The meaning of an "open source exhibition"

As many of you know, since more than one year we are working on the exhibition "Facce. I molti volti della storia umana". Now that the exhibition was inaugurated and our work is completed, it is time to share with open licenses (CC-BY) what we produced. 

It will be a long process, as the materials are different (images, photos, video, 3D models), nevertheless we have to start uploading the documents. Thanks to a short discussion with +Maurizio Napolitano (Fondazione Bruno Kessler) and +Rodrigo Padula (Grupo Wikimedia Brasileiro de Educação e Pesquisa), both expert in open data, I think that the best solution will be to upload the data directly in ATOR, where I can cite all the people who participated in the "production process", from 3D scan to facial reconstruction, till scientific validation.

IMHO the best image to start with is the one of the Taung Child, for different reason: it has been the first attempt performed by our team in order to reconstruct the face of an hominid; it summarizes our concept of Open Research; it has been one of the ideas that gave birth to exhibition "Facce", as Dr. Nicola Carrara conceived it; it is the first project in which Arc-Team, the Anthropological Museum of the University of Padua and Antrocom worked together; last but not least, it is a perfect example of what we mean of open data. Indeed the first reconstruction we produced (version 1.0), which actually is already part of the related article in Wikipedia, has been modified after the development (and the validation) of a new technique of paleo-art, based on the anatomical deformation of a CT scan of a Pan troglodytes. For this reason now we have a new and more accurate reconstruction, which can be considered a version 2.0 of the same model. 

The open data we intend to share here in ATOR are meant to be open not only in the direction of free access for everyone, but also (most important) under the temporal dimension: they should just represent a step of a continuous evolution of the research, in which all the reconstructions can be considerate simply as the latest release of a model (exactly like in software development, with new versions and forks). For this reason we choose the Creative Commons Attribution license, in order to allow derived works and projects.

The two images below can explain better this concept: the first one represent the Taung Child reconstruction in his first version (based on an anatomical study of primates), while the second one is derived by the anatomical deformation of Pan troglodytes CT scan.

The first version of the reconstruction of the Taung Child

The second version of the Taung Child

Both of the models are the result of a team work, although most of the process (and in particular the most important and delicate phases) has been performed by the 3D artist  +Cícero Moraes. Here below I want to cite the credits for this reconstruction (following the same order of the work-flow):

1. 3D scan of the cast: Luca Bezzi (Arc-Team) and +Moreno Tiziani (Antrocom)

2. 3D modeling (skull restoration, anatomical study, CT deformation): +Cícero Moraes (Arc-Team)

3. scientific validation: Prof. Telmo Pievani (University of Padua, Department of Biology) and Dott. Nicola Carrara(Anthropological Museum of the University of Padua)

Acknowledgement:

The Anthropological Museum of the University of Pauda, for providing the cast of the fossil.

The KUPRI, Primate Research Institute Kyoto University, for sharing the CT scans of different primates.

Dr. Claudio Paluani (University of Padua), who, during the lesson "Digital bones" at the Botanical Garden of the University of Padua, had the same idea we had about the validation of the methodology of anatomical deformation through the modification of two CT scans of living primates. This fact convinced us to perform the test, after seeing that more people reached the same conclusion about the validation problem.

The archaeometric excavation

Last year, on November 28, Arc-Team joined the conference "Lo scavo archeometrcio: scienza e tecnologia applicate allo scavo archeologico" (en: "The archaeometrcic excavation: science and technology applied to the archaeological excavation"), which was held in Rovereto (Italy) at the Museo Civico.

During the meeting we gave a presentation titled "Professional archaeology. Innovations and best practice with free technology. Toward an Open Research." Today I uploaded on our server the slides, so that we can share this work (like always under Creative Commons Attribution - CC BY).

As usual the presentation has been done with impress.js through the Graphical User Interface Strut (both GPL licensed) and it is optimized for Firefox or Iceweasel (better visualized here).

Here is a little explanation regarding the single slides:

SLIDE 1

A fast presentation regarding Arc-Team.

SLIDE 2

An animation representing the importance of geocoding in archaeology (from space to site).

SLIDE 3

Differential GPS and Total Station: the main tools needed by archaeologists on the field (to georeference every single element of the archaeological record).

SLIDE 4

Some examples of geocoding in archaeology: everyday work, project in extreme conditions and missions abroad...

SLIDE 5

... survay and excavations

SLIDE 6

In survay projects the geocoding tolerance for archaeology is higher, so that we are testing alternative solutions to build a low-cost and open source GPS with centimetric accuracy, using the software RTKLIB (or its port in Android)

SLIDE 7

All the recorded data (in 2D and 3D) can be imported into an open source GIS.

SLIDE 8

For aerial archaeology it since 2008 we are working with open source DIY UAV, like the UAVP or the KKcopter (in the slide).

SLIDE 9

Our last UAV prototype and an example of 3D pointcloud form aerial pictures.

SLIDE 10

Since 2014 we are testing DIY camera (using the filter of Public Lab) for NDVI and NGB pictures in archaeological remote sensing.

SLIDE 11

Just removing the IR filter, a normal camera can be used for endoscopic prospections in low light conditions.

SLIDE 12

In the field of geophysical prospections we use a DIY  machine for Electrical Resistivity Imaging. The data can be visualized in a GIS (e.g. GRASS GIS in the slide), using the east and north and the resistivity values.

SLIDE 13

Some geoarchaeological analyses can be performed directly on the field, like the settlement test (using the soil triangle) for the texture or the lithologic recognition for the skeleton.

SLIDE 14

Also some basic analytical chemistry can help during the excavation (giving indications on the ancient use of the soil), to verify the presence/absence of phosphates or of organic remains.

SLIDE 15

Other preliminary laboratory (flotation and sieving) analyses can prepare the samples for further investigation. Also in this case we use a DIY machine.

SLIDE 16

Colorimetry can be performed in many ways. Currently we are testing different options, like the open source spectrometer of Public Lab.

SLIDE 17

For some laboratory geoarchaeological analysis (e.g. microscopic morphology) we use normal optic microscopes, while for more advanced studies we externalize the service (e.g. SEM or energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy)

SLIDE 18

Currently we are testing the potentialities of the FLOSS MorphoJ to speed up the process in carpological remains recognition

SLIDE 19

To document archaeozoological remains in the field, we use the standard digital documentation techniques (in 2 and 3D), with FLOSS (e.g. bidimensional photomapping with the Aramus method or 3D recording through SfM and MVSR)

SLIDE 20

In the evolutionary anthropology field we developed a new technique (anatomical deformation) thanks to the FLOSS Blender

SLIDE 21

The same software (Blender) is used in the process of archaeological forensic facial reconstruction

SLIDE 22

Open source GIS (e.g. GRASS) are the main software we use to process and manage the recorded data

SLIDE 23

Thanks to open source UAV and Blender we experimented new ways to disclose archaeological data in a four-dimensional way (x,y,z,t)

A more detailed explanation of the entire presentation will come soon with the related article. For the topics which were already discussed in AOTR, I suggest to read the related post (see the above bibliography). For the latest experiment (e.g. near infrared, NDVI and NGB; Electrical Resistivity Imaging; Sedimentation test; litologic recognition on the field; flotation and sieving; colorimetry; microscopic morphology; MorphoJ;), we will try to write something as soon as possible.

Bibliography

Lo scavo archeologico professionale, innovazioni e best practice mediante metodologie aperte e Open research (here on Research Gate and here in Academia)

Webography (from ATOR):

3D and 4D GIS

gvSIG

SfM and MVSR

PPT-GUI (tutorial); from pictures to mesh (PPT, MeshLab, Blender); PPT with Bundler MultiTread; PPT with turntable (not recomended); PPT VS MicMac; PPT VS openMVG; recovering old data; underground documentation; big data; low-light conditions; underwater archaeology; aerial 3D; 3D GIS; anthropology;

Aerial 3D documentation

Caldonazzo Castle (case of study);

Archaeological endoscopy

normal endoscopy; IR endoscopy;

Geoarchaeology

genetic color, framework and edge analyses of skeleton; analytical chemistry on the field;

Archaeobothany

Vegetal macro remains indentification;

Evolutionary anthropology
Anatomical Deformation Technique (ADT): validation; ADT Paranthropus boisei; ADT Homo rodhesiensis;

Archaeoanthropology
Archaeological Forensic Facial Reconstruction (AFFR); Digital AFFR: technique validation; AFFR: state of the arts; AFFR: poster;

Archaeological dissemination
Caldonazzo Castle 4D (case of study);

A small celebration for ATOR: 300000 visits

Hi all,

this post is just a small celebration for a first milestone reached by ATOR: 300000 visits since its activation (you can check the counter on the right side of the website).

300000 visits reached

The image belows show an overview of the visitors contacts from all over the world.

Contacts overview

This are the 10 countries where most of the ATOR's readers live:

10 main visitors countries

Once again thank you all for your feedbacks, your interest and your support in helping us with our experiment of open research in archeology.

300000  thanks!

July 27, 2014: just another birthday for ATOR

... and here we are: the third birthday of ATOR! 

To respect the "tradition" (1st anniversary, 2nd anniversary), today I'll publish some data about our "open research" blog.

This year, unfortunately, there are no new entry between the active authors (or AuThORs, as someone already says), but the number of post has (obviously) increased from 160 to 215, leading to 767 comments from the community. Currently (22:31 p.m. in Italy) we had 253116 visualizations (41708 since last reset of the revolvermaps counter... this time it was my fault). Our members are, up to now, 85 and this means that we have 24 new regular readers.

In my opinion, our little experiment in "sharing tests, problems and results" of our research is working, due to some events that have occurred over the past three years:

1. through ATOR, Arc-Team's research in archeology increased in terms of development and results
2. ATOR's post were useful also for other disciplines and sciences (soon more news about this topic)
3. oldest project (e.g. ArcheOS) took advantage form ATOR visibility
4. new projects (e.g. Taung project) and derivatives subprojects (e.g. the exhibition "Facce") started also thanks to ATOR
5. we have improved our English :)

As I wrote last year: "This short post is intended as a thanks for all the people composing the community of ATOR, readers and authors as well", but this time I want to mention the authors (in alphabetical order), without which our blog could not exist:

+Roberto Angeletti

+Alessandro Bezzi 

+Luca Bezzi 

+Brigit Danthine 

Bernhard Fischer 

+Denis Francisci

+Rupert Gietl 
+Domenico Giusti

+Szabolcs Köllö

+Cícero Moraes 
Mattia Segata
+Moreno Tiziani

+Leonardo Zampi

Thank you all!

Happy birthday ATOR! Two years of Open Research

The 27th of July is the "birthday" of ATOR and like last year in this day I would like to share some statistics about the progress of this experiment.

In one year, the number of active authors has increased from 6 to 13, while the posts reached the quote of 160 (79 last year). The reactions of the community led to 271 comments (96 of which were written in 2012). Currently (19:16 pm) the number of visualizations is 109447 (48899 visits since the activation of the Revolver Maps plugin) and we have 37 new members which, added to the 25 persons of 2012, bring the total number to 61 people.

As you see in the image below the main celebration for 2013 is the achievement of 100000 visits.

This short post is intended as a thanks for all the people composing the community of ATOR, readers and authors as well. 

Thank you for your posts, feedbacks and support! 

Your help was very important in improving and speeding up the research presented in this blog. Thanks to you we reached results which, initially, were not foreseen and in some cases ATOR gave birth to new methodologies that have become rapidly very popular in the scientific community . 

We hope to keep this trend also in the next year and to maintain an high quality level in the field of Open Research!

The Taung Project, an open research

This post is to share the presentation I did in Catania (Sicily), during the ArcheoFOSS 2013. The topic is the Taung Project, analyzed from a free and open source point of view. This experience, in fact, has been a perfect pilot project of "open research", developed with open tools and sharing at the same time knowledge and data.

I will not dwell any further on the topic of the presentation in this post, being this subject described in the video below...

... I will just report some technical data. 

 First of all (in alphabetic order), the authors of the presentation, which are not mentioned in the video (sorry, I forgot it...): Alessandro Bezzi (Arc-Team), Luca Bezzi (Arc-Team), Nicola Carrara (Anthropological Museum of Padua University), Cicero Moraes (Arc-Team/Blender Brazil), Moreno Tiziani (Antrocom Onlus).

Secondary, the software I used for the slides, which is the object of most of the questions I have been asked after the presentation :). Well, this program is called impress.js and it is released under the MIT and GPL licenses. Here you can see an example of what you can do with this tool and here is the source code.

That's all for now. I hope that the discussion about the concept of "open research" will go on with new contributes... Stay tuned :).

Intervallo

Never did eye see the sun unless it had first become sunlike, and never can the soul have vision of the First Beauty unless itself be beautiful
(Plotinus, Enneads)

Hi all,

as you noticed in the last month we did not write many posts in ATOR. The reason is simple: actually all the most active authors are very busy with their respective work. The good news is that in the meantime we are collecting a lot of data and ideas that hopefully will soon become new articles for the blog.

However I decided to write this fast post just to reassure you that we will come back ASAP and, as always, we will share data, texts, experiments, software and everything else it will be necessary to achieve our goal: an Open Research in archeology (and beyond). 

Today I have too few time to share something useful, but I can aways share something beautiful: some pictures we took working around. I hope you may like them. 

PS

The title and the music of the slideshow are an inside joke for ATOR Italian community (most people will remember the old "intervallo RAI" which was used during technical problems) :)

The Taung Project from a Free and Open Source point of view

The Taung Project has ended almost six months ago, but today I would like to analyze some of the most remarkable aspects of this experience, which can be considered as an example of open research.

This project, indeed, was able to meet all the three prerequisites that characterize an open research, achieving the primary goal of this blog (open archeology): the team used open tools (software and hardware), shared the necessary knowledge to replicate the experiment and published the data under open licenses. These three elements (open tools, open knowledge and open data) are the basis of the new idea of science that is emerging in recent years and that, hopefully, will also affect archeology as a discipline (and this is exactly the objective Arc-Team is pursuing since more than ten years). 
Tools, knowledge and data are like the rings of a chain (the research itself) whose potential increases significantly when a complete and free access is guaranteed.

The "Chain of Liberty"

If one of these ring is close (broken) or its access is restricted, the resulting weakness can affect the whole cognitive process, till the extreme consequence of invalidating the final result.
I would like to further analyze the benefits of an open approach to the archaeological research in ATOR, but, due to time reasons, today I will just report some of the old posts where it is possible to access the main steps of the Taung Project:

1) data acquisition
2) data processing

In those articles it is also possible to download the raw and processed data we produced, with the hope that they will be useful to new experiments and research ideas. For example, currently I'm using these data to test the Java-script application you ca see below (soon a post about it):

 PS

Writing this post I noticed that we never shared the data of this post, which marked the beginning of the experiments that led to the Taung project. It is now possible to download the 3D pointcloud here and the relative mesh here. Have fun!