This week marked the beginning of our Museum project. While my group doesn’t yet have a functioning model (all we’ve done so far is take ~80 pictures of an ancient pot and desperately struggle with Autodesk Drive), I did still see and learn a lot about the process and how 3d modeling can be used in the study and viewing of artifacts. First of all, the tech and techniques fascinate me. I know that this type of 3d scan has existed for quite some time, and even most modern phones can do it, but it’s still so interesting and mind-blowing.
Second, and maybe more relevant to the prompts for this week, I think that 3d modeling provides a nearly unprecedented ability for lay people to get “hands-on” with ancient works. As many of my classmates have discussed already, you can only see so much when you’re looking at something from behind a glass case. 3d models allow people to really inspect the artifact without fear of tampering with or damaging it. This might not seem very important, but a piece may have text or inscriptions in it that have faded over time and become very hard to see, but being able to zoom in or change how light hits the object in a 3d model would make them more legible. Not only that, but 3d models allow people to view a museum’s collection from anywhere in the world.
When making a 3d model via photogrammetry, you have to get very close to the object to capture all of its small details. I found that while doing this, I noticed some things about the pot I was taking photos of. One particular thing I noticed even prompted more questions. The lip of the pot is slightly shallower on one side. It’s not a huge difference, but it raises a question: is this lop-sidedness accidental, or is it a spout that was intentionally made? If it is a spout, what would this pot be used for? It isn’t that large, so is it used for filling cups, watering plants, or something else?
Starting this project has certainly given me a newfound interest in making models of real objects. I’m curious to see where it goes!
1 thought on “Photogrammetry – An Introduction”
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I agree with you on what 3D modeling is able to do for the viewing experience. It is really cool how accessible the artifact is after modeling. In our process of photogrammetry, the small details of the object were much easier to see and I hope through 3D modeling we can bring these conveniences to all interested viewers.