This research project has used advanced image processing and computer vision techniques to recreate geospatial viewpoints of some historic, 17th century David Loggan line drawings of Cambridge Colleges. Subsequent drone flights then captured current images of the colleges from these same viewpoints.
Outcomes
Using some Cambridge colleges as examples, we show that we can overlay the image and the drawing, highlighting differences and similarities. This leads to interesting questions in the field of architectural history and paves the way for more complete structural and architectural analysis of historical buildings. Additionally, we have shown that the automatic inclusion of lines as well as points in the extraction of 3D data from drone footage can improve camera localisation and lead to reconstructions of higher accuracy.
Method
Prototyping
Next Steps
This technology is a low-cost option for showing changes to the built environment over time. Developing the technology further with end users such as built heritage facility managers, urban developers and historians of architecture could facilitate its adoption.
