A Cross Comparison in 3D Modeling: The Potential for a Multidisciplinary Approach to Digital Collections

Summary

Previous research on the 3D digitization of fossil cast collections using photogrammetric reconstruction has indicated that a negligible margin of error exists when comparing 3D digital measurements to those obtained by precision instruments. The ability to collect both quantitative and qualitative data using low cost, time efficient digitization methods presents multiple possibilities for digital curation and open-source data access in addition to mitigating potential risks to the archaeological record. Successful digitization and accurate measurement of prior collections provides additional opportunities to expand these methods and test the applicability to other archaeological materials and historic structures. By performing a cross comparison of a variety of materials and structures, this paper expands prior research to determine the potential for accurate 3D measurement of various cultural resources when compared to their associated methods of physical measurement. Using digital measurement methods, in case studies where a similar negligible margin of error exists when compared to precision instrument measurements, there is significant potential for the creation of multidisciplinary digital databases accessible to a wide array of researchers.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage