Benjamin Ducke
Benjamin Ducke studied Archaeology and Computer Sciences at Berlin's Freie Universität, where he graduated with a master's thesis on ‘GIS-based sediment transport and predictive models for heritage management’ in 2003. Following a one-year PhD grant (by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung) at University College London, he worked as a lecturer in computational archaeology at Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet in Kiel (Germany), where he also received his PhD degree in the natural sciences for his thesis on ‘spatio-temporal analysis of archaeological data’.
Currently, Benjamin Ducke works for the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, DAI) in Berlin. The scope of his prior professional life covers development and research of IT solutions for Oxford Archaeology, several land-use related missions to Kosova for the European Commission, and freelance software development work in the fields of land surveying and high-resolution submarine sensor data processing.
His current work focus is on research and development in the areas of Geoinformation Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI: https://geoserver.dainst.org), image-based (SfM/MVS) 3D reconstruction (http://www.archaeocopter.de) and geophysical data processing. In accordance with the DAI's commitment to preserving the global cultural heritage, he actively participates in teaching and implementing these technologies in the Near East and other parts of the world.
Currently, Benjamin Ducke works for the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, DAI) in Berlin. The scope of his prior professional life covers development and research of IT solutions for Oxford Archaeology, several land-use related missions to Kosova for the European Commission, and freelance software development work in the fields of land surveying and high-resolution submarine sensor data processing.
His current work focus is on research and development in the areas of Geoinformation Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI: https://geoserver.dainst.org), image-based (SfM/MVS) 3D reconstruction (http://www.archaeocopter.de) and geophysical data processing. In accordance with the DAI's commitment to preserving the global cultural heritage, he actively participates in teaching and implementing these technologies in the Near East and other parts of the world.
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of quality. But eventually, every 3D model should meet certain requirements to be
classified publishable in an academic sense. These requirements pertain to visual
quality as well as technical properties, including long-term archivability. In current
practice, checking 3D models in regards to their quality before depositing and publishing
in online repositories or databases is performed only rarely and manually.
The
use of free software allows to analyze 3D models automatically prior to publication,
in order to meet minimal standards. In the following, an easy editing workflow that
ensures the quality of a 3D model is presented.
Open access here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-021-09529-3#Ack1
... and don't forget to check out the software:
https://github.com/benducke/v.net.models
But how can we be so sure that the low probability zones are really not interesting? And where do we draw the line between interesting and not interesting? These are difficult choices indeed for those involved in AHM. Archaeologists who do not have to make these choices can criticize the current approach to predictive modelling from the sideline, but do not have to come up with an alternative.
Within the BBO-programme we have been trying to provide such an alternative to the archaeological community (see van Leusen and Kamermans, 2005; Kamermans et al., 2009). However, after five years of research, we have to conclude that we have only been partly successful. In this paper we will shortly explain the research that we have undertaken, and venture to offer some explanations for the lack of success of new approaches to predictive modelling in AHM up to now.
the combination of multiple model outputs, the generation of easily interpretable maps, and by how elegantly they handle the considerable uncertainty inherent in archaeological datasets. Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) is a flexible mathematical framework that allows pooling of data from a variety of sources in a natural, straight-forward manner, explicitly representing uncertainty and producing a range of interesting output metrics that can be used in decision making processes. This article looks at how DST can be employed as a framework in heritage management, combining information about site location preferences and preservation conditions towards a unified assessment of archaeological value.
Collaborative software development, from initial idea to usable program, remains a difficult task, not only in terms of mastering technological challenges, but also in terms of managing organisational complexities and social dynamics. Some FOSS projects fail because their initial design was too ambitious, others fail because they do not manage to attract a loyal base of supporters and simply run out of ressources. However, there is now more than sufficient evidence that a community the size of the archaeological one is well capable, in principle, of building its own "software commons" based on FOSS.
This paper looks at the economics of open source software, with special consideration to the structure of the archaeological software market. Insights into the aspects of planning, developing and sustaining customised software development under open source licenses will be provided. Some important lessons learned from a decade of contributing to open source software projects will be shared, and typical pitfalls will be discussed.
Open-Source-GIS existieren seit rund drei Jahrzehnten und bereichern mit ihren frei verfügbaren Innovationen unsere Gesellschaft in demselben Maße, wie sie es privaten, akademischen und kommerziellen Nutzern erlauben, sich im Umgang mit räumlicher Information zu emanzipieren.
Allerdings scheint dabei mitunter in Vergessenheit zu geraten, dass "Open Source" mehr als ein Mittel zum Zweck ist. Wenngleich weniger vordergründig als bei der "Freien Software", vertritt auch der Begriff "Open Source" eine gesellschaftliche Idee, die mit den Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten des Internets perfekt harmoniert und dadurch zu einer technologisch-sozialen Erfolgsgschichte geworden ist. Die moderne FOSSGIS-Welt wirkt jedoch zunehmend professionalisiert und gleichzeitig kommerzialisiert, mit allen bekannten, positiven wie negativen Effekten. Nicht immer ist hierbei erkennbar, dass die übergeordneten Interessen der "Community" ausreichend vertreten werden.
So scheinen die Suche nach langfristig funktionierenden Geschäftsmodellen und der Ausbau von "Public Relations" manchmal eine ebenso hohe Priorität zu besitzen, wie die Produktion funktionierender Software. Selbst Auswüchse moderner Wirtschaftsformen, wie die Schaffung von Monopolen auf Kosten von Diversität, lassen sich in Ansätzen erkennen. Dass dies jedoch nicht unbedingt mit tatsächlichem kommerziellem Erfolg einhergeht, zeigt die nach wie vor überschaubare Zahl langfristig aktiver Desktop-GIS-Projekte und in diesem Bereich tätiger Programmierer. Die steigenden technologischen Einstiegshürden, in Form immer "modernerer", d.h. komplexerer und kurzlebigerer, APIs und Werkzeuge zur Online-Kollaboration, verschärfen dieses Problem nur noch weiter.
of quality. But eventually, every 3D model should meet certain requirements to be
classified publishable in an academic sense. These requirements pertain to visual
quality as well as technical properties, including long-term archivability. In current
practice, checking 3D models in regards to their quality before depositing and publishing
in online repositories or databases is performed only rarely and manually.
The
use of free software allows to analyze 3D models automatically prior to publication,
in order to meet minimal standards. In the following, an easy editing workflow that
ensures the quality of a 3D model is presented.
Open access here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10816-021-09529-3#Ack1
... and don't forget to check out the software:
https://github.com/benducke/v.net.models
But how can we be so sure that the low probability zones are really not interesting? And where do we draw the line between interesting and not interesting? These are difficult choices indeed for those involved in AHM. Archaeologists who do not have to make these choices can criticize the current approach to predictive modelling from the sideline, but do not have to come up with an alternative.
Within the BBO-programme we have been trying to provide such an alternative to the archaeological community (see van Leusen and Kamermans, 2005; Kamermans et al., 2009). However, after five years of research, we have to conclude that we have only been partly successful. In this paper we will shortly explain the research that we have undertaken, and venture to offer some explanations for the lack of success of new approaches to predictive modelling in AHM up to now.
the combination of multiple model outputs, the generation of easily interpretable maps, and by how elegantly they handle the considerable uncertainty inherent in archaeological datasets. Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) is a flexible mathematical framework that allows pooling of data from a variety of sources in a natural, straight-forward manner, explicitly representing uncertainty and producing a range of interesting output metrics that can be used in decision making processes. This article looks at how DST can be employed as a framework in heritage management, combining information about site location preferences and preservation conditions towards a unified assessment of archaeological value.
Collaborative software development, from initial idea to usable program, remains a difficult task, not only in terms of mastering technological challenges, but also in terms of managing organisational complexities and social dynamics. Some FOSS projects fail because their initial design was too ambitious, others fail because they do not manage to attract a loyal base of supporters and simply run out of ressources. However, there is now more than sufficient evidence that a community the size of the archaeological one is well capable, in principle, of building its own "software commons" based on FOSS.
This paper looks at the economics of open source software, with special consideration to the structure of the archaeological software market. Insights into the aspects of planning, developing and sustaining customised software development under open source licenses will be provided. Some important lessons learned from a decade of contributing to open source software projects will be shared, and typical pitfalls will be discussed.
Open-Source-GIS existieren seit rund drei Jahrzehnten und bereichern mit ihren frei verfügbaren Innovationen unsere Gesellschaft in demselben Maße, wie sie es privaten, akademischen und kommerziellen Nutzern erlauben, sich im Umgang mit räumlicher Information zu emanzipieren.
Allerdings scheint dabei mitunter in Vergessenheit zu geraten, dass "Open Source" mehr als ein Mittel zum Zweck ist. Wenngleich weniger vordergründig als bei der "Freien Software", vertritt auch der Begriff "Open Source" eine gesellschaftliche Idee, die mit den Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten des Internets perfekt harmoniert und dadurch zu einer technologisch-sozialen Erfolgsgschichte geworden ist. Die moderne FOSSGIS-Welt wirkt jedoch zunehmend professionalisiert und gleichzeitig kommerzialisiert, mit allen bekannten, positiven wie negativen Effekten. Nicht immer ist hierbei erkennbar, dass die übergeordneten Interessen der "Community" ausreichend vertreten werden.
So scheinen die Suche nach langfristig funktionierenden Geschäftsmodellen und der Ausbau von "Public Relations" manchmal eine ebenso hohe Priorität zu besitzen, wie die Produktion funktionierender Software. Selbst Auswüchse moderner Wirtschaftsformen, wie die Schaffung von Monopolen auf Kosten von Diversität, lassen sich in Ansätzen erkennen. Dass dies jedoch nicht unbedingt mit tatsächlichem kommerziellem Erfolg einhergeht, zeigt die nach wie vor überschaubare Zahl langfristig aktiver Desktop-GIS-Projekte und in diesem Bereich tätiger Programmierer. Die steigenden technologischen Einstiegshürden, in Form immer "modernerer", d.h. komplexerer und kurzlebigerer, APIs und Werkzeuge zur Online-Kollaboration, verschärfen dieses Problem nur noch weiter.
It takes a vector points layer as input and produces a new vector lines layer that represents the links of the reconstructed network. Several connectivity models have been implemented.
More details and downloads here: https://github.com/benducke/v.net.models
Allerdings scheint dabei mitunter in Vergessenheit zu geraten, dass "Open Source" mehr als ein Mittel zum Zweck ist. Wenngleich weniger vordergründig als bei der "Freien Software", vertritt auch der Begriff "Open Source" eine gesellschaftliche Idee, die mit den Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten des Internets perfekt harmoniert und dadurch zu einer technologisch-sozialen Erfolgsgschichte geworden ist. Die moderne FOSSGIS-Welt wirkt jedoch zunehmend professionalisiert und gleichzeitig kommerzialisiert, mit allen bekannten, positiven wie negativen Effekten. Nicht immer ist hierbei erkennbar, dass die übergeordneten Interessen der "Community" ausreichend vertreten werden.
So scheinen die Suche nach langfristig funktionierenden Geschäftsmodellen und der Ausbau von "Public Relations" manchmal eine ebenso hohe Priorität zu besitzen, wie die Produktion funktionierender Software. Selbst Auswüchse moderner Wirtschaftsformen, wie die Schaffung von Monopolen auf Kosten von Diversität, lassen sich in Ansätzen erkennen. Dass dies jedoch nicht unbedingt mit tatsächlichem kommerziellem Erfolg einhergeht, zeigt die nach wie vor überschaubare Zahl langfristig aktiver Desktop-GIS-Projekte und in diesem Bereich tätiger Programmierer. Die steigenden technologischen Einstiegshürden, in Form immer "modernerer", d.h. komplexerer und kurzlebigerer, APIs und Werkzeuge zur Online-Kollaboration, verschärfen dieses Problem nur noch weiter.
So findet sich die FOSSGIS-Szene heute im Spannungsfeld zwischen traditionellen Leitmotiven und manchmal schwer erfüllbarem kommerziellem Erfolgsanspruch. Dieser Vortrag macht es sich zum Anliegen, einige bedenkliche Entwicklungen in dieser Situation zu thematisieren.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2UMXKXiAeM
Thanks, once more, to Flavio Trillo (giga.de), for supporting us in producing this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vOoDWEENKs
Over the course of three intense working days, we collected video footage of the site's impressive ceremonial centre and a number of buildings, as well as some stone reliefs and sculptures. We would like to thank the site's supervisor, Estela Martínez Mora (INAH) and Prof. Dr. Peter Kroefges (UASLP) for providing access to the site and managing the logistics in Mexico.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who worked on this creation. Special thanks go to Robert Albert for taking care of cutting and editing the material on short notice.
The section for Cultural Heritage Management of the German Archaeological Institute, as a response to said challenges, applies a precise vehicle-driven multi-probe gradiometer covering areas up to 25 ha per day at various prominent sites in Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and North America including a broad range of cultures.
Special attention is given to data standards for seamless postprocessing, long-term availability of data and linking with other data sources to knowledge networks. We use modern GIS-Software to combine geomagnetic data with other relevant information like aerial photos, elevation data or excavated structures. We also develop special software tools to categorize structures according to their size, magnetic values or additional data mentioned before. Based on this categorization and comparison with structures known from other surveys and excavations we render these structures according to their assumed dating and archaeological interpretation. The information gained from the survey and analysis can be mapped in various different ways, that allow a better understanding of the data and the site in general.
We present a case study in videogrammetry from the Huastec site of Tamtoc in the Mexican federal state of San Luis Potosi. Tamtoc is a massive site that features impressive remains of pyramids, temples, elite residences and other monu-mental architecture, as well as large stone reliefs. Managing the site is a challenge, due to tropical climate and limited acces-sibility (which was further reduced by the extreme weather events of 2013). Our case study is thus a good example of what versatile, lightweight and robust technology can achieve even under adverse working conditions.
The work presented in this paper is part of "Archaeocopter" (www.archaeocopter.de), a joint research project by the Univer-sity of Applied Sciences Dresden and the Free University of Berlin. It is committed to the design and development of UAVs for airborne image data acquisition in archaeology and related fields. In order to optimise the hardware and software for real-world applications, the project’s research and development work is continuously supported and guided by international partners, such as the state heritage management authorities of the German federal state of Saxony, the German Archaeo-logical Institute (DAI) and the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology (INAH).
tens of thousands of archaeological sites and registered monuments, bearing testimony to the
cultural and historical importance of the region, both within Germany and Central Europe. The
effective protection and management of this valuable but finite resource requires innovative new
technologies with a focus on accuracy, efficiency and intuitive design. The project "Archaeocopter"
(www.archaeocopter.de) is committed to the design and development of ultralight unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAV) for airborne image data acquisition in archaeology and related fields.
The acquisition of high-resolution, georeferenced imagery is a fundamental prerequisite for the
detection and documentation of archaeological heritage. Structure from Motion (SfM) is a popular
and robust method for producing 3D reconstructions from series of overlapping images (multi-
view reconstruction). It provides heritage professionals with a flexible and low-cost method for the
documentation and digital preservation of objects of interest, especially complex architectural remains.
SfM currently suffers from two fundamental limitations that restrict the degree to which the quality of
the resulting models can be assured: the approach is computationally demanding, and the reconstructed
point clouds tend to be inhomogeneous. However, the video material produced by UAV-borne cameras
contains massively overlapping image data and therefore constitutes ideal input material for the SfM-
based reconstruction of buildings, sites or entire landscapes. In addition, parallel processing of data
allows the rapid production of preview models useful for quality assurance.
Our paper will discuss how the "Archaeocopter" project is working to develop time and cost efficient
technologies for acquiring high-fidelity, high-resolution imagery and 3D data using UAV that are
cheap to construct, easy to operate and geared towards applications in archaeology and heritage
management. We will share insight into UAV design for archaeological applications and issues
such as carrying capacity, flight stability and operational safety. Among our more challenging aims
is the implementation of near-realtime sparse 3D reconstruction, that would allow the operator to
immediately validate data quality and density. In order to optimise the hardware and software design
for real-world applications, the project’s research and development work is continuously supported and
guided by the state heritage management authorities of Saxony, as well as by academic partners at the
University of Applied Sciences Dresden, the Freie Universität Berlin and the German Archaeological
Institute.
a joint research project by the University of Applied Sciences Dresden and the Free
University of Berlin. We are committed to the design and development of UAVs for
airborne image data acquisition in archaeology and related fields. In order to optimise the
hardware and software for real-world applications, the project’s research and development
work is continuously supported and guided by international partners, such as the state
heritage management authorities of the German federal state of Saxony, the German
Archaeological Institute (DAI) and the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology (INAH).
Our hardware design revolves exclusively around consumer grade devices that are cheap
to buy, easy to operate and robust. Our basic data products are HD video streams from
fixed focal length, fish eye lens "action cameras" with uncompressed frame data. Contrary
to what one might expect from such extreme optics, the resulting data constitute suitable
input for the SfM-based 3D reconstruction of buildings, sites or terrain in great detail.
Advances in GPU-based parallel processing allow for the rapid production of preview
models for quality assurance, while increasingly efficienct, automated workflows allow for
on-demand, off-site data processing at full detail level.
To illustrate principles and practice, we present case studies from sites and landscapes in
Germany, Italy and Mexico that illustrate the wide range of scenarios and environments
in which our approach was validated and optimised. These case studies demonstrate that
consumer grade UAVs and cameras function well under many, even adverse working
conditions. We believe that new technologies can only have a broad impact if they do
not introduce substantial additional costs (in terms of both time and money) into existing
workflows and field practices. Of our many successful 3D data acquisition missions, not
a sinlge one required the use of expensive specialist UAV hardware, professional grade optical systems, or paid-for software.
heritage. Structure from Motion (SfM) is a popular method for extracting
3D structure from series of overlapping images. The two complement each
other ideally in the form of ultralight Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
carrying high-resolution video cameras.
This paper discusses the use of low-cost, consumer grade UAVs and
cameras for archaeological documentation. To illustrate principles and
practice, we present a case study from the ancient Huastec site of
Tamtoc in the Mexican federal state of San Luis Potosi. Tamtoc is a
massive Mesoamerican site that features the impressive, now partly
restored, remains of pyramids, temples, elite residences and other
monumental architecture, as well as large stone reliefs. Managing the
site is a challenge, due to tropical climate and limited accessibility
(which was further reduced by the extreme weather events of 2013). Our
case study is thus a good example of what versatile, lightweight and
robust technology can achieve even under adverse working conditions.
The video material produced by UAV-borne cameras constitutes ideal input
for the SfM-based reconstruction of buildings, sites or terrain.
Unfortunately, the flexibility and affordability of this approach comes
at the price of extreme computational demands and inhomogeneous 3D point
cloud output. Rigid image acquisition strategies and intensive
post-processing are required to obtain both densely sampled 3D point
clouds and high-quality meshed surfaces. However, advances in GPU-based
parallel processing allow for the rapid production of preview models for
quality assurance, while increasingly efficienct, automated workflows
allow for on-demand, off-site data processing at full detail level.
The work presented in this paper is part of "Archaeocopter"
(www.archaeocopter.de), a joint research project by the University of
Applied Sciences Dresden and the Free University of Berlin. It is
committed to the design and development of UAVs for airborne image data
acquisition in archaeology and related fields. In order to optimise the
hardware and software for real-world applications, the project's
research and development work is continuously supported and guided by
international partners, such as the state heritage management
authorities of the German federal state of Saxony, the German
Archaeological Institute (DAI) and the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology (INAH).
technologies with a focus on accuracy, efficiency and intuitive design. The project "Archaeocopter"
(www.archaeocopter.de) is committed to the design and development of unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAV) for airborne image data acquisition in archaeology and heritage curation. In order to optimise the
hardware and software design for real-world applications, the project’s research and development work
is continuously supported and guided by the state heritage management authorities of Saxony, as well
as by academic partners at the University of Applied Sciences Dresden, the Freie Universität Berlin
and the German Archaeological Institute.
Among the many innovations that the Computer Age has brought to archaeological field practice, 3D
digital data acquisition must be considered one of the most important and spectacular. However, the
fact that full 3D site recording and reconstruction are still not a standard part of the "archaeological
toolbox" indicates that the impact of new technologies is limited by a range of factors. These include
the cost and efficiency of 3D-capable hardware and software, as well as their intrusiveness to established
workflows, regarding both data acquisition and management. Significant faultlines remain between 2D
field traditions and 3D technologies.
Our research focuses on seamless, efficient and low-cost approaches to the 3D documentation of
archaeological sites. We use consumer grade, remotely controlled UAV to capture HD video streams of
sites and built heritage from above. The video material produced by UAV-borne cameras constitutes
ideal input for the image-based reconstruction of buildings and terrain. We present international
case studies and provide insights into technological and logistical challenges and solutions of
UAV-based 3D recording.
Further information and impressions of our work can be obtained at www.archaeocopter.de.
Our presentation showcases the use of robust and low-cost, consumer grade UAVs and cameras for 3D documentation. To illustrate principles and practice, we present a varied range of case studies where we have used UAV-based recording under diverse environmental conditions, including many examples from archaeology. Our results show that the production of greatly detailed 3D models requires neither expensive, distortion free optical systems nor high-powered, hard-to-control carrier systems. On the software side, advances in GPU-based parallel processing, available as free software, allow for the rapid production of preview models for quality assurance, while increasingly efficient, automated workflows allow for on-demand, off-site data processing at highest detail level.
The work presented in this paper is part of "Archaeocopter" (www.archaeocopter.de), a joint research project by the University of Applied Sciences Dresden and the Free University of Berlin. It is committed to the design and development of UAVs for airborne image data acquisition in archaeology and related fields. In order to optimize the hardware and software for real-world applications, the project’s research and development work is continuously supported and guided by international partners, such as the state heritage management authorities of the German federal state of Saxony and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI).