Commercial Archaeology and 3D Web Technologies (original) (raw)

Archaeological Sites Characterisation by the Use of Virtual Reality Web Tools

Today's virtual environments are expected to be distributed to allow collaboration for common purposes. However, they must ensure a high level of operative efficacy to the user, especially in an open context with unknown man-in-the-loop event occurrence. This paper presents how the Distributed Virtual Environment Collaboration Model could be a right and efficient innovation in the archaeological content.

Web Mapping technologies for the valorization of slow tourism: the Via Regina project

The practice of slow tourism denotes a sustainable way of living the territory based on environmentally-friendly forms of transportation, the appreciation of nature and the rediscovery of local history and cultural identity. Technological advancements in ICT, mostly in the domain of GIS, nowadays represent an essential mean to give new insights to this kind of activities. This work presents a rich implementation of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Web Mapping technologies to valorize slow tourism in the charming naturalistic area of Via Regina. This is an ancient cultural route overlooking Lake Como (Northern Italy) and defining a system of slow mobility paths – ideal for hiking and/or biking – which spans the mountainous region at the border between Italy and Switzerland. First, a mobile app is developed which allows tourists to report a wide range of points of interest while travelling around the paths. Along with a huge amount of other geospatial data (e.g. the authoritative ...

3D Data Integration for Web Fruition of Underground Archaeological Sites: A Web Navigation System for the Hypogeum of Crispia salvia (Marsala, Italy)

Heritage

The diffuse data fruition of archaeological hypogeum sites still represents a challenge due to their limited accessibility and their preservation and maintenance issues. This implies that the fruition of these peculiar archaeological sites is often possible through digital reconstructions and interactive web navigation systems. The survey methodologies based on terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry allow making accurate and detailed digital reconstructions of these sites that are useful for virtual fruition purposes. In addition, many different systems can be used for remote web navigation and fruition. This work presents a possible solution for the virtual fruition of archaeological hypogea with a multiscale 3D web navigation system based on WebGL open-source technology. The system has been implemented for the Roman hypogeum of Crispia salvia, located in Marsala (southern Italy). The hypogeum belongs to the Archaeological Park of Lilibeo-Marsala and is considered one of the...

Web Mapping and Real–Virtual Itineraries to Promote Feasible Archaeological and Environmental Tourism in Versilia (Italy)

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information

The Versilia plain (NW Italy) experiences forms of tourism that are mainly limited to the beach area and concentrated in the summer season. The area is rich in cultural and natural heritage, not yet adequately enhanced. The presence of four local archaeological museums and a natural park offers a great opportunity to favour feasible archaeological and environmental tourism. The aim of this study is to use a holistic methodology to improve a different type of tourism in the study area. We propose a consilient multidisciplinary approach based on geological, biological and archaeological data in order to enhance the cultural and natural heritage of the Versilia plain. We have based our study on the reconstruction of palaeoenvironment maps showing the evolution of the territory and used them as a leitmotiv to link the archaeological museums and the natural park. We define real and virtual itineraries to create a synergy between the most important archaeological and natural sites and mus...

From a Research Prototype to a Deployed System: the Case of the Hecht Museum Visitor's Guide

2010

Cultural heritage (such as museums, archeological sites etc) is both an appealing and challenging research area for applying novel information technologies. It is appealing because it provides a wide range of research possibilities and involves users that are generally willing to experience novel technologies. It is challenging because it requires the research prototype to be a complete, robust and high quality system usable by regular visitors. However, once such a system is in place then a wide range of research directions can be explored. After achieving such a high quality research prototype, an interesting question arises about what it takes to make a research prototype into a working system to be used daily by visitors. This paper describes the experience gained at the PIL project, which started as a research project applying novel technologies for museum visitors and progressed into a system that is deployed at the museum and can be used by visitors on a daily basis. In the p...

Design and creation of a 3D virtual tour of the world heritage site of Petra, Jordan

2014

The spatial documentation of cultural heritage sites using the technologies of laser scanning, aerial and close range photogrammetry, 360 degree panorama photography and conventional surveying methods has been well established as a means of digitally recording sites for conservation, restoration, site management, education and tourism purposes. Currently the field of Virtual Heritage is trying to address the gap between the spatial data produced of heritage sites and the use of the data by interested parties. The reason for this gap is because data viewing platforms have not been adequately designed to allow the general user to view combinations of 3D spatial data in an easy manner and in a compelling and engaging 3D environment. This paper describes the undertaking to assimilate spatial data into one seamless virtual tour, where a “virtual visitor” is able to view a wide variety of spatial data in a single interactive environment. The paper is based on the experiences of creating a...