18th July 2012, 06:26 PM
Hi Sally,
You need to look at metric photography techniques such as rectified photograhs and photogrammetry. Adding a set of surveyed control points in the images lets you measure within the final product. Kubit's PhoToPlan is one type of rectification software (runs in AutoCAD, so you can then trace off the image to "draw" the features as scale drawings), while Topcon has offered stereo photogrammetry software in the few-grand price range. Using your varied lights is interesting, but with survey points and a second set of pics to make stereo pairs you can add all this metric capability as & when you need it. After all, snapping extra pics is cheap!
PS: I'm not pushing either specific package mentioned above, just giving examples. There are other similar solutions out there commercially available! The point is you need to talk to archaeological surveyors and buildings folk because they use these and know the pros and cons of the different techniques.
You need to look at metric photography techniques such as rectified photograhs and photogrammetry. Adding a set of surveyed control points in the images lets you measure within the final product. Kubit's PhoToPlan is one type of rectification software (runs in AutoCAD, so you can then trace off the image to "draw" the features as scale drawings), while Topcon has offered stereo photogrammetry software in the few-grand price range. Using your varied lights is interesting, but with survey points and a second set of pics to make stereo pairs you can add all this metric capability as & when you need it. After all, snapping extra pics is cheap!
PS: I'm not pushing either specific package mentioned above, just giving examples. There are other similar solutions out there commercially available! The point is you need to talk to archaeological surveyors and buildings folk because they use these and know the pros and cons of the different techniques.