Drones in Archaeology: Integrated Data Capture, Processing, and Dissemination in the al-Ula Valley, Saudi Arabia

Over the past year, our team has been developing a complete work-flow for field cyber-archaeology incorporating UAV technology. We conduct automated aerial 3D scanning using multi-rotor copters. A joint archaeological and computer vision project was initiated to digitally capture the ruins and excav...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Smith, Neil G. (Author) ; Passone, Luca (Author) ; al-Said, Said (Author) ; al-Farhan, Mohamed (Author) ; Levy, Thomas E. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: University of Chicago Press 2014
In: Near Eastern archaeology
Year: 2014, Volume: 77, Issue: 3, Pages: 176-181
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
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Summary:Over the past year, our team has been developing a complete work-flow for field cyber-archaeology incorporating UAV technology. We conduct automated aerial 3D scanning using multi-rotor copters. A joint archaeological and computer vision project was initiated to digitally capture the ruins and excavations of ancient Dedan in Saudi Arabia. The project focused on previous seasons' excavations and the ancient Lihyanite “Lion Tombs” carved into the nearby cliff faces. The site was used as a test bed to validate the potential of UAV technology for rapid cultural heritage documentation. By using a combination of non-invasive 3D scanning techniques we can digitally preserve the site as it appears shortly after each season of excavation, document its inevitable decay, and provide objective datasets for future analysis and study. The integrated approach has allowed us to successfully provide a key base dataset that can be expanded as excavations continue over future seasons.
ISSN:2325-5404
Contains:Enthalten in: Near Eastern archaeology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5615/neareastarch.77.3.0176