The DAL is a space in which users work together to stimulate research, build a community of practice, where assistance and inspiration can be found and experimentation is encouraged.
The Digital Archaeology Lab, established in Fall 2016, supports the technological needs of the Cotsen faculty, students and staff by providing facilities, advice, and training. The DAL is located in A322 and is directed by Deidre Brin.
The lab is equipped with powerful workstations with the hardware and software required to build and render intricate three-dimensional models and environments, run complex statistical analyses on large datasets, and geospatially reconstruct archaeological and cultural sites in GIS. Each workstation is outfitted with a high resolution monitor and available to Cotsen affiliates for use. In addition to these workstations, the DAL has collaborative “pods”, designed for working in groups. These tables can be joined together and rearranged to accommodate larger team meetings, classes, or workshops. Each table is equipped with a large screen mounted to a wheeled stand so users can plug in and share their screen with the group or take advantage of a second display while working.
Our digital imaging corner contains a range of equipment including a large format flatbed scanner, slide scanner, and a photography station with lighting and various backdrops designed for documentation, publication quality images, or in order to create structure-from-motion (SfM) models. Additionally, our copy stand can be used to photograph a variety of media including artifacts, large maps, photographic prints, negatives, and books. The copy stand has a built-in lightbox for photographing transmissive media and adjustable mounted lights and a camera for creating optimal conditions for capturing opaque media. The DAL also provides 3D scanning and printing equipment, including a Lulzbot Taz 6 3D printer which can be used to create fitted supports for objects, reproduce or reconstruct artifacts, print instructional tools for students, or even build site models for exhibitions or demonstrations.
The lab hosts workshops bringing in experts from across campus to address challenges arising in cultural heritage practices. We also offer one-on-one or small group consultations on topics surrounding data management and preservation, building an online portfolio, and a variety of other topics.
The DAL is part of a growing campus-wide network of collaborative spaces, together with the Sandbox (in the Math Science Building), the Lux Lab (YRL), BRIDGE Innovation Studio (SSCERT), and the Scholarly Innovation Lab (YRL) and will help to integrate archaeology in the many digital initiatives and the broad knowledge base that is available at UCLA.
Deidre Brin leads the development of DIG, an archaeological data publishing initiative at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, and manages the Digital Archaeology Lab at Cotsen. She received her Bachelors in Anthropology, focusing in Archaeology, and worked on archaeological projects for several years before completing an MLIS from the Information Studies program at UCLA. Her experience managing data while working on projects, coupled with the foundation in information science and technology, support her current research on the preservation, dissemination, and reuse of archaeological datasets.
Kelvin Luu is an undergraduate student studying Mathematics at UCLA. He is currently assisting with drafting tutorials for the Digital Archaeology Lab, equipment reservations, data cleaning, and other research data support.