How Artificial Intelligence is bringing extreme accuracy to imagery of ancient & historic architecture

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Written by Richard L. Thornton

I thought readers would be interested in viewing a sample of the new AI-based research process, which is being used in my new book, The Forgotten Sea Peoples of the South Atlantic Coast. I am creating massive computer models of several sections of the South Atlantic Coast that will be used for birds-eye views, close views for details of Native American architecture and animated videos.

by Richard L. Thornton, Architect & City Planner

I asked my computer, “How tall do fresh water marsh grasses grow on the coast of Georgia?

In about two seconds, the computer answered:

Freshwater swamp grasses on the coast of Georgia can grow anywhere from one to twenty feet tall, depending on the species. Giant cutgrass (Zizaniopsismiliaceacap π‘π‘–π‘§π‘Žπ‘›π‘–π‘œπ‘π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘Ž) and common reed (Phragmitesaustraliscap π‘ƒβ„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”π‘šπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘ π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘ ) are two of the tallest species found in the region’s marshes. 

Giant cutgrass (Zizaniopsismiliaceacap π‘π‘–π‘§π‘Žπ‘›π‘–π‘œπ‘π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘–π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘Ž) 

  • Height: 3 to 10 feet tall.
  • Habitat: Occupies deep freshwater marshes, often forming large colonies.
  • Appearance: This large, rhizomatous grass has flat, broad leaves with very sharp margins. 

Common reed (Phragmitesaustraliscap π‘ƒβ„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”π‘šπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘ π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘ ) 

  • Height: 6 to 20 feet tall.
  • Habitat: Grows in both fresh and brackish wetlands and along river banks.
  • Appearance: This tall perennial grass is known for its dense, feathery, purple-red seed plumes that appear in late summer or fall. 

Other species – Other freshwater marsh plants in the area are typically shorter: 

  • Cattails and wild rice are also found in shallow freshwater marshes.
  • Pickerelweed and other smaller grasses and sedges contribute to the diverse vegetation in these wetlands.  They vary from one foot to seven feet tall.

Southern or annual wild rice (Z. aquatica), also an annual, grows in the state of Florida, Southeast Georgia and on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. It has the same nutritional value as its cousin growing in Great Lakes Region, but produces more edible seeds, due to the much longer growing season.

Southern Wild-rice looks superficially like Annual (Northern) Wild-rice (Zizania aquatica). Both are robust and often exceed 6 feet tall. Southern Wild-rice has very thick (up to 1.5 cm) rhizomes, and the rather conical/triangular inflorescence often exceeds 2 feet long. The florets have much shorter awns (less than 9 mm long).

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