Enkering, near Eichstaett, Upper Bavaria. Simple, isometric reconstruction of a Hallstatt period post building. Left: Purely isometric reconstruction based on known postholes. Right: Attempt at additional reconstruction with interior and exterior walls.

ArcTron's specialist CAD developers are currently working on improving and simplifying three dimensional documentation techniques. In the area of CAD for excavation documentation, the developmental focus of the next few years will also be the enhanced and simplified three dimensional documentation of archaeological features. It is very likely that computer supported documentation technology will eventually replace non-computer supported documentation in the field of archaeological feature recording, thanks to the great potential of three dimensional illustration.

back  |	1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - [ 10 ] - 11 - 12	|   next