Manual Point Cloud Classification and Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites
For archaeologists, the task of processing large terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-derived point cloud data can be difficult, particularly when focusing on acquiring analytical and interpretive outcomes from the data. Using our TLS lidar data collected in 2013 from two compositionally different, low...
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doaj-38559bcf7ffd4d56b5a787ba4ef4209c2021-10-02T05:20:31ZengDe GruyterOpen Archaeology2300-65602016-11-012110.1515/opar-2016-0017opar-2016-0017Manual Point Cloud Classification and Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low Arctic Paleo-Inuit SitesLandry David B.0Milne S. Brooke1Park Robert W.2Ferguson Ian J.3Fayek Mostafa4Department of Anthropology, and the Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, CanadaDepartment of Anthropology, and the Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, CanadaDepartment of Anthropology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, CanadaDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, CanadaFor archaeologists, the task of processing large terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-derived point cloud data can be difficult, particularly when focusing on acquiring analytical and interpretive outcomes from the data. Using our TLS lidar data collected in 2013 from two compositionally different, low Arctic multi-component hunter-gatherer sites (LdFa-1 and LeDx-42), we demonstrate how a manual point cloud classification approach with open source software can be used to extract natural and archaeological features from a site’s surface. Through a combination of spectral datasets typical to TLS (i.e., intensity and RGB values), archaeologists can enhance the visual and analytical representation of archaeological huntergatherer site surfaces. Our approach classifies low visibility Arctic site point clouds into independent segments, each representing a different surface material found on the site. With the segmented dataset, we extract only the surface boulders to create an alternate characterization of the site’s prominent features and their surroundings. Using surface point clouds from Paleo-Inuit sites allows us to demonstrate the value of this approach within hunter-gatherer research as our results illustrate an effective use of large TLS datasets for extracting and improving our analytical capabilities for low relief site features.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/opar.2016.2.issue-1/opar-2016-0017/opar-2016-0017.xml?format=INTterrestrial laser scanning digital archaeology hunter-gatherer archaeology Paleo-Inuit Southern Baffin Island Nunavut point cloud classification |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Landry David B. Milne S. Brooke Park Robert W. Ferguson Ian J. Fayek Mostafa |
spellingShingle |
Landry David B. Milne S. Brooke Park Robert W. Ferguson Ian J. Fayek Mostafa Manual Point Cloud Classification and Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites Open Archaeology terrestrial laser scanning digital archaeology hunter-gatherer archaeology Paleo-Inuit Southern Baffin Island Nunavut point cloud classification |
author_facet |
Landry David B. Milne S. Brooke Park Robert W. Ferguson Ian J. Fayek Mostafa |
author_sort |
Landry David B. |
title |
Manual Point Cloud Classification and
Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature
Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low
Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites |
title_short |
Manual Point Cloud Classification and
Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature
Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low
Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites |
title_full |
Manual Point Cloud Classification and
Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature
Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low
Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites |
title_fullStr |
Manual Point Cloud Classification and
Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature
Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low
Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites |
title_full_unstemmed |
Manual Point Cloud Classification and
Extraction for Hunter-Gatherer Feature
Investigation: A Test Case From Two Low
Arctic Paleo-Inuit Sites |
title_sort |
manual point cloud classification and
extraction for hunter-gatherer feature
investigation: a test case from two low
arctic paleo-inuit sites |
publisher |
De Gruyter |
series |
Open Archaeology |
issn |
2300-6560 |
publishDate |
2016-11-01 |
description |
For archaeologists, the task of processing large terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-derived point
cloud data can be difficult, particularly when focusing on acquiring analytical and interpretive outcomes
from the data. Using our TLS lidar data collected in 2013 from two compositionally different, low Arctic
multi-component hunter-gatherer sites (LdFa-1 and LeDx-42), we demonstrate how a manual point cloud
classification approach with open source software can be used to extract natural and archaeological
features from a site’s surface. Through a combination of spectral datasets typical to TLS (i.e., intensity and
RGB values), archaeologists can enhance the visual and analytical representation of archaeological huntergatherer
site surfaces. Our approach classifies low visibility Arctic site point clouds into independent
segments, each representing a different surface material found on the site. With the segmented dataset, we
extract only the surface boulders to create an alternate characterization of the site’s prominent features and
their surroundings. Using surface point clouds from Paleo-Inuit sites allows us to demonstrate the value of
this approach within hunter-gatherer research as our results illustrate an effective use of large TLS datasets
for extracting and improving our analytical capabilities for low relief site features. |
topic |
terrestrial laser scanning digital archaeology hunter-gatherer archaeology Paleo-Inuit Southern Baffin Island Nunavut point cloud classification |
url |
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/opar.2016.2.issue-1/opar-2016-0017/opar-2016-0017.xml?format=INT |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT landrydavidb manualpointcloudclassificationandextractionforhuntergathererfeatureinvestigationatestcasefromtwolowarcticpaleoinuitsites AT milnesbrooke manualpointcloudclassificationandextractionforhuntergathererfeatureinvestigationatestcasefromtwolowarcticpaleoinuitsites AT parkrobertw manualpointcloudclassificationandextractionforhuntergathererfeatureinvestigationatestcasefromtwolowarcticpaleoinuitsites AT fergusonianj manualpointcloudclassificationandextractionforhuntergathererfeatureinvestigationatestcasefromtwolowarcticpaleoinuitsites AT fayekmostafa manualpointcloudclassificationandextractionforhuntergathererfeatureinvestigationatestcasefromtwolowarcticpaleoinuitsites |
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