Large- scale high-resolution landscape modelling of coastal areas with Kite Aerial Photography

Ronny WEßLING
(University of Vienna, Department of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, Austria)

Keywords: Kite Aerial Photography, Structure from Motion, large-scale landscape modelling, phenomenology

Abstract:
Kites are widespread camera platforms for low cost aerial imagery and are mainly used for intra-site recordings. In this study Kite Aerial Photography was used to map large-scale archaeological landscapes covering an area up to 50 hectares to create seamless areas between the sites and to put the sites in a wider spatial context. For this purpose Image Based Modelling techniques (Structure from Motion and Multi View Stereo) are applied to create high-resolution topographic datasets of coastal areas in the North Atlantic. On the basis of different case studies, located in Norway, Shetland, Faroe Islands and Greenland, the possibilities but also the limitations of this method are illustrated. It also shows which approaches have been chosen to adapt to the diverse landscapes in terms of wind and light conditions, vegetation, barriers and obstacles. The generated digital surface models serve as compensation for lacking ALS-data for general mapping, landscape visualisation and spatial analysis, as well as for inspection of relief details and modelling of geomorphological changes. Selected examples demonstrate how to interpret the computed 3D-models critically, e.g. how to recognise artefacts that are caused due to insufficient overlap. The study will also try to focus on the individual perception of the landscape that is reflected from walking with the kite systematically trough and by orienting oneself in the scenery from a phenomenological point of view.