ECE: AIM
Euregio Center of Expertise: Art conservation, Industrial quality assurance and Medical technology
ECE:AIM is an Euregio project (INTERREG III-A) with the aim to develop new optical applications in product quality control, the medical industry and in the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage. The partners within this project have a large expertise in optical measurement techniques and laser cleaning technology. Two optical techniques that were employed within this project will be treated in more detail below.
3D measurement techniques
Modern 3D measurement techniques provide new possibilities for documentation and analyses of samples in archaeology and restoration.
The optical 3D scanner TIMA-C2, developed by the laboratory of Biophysics at the University of Munster, offers a fast and precise digital acquisition of surface structures. As a non-destructive and non-contact method it allows a safe investigation even of fragile objects. The result of each measurement is a cloud of several hundred thousands of 3D points. These data are the basis for digital documentation, image processing, database management, restoration and analysis of cultural assets and archaeological samples.
The 3D scanner TIMA-C2 is a mobile and modular system to capture the surface details of cultural assets and visualize them at a high level of realism and precision in three dimensions.
Example 1: Documentation of a megalithic gallery grave.
Conventional methods for documentation are drawings and photographs. However these methods come along with a loss of information. Furthermore they do not provide the third dimension. Compared to the conventional methods, 3D measurement techniques allow the complete digital capturing of an excavation site in a short time span, while capturing far more detailed information.
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Capturing of the surface with the 3D scanner |
3D visualization of the measured surface |
Example 2: Inscription tablets
Inscription tablets and coins are often difficult to read and decipher due to the texture of the base material. The software for data visualization and analysis provided with the scanner, allows separation of the geometric surface data and artificial colouring of the surface texture. Often, this simple technique alone offers vast improvement in visibility. More sophisticated tools for surface analysis based on false colour range images are included. This makes engravings much easier to read.
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Visualization without colour texture |
False colour range image of the inscription tablet |
Hyperspectral imaging
Together with the National Archives in the Netherlands, Art Innovation has investigated the possibilities to use hyperspectral imaging to measure the condition and degradation of historical documents in a quantitative manner. Especially the yellowing of paper and the corrosion of iron gall ink are applications that can be measured in this way.
Example 1: The map of Saracuse
Hyperspectral recordings of the “Map of Syracuse” (inventory number 189, National Archives) have been made. This map was used in the 17th century by Michiel de Ruyter.
The ink used for this map shows traces of ink corrosion, which makes it difficult to distinguish details, especially in the darker areas. However, using the hyperspectral recordings, much more details can be distinguished in the drawings. Also small defects could be visualized much better.
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True colour |
1100nm |
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800 nm |
500nm |
Partners
• Laboratory of Biophysics, University of Munster
• Laser centre, University of Munster
• Art Innovation
http://wave.uni-muenster.de/Projekt_ECE-AIM.htm