Automated Photography and Weighing for Archaeological Objects

Background

The project “Automated Photography and Weighing for Archaeological Objects” is a collaborative initiative with the Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) team, directed by Dr. Peter J. Cobb from the School of Humanities at The University of Hong Kong. The APSAP team primarily conducts archaeological fieldwork in the Republic of Armenia, focusing on prehistoric artifacts, particularly pottery sherds and osseous remains recovered from excavation sites. Analyzing the feature correlations and chronological sequences of these artifacts provides significant insights into the past mobility and social developments of South Caucasian communities and their affiliations in the region during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Extensive data cataloging and processing of the voluminous items collected from each excavation are essential for these analyses. Therefore, digitalization and data management techniques have been introduced to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the APSAP team’s workflow.

Objective

This project proposes to finalize and enhance the existing laptop software to create a reliable application that automates camera and weight scale control, improves data collection efficiency, and ensures data accuracy. Additional features such as color correction and image post-processing will enhance the quality of the collected data. By implementing this solution, we aim to significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of archaeological data collection at APSAP stations, supporting their mission to preserve and study cultural heritage.

Proposed User Interface:

Targeted color correction effect:

Before:

After:

Project Timeline

Milestone 1: Automatic Photo Taking and Weighting
Sep – Oct	Review the existing software and conduct bug investigation. Identify the technologies/libraries used in the existing software and potential improvements to be added
	Confirm detailed software requirements with stakeholders and submit the first design proposal
	Detailed Project Plan and Webpage: 1 October 2024
Oct – Jan	Develop the new user interface and optimize the software
	Delivery of the automatic photo-taking and weighting software
	Continuous interviews with the APSAP team to report the development progress and gain feedback
	First project presentation: 13-17 January, 2025
	Interim Report: 26 January, 2025

Milestone 2: Image Processing
Jan – Feb	Conduct preliminary research on image processing techniques and related libraries
	Confirm detailed image processing requirements with stakeholders and submit a design proposal
Feb – Apr	Implementation of image processing functionality
	Deliver finalized software for production release
	Client final review and write up software documentation
	Final Presentation: 22-26 April, 2025
	Final Report: 30 April,2025

Resources

Detailed project plan: