One of the major tasks of the 2019 season was to build a lidar-based model of the NIP. Technological issues at the time and two delays of a sabbatical held off the completion of the model. But the scans are now merged!
The model requires some scrubbing. Then I will build a mesh from it. But, at long last, I am seeing results from the study season!
Although the first reconstruction attempt failed, I succeeded in recovering all the scan data from the southern section of the excavation area by manually loading the support files into a new project and taking them through a new registration process.
I will next use the same approach with the other major sections of the excavation with the hope that I can then merge all five sections into one project.
With this data recovered, I am sure I can build a lidar-based model for the excavation.
One of the challenges coming from the 2019 season is putting together all scan data into one common model. Unfortunately, the software had trouble in 2019 handling the scans from the south end of our excavation area… several Umayyad structures next to the Decumanus Maximus.
Updated software is allowing me to try and recover this data. Above is a 3D view of the area showing the positions of the scanners. Below is a point cloud preview for the same area (but from a higher angle).
I am reworking the registration and the indexing with the hopes of fully recovering the data.
After two delays in service of the university and students, I am beginning a sabbatical year, one of the prime purposes of which is to put all the research from seasons at Hippos of the Decapolis into a final form. Over the next months, you will see many updates and changes to this site, as it will be one of the prime repositories for this material. I look forward to the opportunity.
