High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology

Documenting underwater archaeological sites is an extremely challenging problem. Sites covering large areas are particularly daunting for traditional techniques. In this paper, we present a novel approach to this problem using both an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and a diver-controlled stereo...

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Main Authors: Johnson-Roberson, Matthew, Bryson, Mitch, Friedman, Ariell, Pizarro, Oscar, Troni, Giancarlo, Ozog, Paul, Henderson, Jon C.
Format: Article
Published: Wiley 2016
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35134/
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author Johnson-Roberson, Matthew
Bryson, Mitch
Friedman, Ariell
Pizarro, Oscar
Troni, Giancarlo
Ozog, Paul
Henderson, Jon C.
author_facet Johnson-Roberson, Matthew
Bryson, Mitch
Friedman, Ariell
Pizarro, Oscar
Troni, Giancarlo
Ozog, Paul
Henderson, Jon C.
author_sort Johnson-Roberson, Matthew
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Documenting underwater archaeological sites is an extremely challenging problem. Sites covering large areas are particularly daunting for traditional techniques. In this paper, we present a novel approach to this problem using both an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and a diver-controlled stereo imaging platform to document the submerged Bronze Age city at Pavlopetri, Greece. The result is a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction covering 26,600 m2 at a resolution of 2 mm/pixel, the largest-scale underwater optical 3D map, at such a resolution, in the world to date. We discuss the advances necessary to achieve this result, including i) an approach to color correct large numbers of images at varying altitudes and over varying bottom types; ii) a large-scale bundle adjustment framework that is capable of handling upward of 400,000 stereo images; and iii) a novel approach to the registration and rapid documentation of an underwater excavations area that can quickly produce maps of site change. We present visual and quantitative comparisons to the authors' previous underwater mapping approaches.
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spelling nottingham-351342020-05-04T18:03:47Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35134/ High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology Johnson-Roberson, Matthew Bryson, Mitch Friedman, Ariell Pizarro, Oscar Troni, Giancarlo Ozog, Paul Henderson, Jon C. Documenting underwater archaeological sites is an extremely challenging problem. Sites covering large areas are particularly daunting for traditional techniques. In this paper, we present a novel approach to this problem using both an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and a diver-controlled stereo imaging platform to document the submerged Bronze Age city at Pavlopetri, Greece. The result is a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction covering 26,600 m2 at a resolution of 2 mm/pixel, the largest-scale underwater optical 3D map, at such a resolution, in the world to date. We discuss the advances necessary to achieve this result, including i) an approach to color correct large numbers of images at varying altitudes and over varying bottom types; ii) a large-scale bundle adjustment framework that is capable of handling upward of 400,000 stereo images; and iii) a novel approach to the registration and rapid documentation of an underwater excavations area that can quickly produce maps of site change. We present visual and quantitative comparisons to the authors' previous underwater mapping approaches. Wiley 2016-07-04 Article PeerReviewed Johnson-Roberson, Matthew, Bryson, Mitch, Friedman, Ariell, Pizarro, Oscar, Troni, Giancarlo, Ozog, Paul and Henderson, Jon C. (2016) High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology. Journal of Field Robotics . ISSN 1556-4967 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rob.21658/abstract doi:10.1002/rob.21658 doi:10.1002/rob.21658
spellingShingle Johnson-Roberson, Matthew
Bryson, Mitch
Friedman, Ariell
Pizarro, Oscar
Troni, Giancarlo
Ozog, Paul
Henderson, Jon C.
High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title_full High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title_fullStr High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title_full_unstemmed High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title_short High-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
title_sort high-resolution underwater robotic vision-based mapping and three-dimensional reconstruction for archaeology
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35134/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35134/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35134/