I have to agree with Lyle we've got to wake the SHPOs up, particularly now
that there's not going to be anymore Ektachrome.  Our SHPO will accept 3
megapixels and up, but that standard will, no doubt, become more like 5
megapixels soon. I just saw a 3 megapixel camera at Target for under $500.

John Dendy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyle E. Browning" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 10:25 PM
Subject: Re: digital photogrammetry


> On Saturday, October 18, 2003, at 10:15 PM, geoff carver wrote:
>
> > apologies for cross-posting -
> > i was just wondering how many excavations out there are using some
> > form of digital photogrammetry for documentation? i've seen the
> > arctron ads for years
> > (http://www.arctron.com/3D_Surveying/Photogrammetry/Examples.php), but
> > i've never seen anyone outside of arctron actually using the stuff -
> > has anybody else tried other systems, or seen something similar in
> > action...?
>
> The Virginia Department of Transportation pioneered the use of
> low-level terrrestrial photogrammetry in the 1980's. A Zeiss lens
> costing $49k in a box costing $1k and using glass plate negatives was
> the first. Photos were processed using a Kelsh plotter costing an arm
> and a few legs. It was used at Monticello for Bill Kelso at the Nailery
> and for a VDOT project in Fluvanna County, VA documenting a canal lock.
> The accuracy was 1/100 of a foot which was basically the accuracy which
> was measurable, not the true accuracy. Recording of a wooden bridge was
> so good that wood grain, graffiti and nails could be observed.
>
> That has now been replaced by a digital system run through Intergraph,
> if memory serves. When I saw it about 5 years ago, two monitors were
> used for stereo effect and glasses were used to combine the images for
> direct tracing.
>
> At present, I'm using a Nikon Coolpix 5000 as my normal dig camera. The
> images are superb and translate well onto my computer screen for
> blow-up details. I've found that my picture count per site has
> increased from dozens/hundreds to hundreds/thousands as the cost of
> digital storage and manipulation is miniscule compared with the
> $45/roll for B&W that my architectural colleagues typically have. Plus
> the ease of integration and use for report production helps more than
> slightly.
>
> Taking this one step farther, I'm using  DigiCad 3D as my
> photogrammetric software. I'm still very much in the learning curve
> with this one but thus far, it appears to be as accurate as any
> measured and drawn work. The benefit is of course that if there's a
> question, the photos are there for re-interpretation.
>
> DigiCad is at www.interstudio.net. They have just recently produced a
> Windows beta-test version of their software. Google searches showed a
> few other firms with similar software (www.ilexsoft.com). They
> basically use a photo of a building and by having known distances, can
> rectify the structure to vertical and then the drawings are also
> accurately sized. It translates to archaeological site work for either
> vertical or horizontal surfaces as long as there are points in the
> photo for which the distances are known.
>
> By this time next year I intend to have a radio controlled helicopter
> outfitted with a digital camera for site work. The heli will be flown
> over the site, hovered over selected points, photos taken, photos
> uploaded and images rectified and features traced. Again, Google
> searches through the R/C world shows companies with the same technology
> doing archaeological  and architectural work. This isn't cutting edge
> experimental technology, but rather proven technology moving over into
> our end of the world. Realtime video looking down at terrain with a GPS
> for finding the site on the ground used for locating sites out in the
> middle of rocky rapids in downtown Richmond is one of the places I'm
> going to be using it. So rather than spending hours slogging around in
> the midst of goose poop covered rocks, I can sit in my office and
> cherrypick the spots, drag out the canoe and get there and out quickly
> and efficiently.
>
> If we could just get some of the SHPO's to come into the 20th century,
> perhaps glimpse the 21st and see the capabilities of digital work
> rather than dogmatically demanding emulsion film prints and negatives,
> life would be improved.
>
> Lyle Browning