3D Reconstruction of Archaeological Trenches from Photographs

This paper presents a method for 3D reconstructions of archaeological excavation sites. The method extends a 3D reconstruction algorithm for general rigid scenes to better fit the special archaeological needs and to integrate easily into the documentation process. As input, an ordered image sequence captured with a calibrated standard digital camera is required, along with a small set of 3D points from the trench with well-known coordinates. The 3D points are used to transform the model into the world coordinate system used at the excavation site, so measuring in the model and fusing it with other models becomes possible. Furthermore, a new algorithm called LoopClosing is introduced to minimize drift and increase accuracy. The resulting models provide lasting 3D representations of the trenches and allow the user to explore the scene interactively, not being restricted to a photographer’s point of view. True orthographic views can be generated from the 3D models that can be correlated with other archaeological data.