Just tried a new photogrammetry app on a dig site in Tucson and the 3D model showed a wall line everyone missed.

Some of the crew think it's a legit find, but others say the software just created an artifact from bad shadows, so what's the threshold for trusting tech over traditional survey methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

calebh901d ago

The threshold is when you spend three hours digging only to find a weirdly shaped rock. Tech is a great tool, but it still needs a human with a shovel to do the embarrassing part of the job. If the app finds a wall, the least you can do is poke the ground there. Worst case, you confirm it's a software glitch and get some sun. Best case, you look like a genius who reads shadows better than everyone else.

holly631d ago

Dig where the app says. I've seen this happen before with old fence lines on a farm survey. The tech picks up a tiny change in soil color or a dip in the ground that your eyes just miss in the field. It's not about trusting one over the other. Use the scan as a really good tip. Then you check it the old way with a probe or a test pit. If you find nothing, you learned the app's limits on that site. If you find something, you just saved a ton of guesswork.