SBIR Phase I: Extracting Valuable Information Automatically from Objects with Surface Impressions via Photographs and Interactive Digital Surrogates

SBIR 第一阶段：通过照片和交互式数字替代品自动从具有表面印象的物体中提取有价值的信息

• 批准号: 1215308
• 负责人: Donald Sanders
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Learning Sites, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1215308&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Extracting; Valuable; Information

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will create new software for automatically creating textured, 3D digital models of cuneiform inscriptions from multiple digital photographs and for automatically performing geometric character recognition on the impressions in order to derive meaning. The proposed system (more accurate, faster, and a more effective detective tool than any current alternative) comprises: (1) reconstructing detailed models of cuneiform tablets from multiple photographs; (2) isolating individual cuneiform strokes and distinguishing meaningful characters from background cracks; (3) classifying, against lexicons, the characters based on geometric characteristics; and (4) performing preliminary automatic word identification leading to translation of the texts. Ancient written records (Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets; Egyptian hieroglyphic carvings; or Roman political inscriptions) hold the keys to understanding our cultural heritage, but go unread because there are too many of them, their translation takes too long, and there are too few linguistic experts. Other arenas have objects with surface impressions (tire tracks, bootprints, and fossil remains) that must be measured for analysis and compared to like objects for identification, but such results cannot be efficiently obtained with current methods. The time lost, the inaccuracies created, and the potentially false interpretations presented can have dire consequences. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project are the significant benefits afforded to the target institutions allowing creation of accurate and precise 3D digital models of inscribed objects in their collections without the need for special equipment or experts. Since camera calibration, tripods, or special lighting are unnecessary, the process can be completed quickly, easily, and cheaply. Beyond the insight into the past that will inevitably accrue by using the proposed system, economic and technological advantages will motivate its commercial adoption. Museums, archaeological sites, and other collections need no longer pay for expensive scanners and their maintenance and upgrades, nor hire specialists to run the equipment and massage the results. Scholars need not travel to see inscriptions firsthand, still the traditional method of studying ancient written documents (photographs or drawings are insufficient for understanding the texts). The proposed system thus accomplishes many tasks the tools for which are unavailable; and it goes far beyond what has been attempted to aid the study and dissemination of information about ancient texts (e.g., Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative; Digital Hammurabi Project; Persepolis Foundation Archive). The software has extensive applications, such as in geology, forensics, and crime investigation, which we will explore in Phase II.

这个小型企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目将创建新软件，用于从多张数码照片中自动创建楔形文字铭文的纹理 3D 数字模型，并自动对印记执行几何字符识别以获取含义。 所提出的系统（比任何当前替代方案更准确、更快速且更有效的侦探工具）包括：（1）从多张照片重建楔形文字板的详细模型； (2)分离出单独的楔形文字笔划，并将有意义的字符与背景裂纹区分开来； (3)根据几何特征，对照词典对汉字进行分类； (4) 执行初步自动单词识别以翻译文本。 古代文字记录（美索不达米亚楔形文字板、埃及象形文字雕刻或罗马政治铭文）掌握着理解我们文化遗产的钥匙，但由于数量太多、翻译时间太长以及语言专家太少而无人阅读。 其他竞技场上有带有表面印记的物体（轮胎痕迹、靴印和化石遗迹），必须对其进行测量以进行分析并与类似物体进行比较以进行识别，但目前的方法无法有效获得此类结果。浪费的时间、造成的不准确以及可能出现的错误解释可能会产生可怕的后果。 该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是为目标机构带来的显着利益，允许为其收藏中的铭刻物品创建准确且精确的 3D 数字模型，而无需特殊设备或专家。 由于不需要相机校准、三脚架或特殊照明，因此该过程可以快速、轻松且廉价地完成。 除了通过使用所提出的系统不可避免地获得对过去的洞察之外，经济和技术优势将推动其商业采用。 博物馆、考古遗址和其他收藏不再需要支付昂贵的扫描仪及其维护和升级费用，也不需要聘请专家来运行设备和调整结果。 学者们不必远赴亲眼目睹碑文，仍然采用传统的研究古代书面文献的方法（照片或图画不足以理解文字）。 因此，所提出的系统可以完成许多工具无法完成的任务；它远远超出了帮助研究和传播古代文本信息的尝试（例如，楔形文字数字图书馆计划；数字汉谟拉比项目；波斯波利斯基金会档案馆）。 该软件具有广泛的应用，例如地质学、法医学和犯罪调查，我们将在第二阶段进行探索。