Towards a Mobile 3D Documentation Solution. Video-Based Photogrammetry and iPhone 12 Pro as Fieldwork Documentation Tools

Abstract

New affordable equipment suitable for 3D fieldwork documentation has appeared during the last years. Both photogrammetry and laser scanning are becoming affordable for archaeologists, who often work with limited resources and tight time constraints. This paper compares two such approaches and their workflows. Photogrammetry based on a video captured by a DJI Osmo Pocket gimbal camera and iPhone 12 Pro LiDAR scans are performed on a Finnish Early modern period archaeological project. A reference point cloud was created using a heavier terrestrial laser scanner. By comparing the acquisition processes and the accuracy and precision of the results, the potential of these new documentation methods can be evaluated. In addition to their precision and geometric accuracy, the methods are also compared in terms of ease of use and time constraints. The results demonstrate that although these technologies are still far from perfect, they provide a glimpse into the future of 3D field documentation. Archaeologists can achieve sufficiently precise 3D documentation for distinct phases of excavation in an Early Modern period site without requiring an extravagant budget or special skills. However, the results indicate that the quality may not be adequate for fieldwork projects requiring more precise data, such as Neolithic period excavations.