Voxel for archaeology

This video regards a pretty old experiment we did in 2006 to understand the possibility of volumetric graphic (voxel) in archaeology. The data came from my thesis (University of Padua, professor G. Leonardi) and were elaborated inside GRASS. The 3d surfaces of top and bottom interfaces of one layer were imported into the GIS to produce a volumetric representation. This was possible thanks to the effort of Soeren Gebbert, who wrote a script to export the voxel from GRASS into a VTK file (which we loaded in ParaView). At the and of the experiment we had a complete virtual representation of the archaeological record (a destroyed burial connected with incineration practices). This "digital copy" was composed by two 3d raster surfaces (top and bottom), one volumetric reconstruction of the layer (voxel) and a lot of 3d vector levels of the finds (fragment of burned human bones, pottery and bronze). Below you can see a picture of the situation before a started to dig.

UAVP indoor flight

Just a fast comment about our experience with the UAVP. If you want to try to build your own DIY flying drone, do not underestimate (like we did...) the time you will need to practice with it and to become a good pilot. The whole project will take you through 4 steps:

1. build the frame (simple)
2. connect the electronic components (not so simple, you will need experience in soldering)
3. program the UAVP (to find the right configuration for your drone)
4. learn to fly (difficult)  

Anyway the last step is also the most fun! Just remember that there are different flying conditions (wind, outdoor, indoor) and it is better to practice with most of them. In the video below, you can see our first indoor flight (pretty different from outdoor open spaces).

Python Photogrammetry Toolbox for Windows 64bit

After a report of some problems about installing Python Photogrammetry Toolbox on a Windows 64bit machine, i tried to do some test on it. Finally i found the error inside a python script (RunCMVS.py). The error was reported to the developer of the software (Pierre Moulon) and he will change the original packake as soon as possible. In the meantime there is a small installation instruction to correct the error at this link.

Which GIS? gvSIG

To tell the truth, i don't use very often gvSIG. Anyway it is for sure one of the software which has evolved faster since its first inclusion in ArcheOS. Moreover the program is pretty similar to ESRI GIS, so it is perfect to help new users of FLOSS (people for whom a direct migration form ArcGIS to GRASS could be traumatic). An other important aspect is that gvSIG is maybe the GIS in ArcheOS which has the easiest (and most functional) tool to get direct layouts, so if you settle for basic maps (without to many complications) this is probably your software. In the image below you can see an example of layout model, done with an old version of gvSIG.

Which GIS? OpenJUMP

We are often asked why there are so many GIS inside ArcheOS (GRASS, gvSIG, OpenJUMP, Quantum GIS, SAGA GIS, Udig). Today I start answering with OpenJUMP. This is my favorite software for an excavation GIS, due to its fantastic drawing tools (that make it similar to a CAD). So, from my point of view, OpenJUMP is the best GIS to draw vector layers from georeferenced photomosaics, like in the image you see below...

... but of course there are also many other tools, which sometime are usefull to handle excavation data (below you see the "warping" utility). Moreover the database integration in the program is pretty enought for this kind of small projects.

Something stupid

Yesterday evening i was working on an illustration for an archaelological publication. The image reguards an amphora I modeled in Blender, which for many reasons I had to cut in half (and along different sections). I lost a lot of time cutting the amphora with a (very simple) boolean operation inside Blender, but the final result was not good enought (especially considering the wasting of time). Finally I had the idea to export the amphora from blender and import it in ParaView, to use the simple "Clip" tool inside the very large filter collection of this software. This simple/stupid solution saved me a lot of time, so I complete my work inside ParaView. It is not the first time I have to use both of these software for a project and, like before, I used the .ply format to exchange models from Blender to ParaView and the other way around. 
In the image below you can see a screenshot of the amphora in ParaView.

GNewgnewarchaeology

Good news from University of Ferrara! A new workshop about Free/Libre and Open Source Software in archaeology will take place on the 13th – 14th October 2011. More info on the official website. It will be a good oppotunity to meet and exchange experiences and informations. See you there!

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