Photogrammetry entails the input of photographs to produce a map, drawing, measurements, or a 3D model of some real-world object or environment. For a summary see: http://www.photogrammetry.com/. Some exciting examples of Digital Humanities research employing photogrammetry are profiled here.
My projects use photogrammetry to produce 3D models of ancient artifacts so that they can be studied remotely but thoroughly — i.e., an electronic high-resolution 3D model that can be rotated and zoomed in on provides the student and researcher much more information (including 3D measurements) than a static photograph. Among the valuable applications of photogrammetry are: it allows students and researchers worldwide to study objects without traveling to the museums that hold them; it reduces the number of times objects must be taken out of display or storage for first-hand study (which puts them at risk for damage); it preserves vast amounts of data about objects that may at some point become lost or physically inaccessible; and it contains data that (if permitted) could be used in the 3D printing of models (in the manner of the old plaster casts) for study and display purposes.
Project 1: The Christie’s Relief
This Assyrian relief was sold on October 31, 2018 at Christie’s Auction House to a private party. I hope that this now publicly available 3D model will assist students and researchers who wish to study this artwork in the future. While it was briefly on display at Christie’s in October 2018 I took as many overlapping photographs as possible. I also crowdsourced for additional photos. I then shared my photo files with expert 3d modeler, Daniel Pett (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University), who created this Sketchfab model.