Calculating the inherent visual structure of a landscape ('total viewshed') using high-throughput computing

Llobera, Marcos, Wheatley, D.W., Steele, T.J.M., Cox, Simon and Parchment, O. (2004) Calculating the inherent visual structure of a landscape ('total viewshed') using high-throughput computing. XXXII International Conference - Computer Applications in Archaeology 2004 - Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Beyond the Artifact: Digital Interpretation of the Past, Prato, Italy. 13 - 17 Apr 2004. (In Press)

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

This paper describes a method of calculating the inherent visibility at all locations in a landscape (‘total viewshed’) by making use of redundant computer cycles. This approach uses a simplified viewshed program that is suitable for use within a distributed environment, in this case managed by the Condor system. Distributing the calculation in this way reduced the calculation time of our example from an estimated 34 days to slightly over 25 hours using a cluster of 43 workstations. Finally, we discuss the example ‘total viewshed’ raster for the Avebury region, and briefly highlight some of its implications.

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Submitted date: 2004

Accepted/In Press date: 2004

Venue - Dates: XXXII International Conference - Computer Applications in Archaeology 2004 - Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Beyond the Artifact: Digital Interpretation of the Past, Prato, Italy, 2004-04-13 - 2004-04-17

Keywords: Archaeology, landscape, GIS, viewshed, total viewshed, inherent visibility, Avebury, neolithic