Perspective methods/systems are commonly used in the field of Archaeology, and it is interesting to detail some of these here.
Aerial Surveying
Aerial views are a perspective image/view captured from, or represented as being taken from, an elevated height such as from a machine in flight, a balloon, a satellite camera, or from a mountain top, etc.
Aerial View Technologies & Uses
- Google Earth/Maps: Offers 3-D, satellite, and immersive Aerial View videos.
- Historic Aerial Photography: Resources like Historic England provide thousands of digitised photos to explore landscape changes.
- Applications: used in archaeology, town planning, environmental studies, and legal disputes.
- Types: Includes orthophotos, obliques, and 3-D maps.
Aerial surveys involve collecting high-resolution geospatial, topographic, or imaging data of land, structures, or environments from above using drones (UAVs), planes, or helicopters. They are essential for rapid, cost-effective, and safe data acquisition in construction, agriculture, archaeology, and environmental monitoring.
Aerial surveys often use pre-programmed flight paths, with data processed by software to create highly detailed maps and 3-D models, sometimes replacing traditional manual “stereo mapping”.
Aerial Surveys – Key Aspects
Methods & Technology: Utilises drones, aircraft, and sensors like Lidar, multispectral cameras, and thermal imaging to capture data.
Applications
- Construction & Infrastructure: Monitoring project progress, inspecting, and mapping large, inaccessible areas.
- Environmental & Agriculture: Assessing crop health, environmental impact, and wildlife/marine mammal monitoring.
- Archaeology & Heritage: Recording sites, Earthworks, and monuments.
Advantages: Provides a rapid, comprehensive overview, reduces or eliminates the need for personnel to work at height, and offers superior accuracy.
Data Outputs: Produces detailed 3-D models, digital surface models, orthomosaic maps, and aerial photographs.
Photogrammetric Imaging System
A photogrammetric imaging system uses photographs to create 3-D models of objects, environments, or people. It’s a non-contact method that uses overlapping images to derive precise measurements.
How it works
- Place or use reference points on the spatial object/scene being measured. These points can be coded or uncoded.
- Take overlapping photos of the object from different angles.
- Use software to process the images and generate a 3-D model. The software considers factors like camera position, lens distortion, and object coordinates.
- The software generates a 3-D point cloud, which can be used for analysis.
Applications
- Industrial quality assurance: Photogrammetry can be used to inspect components and ensure quality.
- Environmental monitoring: Photogrammetry can be used to create accurate maps of underwater areas, which can help with ocean environmental monitoring, marine archaeology, and more.
- Smart manufacturing: Photogrammetry can be used to automate the inspection of parts and accelerate innovation.
Explore Applications
Main Applications routes:
Applications of Perspective ·
Spatial Themes ·
Instruments of Perspective ·
Applications by Discipline ·
Perspective Studies Today
Major discipline hubs:
Art and Perspective ·
Architecture and the Built Environment ·
Photography ·
Cinema, Television and Visual Effects ·
Computer Graphics, Games and Extended Reality ·
Cartography, GIS and Spatial Mapping ·
Science, Engineering and Technical Imaging ·
Medical Imaging ·
Perspective in Professional Practice