By Neil McGuinness, Senior Archaeologist (Gwynedd)
The recording, documenting, and surveying of archaeological assets have always been vitally important parts of the archaeological process. 3D digital recording, using modern methods such as photogrammetry (using an overlapping sequence of photographic images) and laser scanning, has become an increasingly utilised tool due to the accuracy, precision and speed of the surveys and the comprehensive nature of the 3D data collected. Both photogrammetry and laser scanning produce 3D point clouds of the surface of a target subject, and can be used to record archaeological assets at a variety of different scales, from object level records through to entire landscapes. The point clouds may be used directly to produce scaled digital line drawings, elevations, cross sections and plans, or processed further to generate digital elevation models, meshed and rendered 3D models, and orthomosaic photographs.
Examples of Heneb’s 3D digital surveys are frequently published to Heneb’s portals on the Sketchfab website in order to share the resultant survey data with clients, other stakeholders and members of the public. The use of Sketchfab, which is accessed for free via any standard web-browser, removes the need for people who wish to view the models to have specialist software installed on their devices and allows interactive access to the 3D models.
Recent Heneb Gwynedd 3D digital survey projects include a survey of parts of the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru National Slate Museum, Llanberis, undertaken in order to record the collections in situ prior to their temporary relocation in advance of renovation works; and a survey of the late 17th Century Pen-y-bryn Farmhouse, Tal-y-sarn, Gwynedd, requested by Cadw as part of condition monitoring:
