Multi-Modal, Non-Invasive Investigation of Modern Colorants on Three Early Modern Prints by Maria Sibylla Merian

Northwestern University’s Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections owns three hand-colored copperplate engravings that once belonged to an edition of Matamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium by artist-naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). Because early modern prints are often colored by early modern readers, or modern collectors, it was initially unclear whether the coloring on these prints should be attributed to the print maker, to subsequent owners or collectors, or to an art dealer. Such ambiguities posed challenges for the interpretation of these prints by art historians. Therefore, the prints underwent multi-modal, non-invasive technical analysis to assess the date and material composition of the prints’ coloring. The work combined several different non-invasive analytical techniques: hyperspectral imaging (HSI), macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) mapping, surface normal mapping with photometric stereo, visible light photography, and visual comparative art historical analysis. As a result, the prints and paper were attributed to a late eighteenth-century posthumous edition of Merian’s work while the colorants were dated to the early twentieth century. This information enables more thorough contextualization of these prints in their use as teaching and research tools in the University collection.

Slope Mapping using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

This paper discusses the applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for slope mapping and also its important parameters including perimeter, area and also volume of certain selected area. With the development of modern technology, the utilization of UAV to gather data for slope mapping becoming easier as it is quick, reliable, precise, cost-effective and also easily to operate. Modern UAV able to take high quality image which essential for the effectiveness and nature of normal mapping output such as Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Orthophoto. This photo captured by UAV will later transfer to commercial software to generate full map of study area. With the help of established software, the measurement of selected study areas can be determined easily which can be considered as the main interest in this study. In addition, another outcome of this study is, this modern method of mapping will be compare to traditional method of mapping which proven to be more effective in term of low costing, low time consuming, can gather huge amount of data within short period of time, low man power needed and almost no potential risk of hazardous effect to man.

Effectiveness of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Digital Slope Mapping

This paper discusses the applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for slope mapping and its important parameters including perimeter, area and volume of certain selected areas. Modern UAV able to take high quality image which essential for the effectiveness and nature of normal mapping output such as Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Orthophoto. This photo captured by UAV will later transfer to commercial software to generate full map of study area. Three locations in Kuantan Pahang are chosen (Sungai Lembing, Politeknik Sultan Ahmad Shah ‘POLISAS’ and Pahang Matriculation College) for slope mapping. With the help of established software, the measurement (perimeter, area and volume) of selected study areas can be determined easily and considered as the main interest in this study. In addition, another outcome of this study is, this modern method of mapping will be compare to traditional method of mapping which proven to be more effective in term of low costing, low time consuming, can gather huge amount of data within short period of time, low man power needed and almost no potential risk of hazardous effect to man. In conclusion, modern technology of UAV proves to be very effective for mapping in geotechnical engineering. Slope mapping help researchers and engineers to obtain slope measurement within short period of time compare to previous traditional method.