3d model

At the Fall 2009 Membership Meeting of the the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), Bernard Frischer, Director of the Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at the University of Virginia said his team of "digital humanists" that were responsible for the development of Rome Reborn are turning their attention to UNESCO-listed Hadrian's Villa, also known as Villa Adriana, in Tivoli. In his talk, Beyond Illustration: New Dimensions of 3D Modeling of Cultural Heritage Sites and Monuments (see the video at the bottom of this page), he discusses how 4D virtualisation would increase our knowledge of the ancient world.

A pioneering research project to recreate Roman Leicester with an interactive virtual world is unveiled today at the official launch of Phoenix Square film and digital media centre in the city’s emerging cultural quarter. Members of the public will see a showcase of a range of IOCT - Institute of Creative Technologies - projects including taking an interactive on-screen tour round Roman Leicester 210AD; which takes them inside some of the 3D buildings including the Merlin Works Baths, Mithraum, the Temple of Jupiter and the Basilica and Forum.

Using a skill known as architectural forensics, and working with archaeologists from the University of Leicester, Dr Douglas Cawthorne and Researcher Assistant George Watson have brought to 3D life, buildings known to have existed in the city, the first tage of the 'Virtual Roman Leicester' project.

Dr Cawthorne said: "This project seeks to digitally recreate Roman Leicester (Ratae Corieltauvorum). The first stage, currently underway, is creating highly accurate digital models of the known buildings and artefacts."

The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, and the Royal Ontario Museum, kicked off a three day symposium in Toronto.

I’m going to be filing more detailed blogs at the end, once I have the time to do a proper write-up of all the research.

For now here are some news-briefs that I want to fill you in on.

-The Seila Pyramid is flat! No – it is not a step pyramid. It is a true pyramid. Professor Kerry Muhlestein of Brigham Young University, presented the latest research.

A team of engineers, using GPS equipment, completed a 3D model of the pyramid recently. Combined with (unpublished) excavation results it is now clear that it is not a step-pyramid.

In an effort to share their extensive collection of pottery from the American southwest with both museum and internet visitors, the Arizona State Museum is collaborating with the Center for Desert Archaeology on the Virtual Vault Project.  Models of each vessel are being created using 3DSOM Pro, a tool for automatically generating 3D models from photos of an object.  The software is produced by Creative Dimension Software Ltd.

As if Stonehenge itself wasn't impressive enough yet - the sarcen stones vary in weight from 20 to 50 tonnes - we are being told over and over it's part of a bigger whole, a 'ritual landscape' including the Avenue, the Durrington Walls, the Stonehenge Cursus, and Woodhenge. Using LiDAR - airborne 3D scanning - data Tom Goskar for Wessex Archaeology has created a stunning 3D animation of Stonehenge's current day landscape, showing the Winterbourne Stoke Barrows and that the Avenue is still clearly visible today. Add to that a virtual reconstruction of the Amesbury Archer's skull and a 3D visualisation of an entire prehistoric landscape that's now submerged 20 metres under the English Channel, and you have one awesome showcase for the use of 3D technology and visualisation in archaeology.

Easily the most recognisable heritage site in Greece, the Acropolis spans 3 hectares on a site which sits 150 metres above sea level. Much of this fascinating site remains today, albeit a little bit spread out! Roy Filou's fantastic capture of this stunning site at dusk creates a shadowy and relaxed feel which portrays a warm feel.

The Older Parthenon was originally pillaged and burnt to the ground in 480BC after a Persian atatck on Athens. In the aftermath, the whole site was rebuilt during the Golden Age of Athens, overseen by Emperor Pericles and two prominent architects - Ictinus and Callicrates. Between 460BC and 415BC, much of the Acropolis had been rebuilt to much more glory.