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Advances
in GPS surveying technology have made it relatively quick
and easy for archaeological surveyors to gather high volumes
of precise geo-referenced 3D data. At the same time the software
to manipulate and display this data in the form of 3D models
has become less technically demanding and more accessible.
As a result applications in archaeology are becoming widespread.
The aim of this paper is to look at some practical examples
of these models and consider how they compare with the traditional
methods of recording and depicting archaeological sites.
3D modelling creates a highly detailed and versatile record
of a site, better than could previously be achieved. It allows
us to interrogate our data and by techniques such as slope
analysis identify or enhance features that may have been overlooked
in the field. But does it adequately portray the interpretation
of a site? Traditional methods relied greatly on the surveyor's
skill and the ability to convey the understanding of the site
through graphical methods. Is this an area that needs more
consideration in the modelling process or the development
of new visualisation techniques, perhaps VRML 'guided tours'?
This paper will examine these questions with examples from
the work currently being undertaken by the I.T. Dept. of The
Discovery Programme in Ireland.
Key Words GPS, depicting archaeological sites, 3D modelling,
VRML
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