Archaeology and nature: hyblean cultural landscape and territorial ...

Fig. 6: Acropolis of Cuma
Overlapping the Piaget's schemes to the aerial photo we can reconstruct the main territorial changes and
compare them to the present look (figg. 1, 2,3).
Based on this information we built a 3D model of the territory during Greek and Roman times and the 3D
model of the territory how it looks today.
The comparison between three models allows us to show the spatial transformations of the area study.
One of the problem to solve is the exploration of the model of a large part of territory, static images aren't
enough to show the transformation of landscape because it is too large and too complex.
Animation is the best way to solve this problem, in fact video allow us to visualize the 3D model from different
point of view, in different ages in a dynamic way and it is possible to use static images mixed to some others
sources such as photo, iconographic sources, but in a video luck interactivity (fig. 5).
A new way to explore 3D models is the possibility to interact with the 3D model, to do that it is possible to
use a 3D PDF files
3D PDF is very convenient when the object is too large or too complex, when we want to show evolution
over long period of time of cities or landscape. If we reconstruct landscape the amount of 3D data that we'd
like to visualize exceeds by far the capabilities of the complex user.
So, we can cover all 3D visualization using 3D PDF and video files. The use of 3D PDF let us to link to 3D
model some others data.
There are some other providers that use other technology based upon WebGL supported by Chrome Firefox
and Safary but we are interesting in 3D PDF because it is supported by Internet Explorer.
In fact, 3D PDF file is [7].:
- avaible on every computer platform system;
- easy to use;
- readable on all computer by Acrobat Reader.
Now 3D PDF can't be used on mobile device but it will possible in the next.
We are testing the possibility to use 3D PDF files to public on web 3D resource linked to the Archaeological
park of Cuma and its use in cultural heritage application. The new communication strategy will let us to
spread the results of our research on web to improve public enjoyment and to show the landscape and
monumental buildings evolution of Cuma over the time.
From a methodological point of view the most important steps of our workflow are:
- to convert 3D model in a 3D PDF file;
- to define a visualization code by texturing and mapping;
- to link information to 3D model by layering, named views, action and so on[7].
First of all we are testing different methods for texturing [8].:a 3D object to define a visualization code and to
choose the best way to spread cultural content for a wide audience. To link information to 3D model using a
3D PDF file we are testing layering options [7]. In the conversion process from 3D model to 3D PDF file it is
to improve to show landscape's transformations by turning on and off the part of 3D model that represent
landscape in different ages. We are going to use this method to compare 3D model of archaeological finds of
monumental buildings with their virtual reconstruction hypothesis. To do that we had to structure the 3D
model in layers related to the transformation process from Greek and Roman time to current time.
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