Dense Point Cloud Acquisition via Stereo Matching Applied to: the Kilwa Archaeological Site and the Gallo-Roman Theatre of Mandeure

Abstract

In this paper, we present a methodology for Dense Stereo Matching (DStM) acquisition and processing. Two main applications are detailed. In our application sites, many constraints led us to choose DStM. In the archaeological site of the Gallo-Roman Theatre of Mandeure (France), a initial terrestrial laser scanning campaign had to be completed with patches acquired from DStM because of the site geometric complexity. In the epigraphic and archaeological site of the region of Kilwa (Saudi Arabia), we applied DStM for both prospecting and excavating. We distinguished two kinds of applications in the paper: 1 to 5 stereopairs and 5 to 30 stereopairs. We inserted the data of both kind of cases into larger datasets. These datasets are currently used for archaeological reconstruction purposes of as-built buildings.