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Show HN: I 3D scanned the tunnels inside the Maya Pyramid Temples at Copan

(mused.com)
322 points lukehollis | 2 comments | 15 Oct 24 12:57 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source

With these 3d captures, you can explore the 4km tunnel system that archaeologists created inside the temples at Copan that are closed to the public. The tunnels are often flooded by hurricanes and damaged by other natural forces--and collapsed on me and my Matterport scanner more than once--so this is a permanent record of how they appeared in 2022-23.

Unlike Egyptian pyramids, the Maya built their temples layer by layer outward, so to understand them, researchers tunneled into the structures to understand the earlier phases of construction. I arranged the guided versions of the virtual tours in a rough chronology, moving from the highest to the lowest and oldest areas: the hieroglyphic stairway composing the largest Maya inscription anywhere, the Rosalila temple that was buried fully intact, and finally the tomb of the Founder of the city, Yax Kʼukʼ Moʼ.

I've been working to build on top of the Matterport SDK with Three.js--and then reusing the data in Unreal for a desktop experience or rendering for film (coming soon to PBS).

Blog about process: https://blog.mused.com/what-lies-beneath-digitally-recording...

Major thanks to the Matterport team for providing support with data alignment and merging tunnels while I was living in the village near site.

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jofla_net ◴[15 Oct 24 21:11 UTC] No.41853168[source]▶
This is great use of the technology. There should be scans of all our national monuments, world wonders, etc. So much better a use for the tech than just Redfin.
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volk45 ◴[15 Oct 24 22:32 UTC] No.41853818[source]▶
Popping my comment cherry here!

I’m a 3D artist that is currently encountering staunch resistance of generating 3D models from drone captured photogrammetry of historically protected sites in Pennsylvania, USA.

I’ve had resistance from the state and county level in pursuing take off and landing permission at historical sites. Communicating my intentions of digital historic preservation with photogrammetry has been a difficult “sell”.

I’m a licensed commercial remote pilot - however I need property owner permission to take off and land. Many sites are in state/county owned property in my area.

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1. seabass-labrax ◴[15 Oct 24 23:13 UTC] No.41854085[source]▶
Have you looked to see whether there is a local archaeology or social history society in your area that you could join? They will have individuals involved who are already used to dealing with property owners to arrange research projects, and you might be able to accompany them on the trips they organize. For reference, the archaeological society in my region serves around 400 square miles and typically organizes a low two-digit number of digs every year. There are also some other societies in the same region who focus on preserving and documenting recent history where excavation isn't required.

Another idea: if you don't already have any formal education in history, you could study for some qualifications in the subject. It would probably do much to reassure landowners that you are not going to harm the sites in any way (although I struggle to think of a way you could do so with a UAV!) In any case, good luck; I'd love to see the models!

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2. volk45 ◴[16 Oct 24 02:40 UTC] No.41855089[source]▶
I’ll have to look into regional historical societies. The county wide historical group has not been keen on allowing access to properties without a justified end goal other then “3D model”.

Which to be fair is a step I’ve still yet to figure out other then having models hosted on sketchfab.

I’m starting to visit in person farmer markets that exist on land with over 80+ year old histories and structures.

The personal educational avenue is another great option I haven’t considered. I’ll keep this in mind.

Here is a 3D model of a carriage house built in the late 1800s that I processed from drone photography. https://skfb.ly/oW8v7

This was from a public park so no permission was needed.