Image-Based Modeling Approaches to 2D and 3D Digital Drafting in Archaeology at Tel Akko and Qasrin: Two Case Studies

As archaeologists continue to adopt geographic information systems and computer-aided design software packages to record and store spatial data, excavations have begun to forgo hand-drawn plans in favor of digital recording. The purpose of this article is to present two case studies that have successfully utilized digital drafting techniques to create architectural plans at multiple scales. The first presents on-site 2d and 3d documentation at the site of Tel Akko, Israel, at the square, field, and tell scales. The second study combines orthophotos and legacy data to create an accurate site plan of Qasrin on the Golan Heights. Both harness image-based modeling to produce 2d and 3d spatial data in order to produce top plans with unprecedented spatial accuracy.