Digital Documentation of Monuments
RTI and Photogrammetry in Emanu-El Cemetery, Victoria BC
Melanie Heizer
University of Victoria
Introduction
Photogrammetry
For the past three years, the University of Victoria has
been running a field course in the Emanu-El
Congregation Cemetery in Victoria BC, teaching
heritage archaeology and conservation.
What is photogrammetry?
• The use of a series of overlapping images measuring distances
between features on surfaces, creating a 3D model (3).
The work being done has been based on learning
opportunities for the students, as well as the wants of
the community. Our goal is to help them document
the monuments and help with conservation.
Cemetery History
Discovery of gold in the Fraser Valley in 1858 prompted
immigration of Jewish settlers to Victoria (1). On
February 5th 1860, the Emanu-El cemetery in Victoria
B.C. was consecrated for use (2).
Fig. 2 – Josh Albhouse. Photogrammetry
rendering, blue filter.
RTI
Differences Between RTI and Photogrammetry
• Taking a series of photographs in a shape of a dome over
the monument with a wireless flash (4).
• RTI was better capable of capturing inscriptions
and minute details.
• Photogrammetry is better at capturing motifs and
rendering the original shape of the monument.
Wolf Casper – Plot D10
*Several lines of Hebrew?*
In Memory
(Of?)
JOSH
(Beloved Son of?)
(S & B?) ALBHOUSE
Born (?)
April 30 1900
Died
July 4 1901
In memory
Of
WOLF CASPER
Died
Oct 29 1907
Aged 86 Years
Fig. 4 – Wolf Casper. Before (L) and after (R) RTI.
Marble monument, weathered, pollution deposits and broken
into three sections from falling over. Placed face up. Surface
normals of RTI abnormal.
IN MEMORY OF
LENA
BELOVED WIFE OF
A. ADELSON
DIED
AUG 17 1903
AGED 44 YEAR
Following a fire in the cemetery in 1890, and the
destruction of wooden monuments, marble and granite
became popular, with marble eventually being phased
out in favor of granite (1).
Research Questions
For this independent project, the goal was to continue
documentation of gravestones with inscriptions that are
either indecipherable to the naked eye, or those with
inscriptions that are in danger of severe degradation in
the near future.
• What is the difference in Reflectance Transformation
Imaging (RTI) versus photogrammetry for ease of
use?
• What aspects of monuments does each technique
capture best?
• What are the challenges faced using these techniques
in this cemetery?
Fig. 3 – Lena Adelson.(5)
Photogrammetry with red-white filter.
Born in Russia in 1859. Marble monument, placed face up
after damage from falling over. Severe weathering, pollution
deposits and beginning growth of moss and lichen.
(In Loving Memory?)
(Of?)
Samuel S Hyams
(Resident of ?)
London (Eng.?)
Died
Oct 9 1894
Aged 53 Years
Fig. 5 – Samuel S. Hyams. RTI
full monument, south side.
Large marble monument, two of four sides bear inscriptions,
neither readable by naked eye. Monument sits on a base shared
with a second monument. Second inscription possibly
commemorating Solomon Samuel Hyams, though he is listed
as buried in plot F27.
The Process Involves:
The Process Involves:
• Camera calibration: Capture the measurement distance
calibration and lens focus.
• Image capture: 5-10 images per monument.
• Image processing: Images processed through PhotoScan,
Visual mapping completed Cloud Compare.
• Process time per monument: 1-2 hours.
How Can RTI and Photogrammetry Help
Cemeteries
• Both technologies can be used to recover and
restore inscriptions, motifs and the original shape
of fallen and decayed monuments.
• They can contribute to the rediscovery of
individuals buried in cemeteries.
• They can be used with other methods to restore
lost histories.
Samuel S. Hyams – Plot E11
Lena Adelson – Plot E16
Fig. 1 – Front gates to Emanu-El Cemetery.
Discussion
What is Reflectance Transformation Imaging?
Josh Albhouse – Plot E15
Son of Samuel and Betty Albhouse, died at age 1 year, 2
months. Marble monument covered in pollution deposits,
weathered and cracked – damaged from falling over, placed
face up in a concrete body stone.
Melanie Heizer, Department of Anthropology
March 8, 2017
This research was supported by the Jamie
Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards,
University of Victoria
Supervised by Dr. Erin McGuire, Department
of Anthropology
• Multiple Flash Images: 50-100+ photos are taken from
different angles.
• Image Processing: RTI Builder used to condense images
into a .ptm (Polynomial Texture Mapping) file.
• Visual Mapping: .ptm file opened in RTI Viewer, filters and
light movement are applied to highlight inscription.
• Process time per monument: 3-5 hours.
Fig. 7 – RTI field set up.
Technological Challenges
• The equipment and software both are expensive,
although the RTI software is open source.
• Elemental exposure remains complex.
• Both require experience in setup and execution.
• Challenging for novice users in restoration
projects.
Bibliography
Sources
(1) Congregation Emanu-el. 2013. Sefer Emanu-El: An Illustrated History of Victoria’s Jewish
Community and Canada’s Oldest Surviving Synagogue. Victoria: Friesens Corporation.
(2)Temple Emanu-El Historical Report Sept. 2011. http://www.congregationemanuel.ca/uploads/1/8/6
/0/18606224/temple-emanu-historical-report_sept2011.pdf Accessed: February 2, 2017.
(3)Photogrammetry. http://culturalheritageimaging.org/Technologies/Photogrammetry/ Accessed January 25,
2017.
(4) RTI. http://culturalheritageimaging.org/Technologies/RTI/ Accessed January 20, 2017.
(5) Three different death dates found recorded – RBCM Genealogy records,
http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/archives/faqs/death-notices-index.html, JewGen data table of
Emanu-El Cemetery in Victoria B.C.
Photos
Fig.1-3, 5 – Melanie Heizer, February 2017.
Fig. 4 – Zoë Deneault, Melanie Heizer and Kim Kuffner. June 2015.
Fig. 7 – Myriam Desgroseilliers. February 2017.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Dr. Erin McGuire for her supervision, and to Dr. George Bevan, Jeremy Beller, Marla MacKinnon,
Spencer Armitage, the Anthropology Department for their support, the JCURA Committee, and to Dr. Kool and
the Jewish community of Victoria for allowing us to conduct research in their cemetery.
Based on RTI project done by Zoë Deneault, Melanie Heizer and Kim Kuffner in 2015.