Airborne laser scanning raster data visualization

This guide provides an insight into a range of visualization techniques for high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs). It is provided in the context of investigation and interpretation of various types of historical and modern, cultural and natural small-scale relief features and landscape structures. It also provides concise guidance for selecting the best techniques when looking at a specific type of landscape and/or looking for particular kinds of forms.The three main sections – descriptions of visualization techniques, guidance for selection of the techniques, and visualization tools – accompany examples of visualizations, exemplar archaeological and geomorphological case studies, a glossary of terms, and a list of references and recommendations for further reading. The structure facilitates people of different academic background and level of expertise to understand different visualizations, how to read them, how to manipulate the settings in a calculation, and choose the best suited for the purpose of the intended investigation.A smaller amount of books is also available in hardcover (ISBN 978-961-05-0011-7, 24 EUR).Monografija nudi vpogled v nabor tehnik prikaza visokoločljivih modelov višin. Napisana je v kontekstu preučevanja in interpretacije različnih tipov zgodovinskih in modernih, kulturnih in naravnih majhnih reliefnih oblik. Daje jedrnate napotke za izbiro najboljših tehnik prikaza določenih tipov pokrajine in izrazitih oblik.Tri glavna poglavja – opis tehnik prikazovanja digitalnih modelov višin, napotki za njihovo izbiro in orodja za izračun prikazov –, spremljajo izbrani primeri tipičnih arheoloških in geomorfoloških študij, slovarček pojmov ter seznam literature in priporočenega branja. Posameznikom z različnih znanstvenih področij in z različnim predznanjem o tematiki je struktura v pomoč pri razumevanju različnih tehnik prikazov, kako jih brati, kako izbrati prave nastavitve pri njihovem izračunu in kako prepoznati najbolj primerne za namen zasnovane raziskave

Mapping Maya Hinterlands: LiDAR Derived Visualization to Identify Small Scale Features in Northwestern Belize

This paper will discuss the processes and methods of relief visualization of LiDAR-derived digital elevation models (DEM’s) and classification of secondary data to identify archaeological remains on the ancient Maya landscape in northwestern Belize. The basis of the research explores various Geographic Information System (GIS) and cartographic techniques to visualize topographical relief. Graphic terrain maps assist archaeologists with predictive settlement patterns. The Relief Visualization Toolbox (RVT 1.3) aids to visualize raster DEM datasets in the predictive identification and interpretation of small-scale archaeological features. This dataset and methodology can be utilized to answer questions of population estimates, mobility costs, and effectiveness of ancient technological agricultural systems

Web-Based Visualization of Very Large Scientific Astronomy Imagery

Visualizing and navigating through large astronomy images from a remote location with current astronomy display tools can be a frustrating experience in terms of speed and ergonomics, especially on mobile devices. In this paper, we present a high performance, versatile and robust client-server system for remote visualization and analysis of extremely large scientific images. Applications of this work include survey image quality control, interactive data query and exploration, citizen science, as well as public outreach. The proposed software is entirely open source and is designed to be generic and applicable to a variety of datasets. It provides access to floating point data at terabyte scales, with the ability to precisely adjust image settings in real-time. The proposed clients are light-weight, platform-independent web applications built on standard HTML5 web technologies and compatible with both touch and mouse-based devices. We put the system to the test and assess the performance of the system and show that a single server can comfortably handle more than a hundred simultaneous users accessing full precision 32 bit astronomy data.Comment: Published in Astronomy & Computing. IIPImage server available from http://iipimage.sourceforge.net . Visiomatic code and demos available from http://www.visiomatic.org

BUDDHIST STELE OF SWAT VALLEY: POINT CLOUD ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Abstract. With recent advancements on 3D sensors and cloud computing, high-speed, high-accuracy 3D measurement at micrometer level have been increase by scientists community and digital humanities researchers.The methodology proposed in this project aims to test some of the algorithms used in remote-sensing to the Buddhist sculptures from Swat Valley (Pakistan); these algorithms use high-resolution topographic data to identify, from DEMs, specific features like valleys, ridges, peaks, pits or surface anomalies.In the carved stone, the surface is analysed like a landscape, where carved areas are valleys bordered by slopes and crests. One of the simplest tools, the commonly used analytical hill-shading, which simulates artificial illumination on the DEM surface, is based on the same principle as the use of an oblique light source to highlight incisions in classic photography. Other families of algorithms that can be divided into three main groups (Slope and Curvature, Local Relief Model and Sky View Factor, Positive and Negative Openness and Geomorphons) are tested here

Analysis of the efficacy of LiDAR data as a tool for archaeological prospection at the Highland Valley Copper Mine

As heritage resource management and Indigenous heritage stewardship moves into the forefront of project design and operational planning in British Columbia, researchers look for innovative ways to foster impact assessment efficiency without sacrificing quality. In this study I explore methods for employing LiDAR-derived digital elevation models as a tool for archaeological prospection within the Highland Valley Copper Mine. A review of contemporary and formative LiDAR-analysis archaeological prospection research was conducted to identify the most appropriate visualization techniques and data management workflow. Specific methods for the identification of microtopographic relief with the potential to contain archaeological resources were developed. The efficacy of LiDAR-based topographic analysis using manual feature extraction is validated through comparison with georeferenced survey and ground-truthing data provided by my research partners at the Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council. The LiDAR analysis method identified a high percentage of recorded archaeological sites and meets provincial requirements for a moderately effective predictive model. Results of LiDAR analysis are presented along with recommendations for improved performance using best practices and an interpolation workflow. An analysis of the cost implications of incorporating LiDAR-survey into the heritage management workflow in the study area identified a significant benefit during survey. These savings would allow for redistribution of resources and potentially a greater focus on mitigative systematic data recovery. The use of remote sensing technologies and methods can have a positive impact on heritage resource management industry in BC by decreasing program costs while maintaining quality

Dostrzec i zrozumieć. Porównanie wybranych metod wizualizacji danych ALS wykorzystywanych w archeologii

Application of airborne laser scanning (ALS) for archaeological purposes allows for identification of relief features. Unless the detection is automated, the recognition of archaeological objects in the observed dataset is bounded by the interaction between human mind, eye and visual phenomena that are displayed on the screen. To improve effectiveness of ALS interpretation several visualization techniques have been developed. However, due to their complexity the spatial information produced by these algorithms differs. The aim of the paper is to present the discrepancies between the most popular visualization techniques used for archaeological purposes. Unlike previous attempts, the presented comparison is based on the vector outputs of the interpretative mapping. Therefore, we demonstrate in detail the differences in the morphology as well as quantity of identified archaeological features due to the use of various visualization techniques

State-wide calculation of terrain-visualisations and automatic map generation for archaeological objects

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) became very popular in the last two decades for archaeological prospection. With the state-wide availability of ALS-data in Lower Saxony, Germany, about 48,000 km2;, we needed flexible and scalable approaches to process the data. First, we produced a state-wide digital terrain model (DTM) and some visualisations of it to use it in standard GIS software. Some of these visualisations are available as web maps and used for prospection also by volunteers. In a second approach, we automatically generate maps for all known archaeological objects. This is mainly used for the documentation of the 130,000 known objects in Lower Saxony, but also for object-by-object revision of the database. These Maps will also be presented in the web portal "Denkmalatlas Niedersachsen", an open data imitative of the state Lower Saxony.In the first part of this paper, we show how the state-wide DTM and its visualisations can be calculated using tiles. In the second part, we describe the automatic map generation process. All implementations were done with ArcGIS and its scripting interface ArcPy