Dynamic models to reconstruct ancient landscapes

In this paper a method of landscape analysis is demonstrated through raster-based digital elevation models (DEM) using the case-study of the Helike Delta, Gulf of Corinth, Greece. In the Classical Period, Helike was the seat of the Achaean League and the worship centre of the god Helikonian Poseidon. With the focus on the earthquake and tsunami of 373BC, DEMs are generated using dynamic models of sea level rise, tectonic and pulse tectonic uplift, sub-sidence, and sediment deposition. Starting with a DEM from the present day landscape, simulated DEM models are generated for the Early Helladic II/III (2500-2100BC), Classical (480-323BC), Hellenistic (323-146 BC), and Roman (1st Century BC – 4th Century AD Periods). The models shed light on archaeological interpretation concerning the continuity and discontinuity of human occupation in the Helike Delta. Moreover, the method demonstrates a new approach to dynamic landscape analysis using GIS that is general and can be applied to any landscape. Keywords: GIS, dynamic models, raster-based DEM, landscape analysis, geomorphology, geoarchaeology, Helike Delt

3D Scanning of Highly Reflective Surfaces: Issues in Scanning the Museums Sheffield Metalwork Collection

In this presentation we describe the 3D digitization of Museums Sheffield Metalwork Collection and cogitate on a number of issues related to reflective surfaces. We describe the initial approach and how we had to radically change the strategy resulting in a much higher effort than initially anticipated. The project used state-of-the-art 3D laser scanning technologies and 3D models were exported to the open standard COLLADA format and made suitable for visualization over the Internet with standard web browsers. The project has been successful and its outcomes leave a permanent digital record of representative items from the Museums Sheffield Metalwork Collection. The scanned collection is a component of the city’s collaborative ambition to celebrate Sheffield’s unique place in the world history of metal-making under the banner of Created and Made in Sheffield – a project to enhance knowledge, culture and understanding of the city’s contemporary and historical contribution to the development of national economy and culture with a strong community focus. Along these lines we also comment on our key work on 3D scanning the “Man of Steel” a landmark sculpture for the Sheffield region that has gained planning permission and recently made the headlines. The scanned model has allowed Axis Architects to model a virtual environment helping to visualize and determine the final appearance of the 30m sculpture overlooking the M1 in Sheffield

An intelligent real time 3D vision system for robotic welding tasks

MARWIN is a top-level robot control system that has been designed for automatic robot welding tasks. It extracts welding parameters and calculates robot trajectories directly from CAD models which are then verified by real-time 3D scanning and registration. MARWIN's 3D computer vision provides a user-centred robot environment in which a task is specified by the user by simply confirming and/or adjusting suggested parameters and welding sequences. The focus of this paper is on describing a mathematical formulation for fast 3D reconstruction using structured light together with the mechanical design and testing of the 3D vision system and show how such technologies can be exploited in robot welding tasks

Collecting and processing personal data : addressing data protection and privacy issues by design

The European Council has concluded in October 2013 that “It is important to foster the trust of citizens and businesses in the digital economy. The timely adoption of a strong EU General Data Protection framework and the Cyber-security Directive is essential for the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015.” This paper discusses the collection and processing of personal data in the context of the EU-funded ADMOS project whose aim is to detect in real time whether or not a person has noticed an advert and, if so, their profile in terms of gender and age. We review the issues and current legislation on the processing of personal data in the context of information systems, and how the project has incorporated a solution that fully satisfies current and proposed legislation on privacy

Robot trajectory planning using OLP and structured light 3D machine vision

This paper proposes a new methodology for robotic offline programming (OLP) addressing the issue of automatic program generation directly from 3D CAD models and verification through online 3D reconstruction. Limitations of current OLP include manufacturing tolerances between CAD and workpieces and inaccuracies in workpiece placement and modelled work cell. These issues are addressed and demonstrated through surface scanning, registration, and global and local error estimation. The method allows the robot to adjust the welding path designed from the CAD model to the actual workpiece. Alternatively, for non-repetitive tasks and where a CAD model is not available, it is possible to interactively define the path online over the scanned surface

A comparative analysis of binary patterns with discrete cosine transform for gender classification

This paper presents a comparative analysis of binary patters for gender classification with a novel method of feature transformation for improved accuracy rates. The main requirements of our application are speed and accuracy. We investigate a combination of local binary patterns (LBP), Census Transform (CT) and Modified Census Transform (MCT) applied over the full, top and bottom halves of the face. Gender classification is performed using support vector machines (SVM). A main focus of the investigation is to determine whether or not a 1D discrete cosine transform (DCT) applied directly to the grey level histograms would improve accuracy. We used a public database of faces and run face and eye detection algorithms allowing automatic cropping and normalisation of the images. A set of 120 tests over the entire database demonstrate that the proposed 1D discrete cosine transform improves accuracy in all test cases with small standard deviations. It is shown that using basic versions of the algorithms, LBP is marginally superior to both CT and MCT and agrees with results in the literature for higher accuracy on male subjects. However, a significant result of our investigation is that, by applying a 1D-DCT this bias is removed and an equivalent error rate is achieved for both genders. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that DCT improves overall accuracy and renders CT a superior performance compared to LBP in all cases considered

ROI sensitive analysis for real time gender classification

This paper addresses the issue of real time gender classification through texture analysis. The purpose is to perform sensitivity analysis over a number of ROI-Regions of Interest defined over face images. The determination of the smaller ROI yielding robust classification results will be used for fast computation of texture parameters allowing gender classification to operate in real-time. Results demonstrate that the ROI comprising the front and the region of the eyes is the most reliable achieving classification accuracy of 88% for both male and female subjects using raw data and non-optimised extraction and classification algorithms. This is a significant result that will drive future research on optimisation of texture extraction and linear discriminant algorithms

The Digital Helike Project in the early Helladic Period: further insights from archaeological and geological data through combined modelling, 3D reconstruction, and simulation

The Helike Project has located an Early Helladic II-III settlement buried 3—3.5m under the coastal plain on the Southwestern shore of the Corinthian Gulf. Evidence for elaborate town planning consists of buildings arranged across cobbled streets including a “Corridor House”. Large amounts of stored domestic accessories and exotic wealth points to the regional importance of the settlement concerning overseas trade in the middle and early second half of the 3rd millennium BC. Within this wider context of research, the first phase of the Digital Helike Project focusses on the Helike Corridor House (HCH). Using archaeological and geological data, 3D reconstruction of the HCH was performed followed by structural integrity analysis, an innovative and pioneering engineering technique within archaeology based on Finite Element Analysis. These new methods tested the existence of a second floor and roof structure, addressing conjectures regarding the plan and construction of such houses leading to hypotheses on their social and administrative roles. The research has provided solid evidence for the crucial structural function of the debated long narrow corridors [3]. It also demonstrated that the roof was tiled on the basis of the maximum weight the walls could support. Moreover, GIS-based predictive modelling placed the house in the context of the ancient shoreline based on five landscape variables (sea level rise, deposition, subsidence, tectonic uplift, and pulse tectonic). The results show that the Early Helladic coastline would be at 170m from the settlement (currently 1km from the shore). The location and proximity to the shore are consistent with data acquired from bore hole drilling in the area and with other contemporaneous Corridor Houses across the Peloponnese

Data protection and privacy issues concerning facial image processing in public spaces

The European Council has concluded in October 2013 that “It is important to foster the trust of citizens and businesses in the digital economy. The timely adoption of a strong EU General Data Protection framework and the Cyber-Security Directive is essential for the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015.” This paper discusses the collection and processing of personal data in the context of the EU-funded ADMOS project whose aim is to detect in real time whether or not a person has noticed an advert and, if so, their profile in terms of gender and age. We review the issues and current legislation on the processing of personal data in the context of information systems, and how the project has incorporated a solution that fully satisfies current and proposed legislation on data protection

Methods for developing 3D visualizations of archaeological data: a case study of the Early Bronze Age Helike Corridor House

The Digital Helike Project aims at the digitization of archaeological data from the Helike Project, Achaia, Greece. This paper advances understanding of Early Bronze Age house building techniques with focus on corridor houses. The Helike Corridor House is a fine example of an architectural style of the Early Helladic period EH II/Early EH III on the Greek mainland and it is used here as a case study. A methodology for 3D reconstruction is described supporting both structural integrity simulations and advanced visualization studies. The paper focuses on three aspects: firstly, it highlights technological innovations in the Bronze Age period by drawing attention to structural integrity studies recently carried out by the research team; secondly, it describes a methodology for building fully geo-referenced 3D models supporting structural integrity studies and visualization on GIS-Geographic Information Systems; and thirdly, it leads to the universal access of data and visualization over the Internet through the selection of appropriate open source, open standards and freely available tools and applications. The methodologies proposed here deepen insights on archaeological data enabling new inferences and knowledge to be gained through the implementation of universally shared low cost applications