Underwater topographic documentation with Total-station
Aix-Marseille University
Reference Teacher: Jafar Anbar (AMU)
Teacher(s): Jafar Anbar, Prof. Kalliopi Baika & Labrini Tsitsou
This course offers a comprehensive skills-set of underwater documentation technologies, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge tools and techniques for geoarchaeological and archaeological studies. Participants will perform hands-on experience practice on total station for 3D underwater topographic recording of geological features and archaeological remains. All collected data will be treated in excel to be correlated in an interdisciplinary GIS database. The objective is for participants and professionals to acquire an operational experience on the field starting from the theoretical introduction to the actual acquisition of systematic scientific documentation using non-destructive techniques, to the treatment in specific software (after a thorough technical introduction) in order to be able to proceed to the scientific analysis of the collected data.
PhD training in Aix-Marseille University (The PhD training platform ADUM (Accès Doctorat Unique et Mutualisé). Master, PhD students and professionals for up-skilling, re-skilling, and capacity building.
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental technologies associated with 3D topographical documentation of submerged landscapes, including geological features or archaeological sites (coastal or submerged). They will explore the application, advantages and the limitations of the Total Station in the context of submerged cultural heritage sites (i.e. the submerged archaeological harbour site of Aigina, Greece). Moreover, they will also acquire the specific knowledge and skills to implement step by step the main phases of the systematic topographical documentation of an underwater cultural/natural heritage site.
Participants will be able to perform a systematic georeferenced documentation of any UW cultural/geological/natural heritage site by using the most precis as well as efficient and non-destructive techniques.
Based on the site accessibility, the depth, the visibility and the time factor, the participants will be able to setup the Total Station in the most efficient way in order to achieve better results considering the site boundaries, depth and the limitations of the Total Station and the associated instruments.
Participants will be able to treat the topographic data in Excel with all necessary information to be shared and exported for further analysis with QGIS software.
This course gives the chance for the participants to perform the documentation tasks themselves, which will increase their ability of understanding the functionality of the Total Station, the related instruments and enrich their skills to adapt to or solve any problems that they could face during the survey with the supervision of the trainers. This hands-on experience method minimizes the doubts or the stress that the participants may have before using the instruments.
Diving skills: Level II of diving / Diving equipment / Personal laptop
Lectures (in-person or online), fieldwork sessions and desk-based training
Evaluation by the completion of the fieldwork project and the final visualization and sharing of the 3D topographic data. Evaluation sheet from AMU (in English, French, – adapted to other languages as well) sent online.
The course begins with an introduction to topographic surveys with Total Station, including field procedures, data collection, and processing. Instruction will be given, and participants will work in teams in order to collect and prepare this data for real-world applications and scientific analysis in marine biology, archaeology, geology, environmental science, and related fields.
The expected learning outcomes can contribute to the achievements of the following goals: Goal 14: Life below water, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 4: Quality Education
For PhD students of Aix-Marseille University, they can simply apply through their personal account on ADUM (https://adum.fr/index.pl). For other PhD, master students and professionals by simply showing their interest to follow this course through contacting the following email address: info@unescochair-mca.org
By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
Understand the principles of underwater topographical survey
Familiarize themselves with the equipment used, particularly the Total Station
Learn the step-by-step process of conducting an underwater topographical survey
Analyse and interpret the collected data for creating accurate underwater topographic maps, sections and drawings.
Introducing to the functions of the Total Station, its components and how it measures angles and distances. Additional sessions will explain the principle of UW topographic survey including the establishment of a control network and how it contributes to accurate updated data collection, its advantages and briefly explain the challenges of conducting surveys underwater, safety issues and equipment limitations.
Demonstration on how to set up the Total Station for underwater use, ensuring it is securely mounted and aligned.Moreover, trainers will guide participants through the calibration process, emphasizing the need for accuracy in measurements to set the Total station within a control network.If applicable, the course will demonstrate how to use DGPS equipment to establish a control network. One Total station per group will be employed to be set up by the participants under the supervision of the trainers.
Guidance of two groups of participants through the step-by-step process of collecting data underwater using the two Total Station and the prism reflectors.This includes the measurements recording (Points and lines) and communication procedures in addition to filling topographical logs and minutes.
Demonstration on how to transfer the collected data during the field training to a computer for processing. This includes the data treatment in @Microsoft-Excel environment, introducing different data management methods and finally how to export the data to @QGIS software. Finally, summarize the key points covered in the module.Open the floor to questions and answers, encouraging participants to seek clarification on any aspect of the underwater topographical survey with Total Station.
Several sections from the user manuals of different software can be useful during and after the completion of the course.
– Agisoft Metashape user manual: https://www.agisoft.com/pdf/metashape-pro_1_7_en.pdf
Moreover, step by step instructions and practical recommendations will be provided in PDF format to guide the participants on how to operate UW cameras, capture and process accurate data, and create detailed georeferenced 3D models