Analyzing spatial distribution of photographs in cultural heritage applications

Abstract

Digitized historical photographs are invaluable sources and key items for scholars in Cultural Heritage (CH) research. Properties of photographic items, such as position and orientation of the camera, can be automatically estimated using Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithms to enable spatial queries on image repositories. Interactive spatial and temporal browsing of photographs of architecture and corresponding 3D models allows historians to gain knowledge about the development of a city, as well as about the changing interest of photographers in depicting particular buildings over time. In this chapter, we present a classification of phenomena modeling the statistical distribution of historical photographic depictions of architecture. This classification serves the design of specialized visualization methods that show statistical aggregation of photographs in spatial contexts, thus supporting research workflows of art and architectural historians.