Photogrammetric texture mapping: A method for increasing the Fidelity of 3D models of cultural heritage materials

Accurately recording information is the single most important stage of an archaeological project. The biggest technological improvement to documentation techniques in the last 15 years has been the spread of various 3D digitization technologies, such as computer vision photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning. These technologies have allowed archaeologists to quickly and accurately capture and reconstruct the geometry and colors of the subjects being studied. Each of the various methods for 3D digitization of cultural heritage materials has advantages and disadvantages, such as processing speed, cost of equipment, and the accuracy of the captured data. Laser scanned data is among the most accurate geometrical data available in modern scanning techniques, but it lacks in its ability to accurately capture textures and diagnostic coloration information. Photogrammetric data produces highly detailed photographic textures on models, but the geometric data tends to be of a lower definition than the laser scanned data. In this paper, the authors discuss a new methodology that combines the advantages of computer vision photogrammetry with those of laser scanning by applying the photographic textures produced with photogrammetry to the geometric data obtained from laser scanning. This method allows archaeologists to achieve the best possible fidelity 3D models for interpretation and study.