Immersive Fieldwork
Each tool’s deployment was shaped by environmental conditions, time availability, and spatial affordances. Indoor scans of dimly lit structures required flashlight assistance to ensure proper RGB capture on mobile devices. Larger exterior scans with the RTC demanded both time and environmental stability. The project’s reliance on island ferries introduced rigid time constraints, occasionally preventing more comprehensive documentation like drone-based photogrammetry.
The variable coastal weather on Daufuskie—ranging from humid overcast mornings to high-wind afternoons—affected not only lighting but also tool functionality. Moisture and sand posed additional risks to sensitive LiDAR and drone equipment. On one occasion, a site had to be skipped entirely due to the sudden onset of rain that made it unsafe to operate electronic gear outdoors. Scheduling scans around light conditions was also critical, as low-angle afternoon light enhanced shadow contrast for structural texture capture.
The documentation strategy developed through this thesis is as much about technical accuracy as it is about ethical authorship. By combining diverse tools and techniques with care-driven engagement practices, this methodology aims to demonstrate an immersive documentation model rooted in cultural sovereignty, community consent, and narrative control.