VAST06: The 7th International Symposium on Virtual Reality, Archaeology and Intelligent Cultural Heritage

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Automatic Registration and Calibration for Efficient Surface Light Field Acquisition
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Larue, Frédéric; Dischler, Jean-Michel; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
This paper presents a novel protocol for the acquisition of surface light fields which is designed to deal with delicate objects that might not be touched or moved. This constraint is particularly important when art pieces are involved. Our protocol enables the automatic reconstruction of a model from many range images and the automatic registration of many pictures with the acquired geometry. A structured light pattern is first used to project a parameterization over the analyzed surface. Each surface point hit by this parameterization is uniquely identified, independently of the chosen viewpoint, and the problem of finding point-point and point-pixel correspondences is then immediately solved. These correspondences are finally used to perform the registrations and camera calibrations that provide the data to be used by a surface light field renderer.
The backstage of Byblos' Roman theatre: New Digital Devices using Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Paoli, Giovanni De; El-Khoury, Nada; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary research project that combines the fields of architecture and the conservation of the built heritage, history, communications and computer science. The study of new methods of experimentation will enable us to define and validate new orientations in the way we understand, structure and transfer acquired knowledge about a given architecturally significant complex. The aim of the project is to present the various experiences obtained during the interpretation of heritage spaces, and in particular intangible heritage, using information and communication technologies. More specifically, it involves acquiring, through ICT, computer modelling and archaeologists accurate documentation, an understanding of the consequences of successive occupations of an archaeological site on its current condition. It also seeks to gain a better understanding of the construction techniques and know-how of the Ancients. The objective of this project is to introduce computer modelling, which is capable of showing the site s evolution over the centuries, in order to help us understand the superposition of historic layers. This work will reflect on how to respond to certain challenges using the example of the experiences acquired at the site of the ancient city of Byblos in Lebanon, a city included in UNESCO s World Heritage List. The Byblos project also helps to re-create and re-mould a monumental complex without having all the information and to test hypotheses that we would otherwise be unable to validate without compromising the heritage values of a site by physically reconstructing it. Such a compromise was experienced in the case of the Roman theatre of Byblos (A.D. 218) which, in the 1930s, was moved and rebuilt by the sea by archaeologist M. Dunand.
Co-registration of Photogrammetric and Laser Scanner Data for Generation of 3D Visual Models
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Al-Manasir, Khalil; Fraser, Clive S.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
Nowadays, most terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) systems provide the facility of mounting a digital camera on the laser scanner. This not only facilitates a means to generate better quality photorealistically textured 3D models from TLS point clouds; it also offers the opportunity of using photogrammetric orientation techniques to complement existing methods of TLS point cloud registration. This paper describes an approach whereby a registration procedure based upon photogrammetric means is employed as the first step in integrating TLS data and imagery for the generation of textured 3D models. The approach, called image-based registration (IBR), entails an estimation of transformation parameters between the individual scan data and between digital imagery using photogrammetric bundle adjustment. Once both TLS and photogrammetric data are registered in the same coordinate system, the process of forming a segmented structured surface model and its associated triangular mesh are carried out. Photogrammetrically derived constraints are used to convert the unstructured, registered laser scanner model to a structured model. Finally, texture mapping takes place via the rectification of image patches from the integrated images used in the IBR process onto individual surface elements. Test results obtained with the proposed approach are presented to highlight its practicability and accuracy.
Combining Laser Scanning and Photogrammetry - A Hybrid Approach for Heritage Documentation
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Haala, Norbert; Alshawabkeh, Yahya; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
High quality 3D models of cultural heritage sites can be generated efficiently by laser scanning, which allows the accurate and dense measurement of surface geometry. In addition to the geometric data collection, texture mapping based on additionally collected digital imagery is particular important for this type of application. This requires a combined processing of range and image data sets. For this purpose, they have to be registered or aligned by a suitable transformation to a common reference coordinate system. The involved transformation parameters can be determined based on corresponding elements to be extracted from the different data sets. In the paper an efficient edge detection algorithm is presented, which allows for the automatic segmentation of such primitives even in complex scenes. In order to achieve a high quality 3D photo-realistic mode,l this alignment process has to be followed by an automatic texture mapping, which is discussed in the second part of the paper. The presented algorithms are demonstrated in the framework of a project aiming at the generation of a 3D virtual model of the Al-Khasneh, a well-known monument in Petra, and a Roman Theatre in ancient Jerash city, Jordan.
A Concept for the Separation of Foreground/ Background in Arabic Historical Manuscripts using Hybrid Methods
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Boussellaa, Wafa; Abed, Haikal El; Zahour, A.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
This paper presents a new color document image segmentation system suitable for historical Arabic manuscripts. Our system is composed of a hybrid method which couple together background light intensity normalization algorithm and k-means clustering with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation, for foreground/ background separation. Firstly, the background normalization algorithm performs separation between foreground and background. This foreground is used in later steps. Secondly, our algorithm proceeds on luminance and distort the contrast. These distortions are corrected with a gamma correction and contrast adjustment. Finally, the new enhanced foreground image is segmented to foreground/background on the basis of ML estimation. The initial parameters for the ML method are estimated by k-means clustering algorithm. The segmented image is used to produce a final restored document image. The techniques are tested on a set of Arabic historical manuscripts documents from the National Tunisian Library. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated on by real color manuscripts distorted with show-through effects, uneven background color and localized spot.
Current Practice in Digital Imaging in UK Archaeology
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Chuter, Alice; Devlin, Kate; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The field of archaeology relies heavily on photography as a way of recording information about sites and artefacts. It is therefore essential that we can have confidence in the photographic record, as any changes over time can result in information being lost forever. In the past five years digital imaging has become a potential alternative to traditional film photography. However, this has great implications, as both methods have very different advantages and disadvantages. Most notably, if the rise in digital photography in the heritage sector mirrors that of current public trends, there is a danger that digital preservation issues could be neglected. We undertook a survey of photographic practice among archaeologists in the UK in order to gain an insight into the prominence of digital photography for recording our past. This paper presents and analyses our results.
Deconstructing the VR - Data Transparency, Quantified Uncertainty and Reliability of 3D Models
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Hermon, Sorin; Nikodem, Joanna; Perlingieri, Cinzia; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The paper discusses two key concepts required for the use of Virtual Reality and 3D modelling as a research tool for the humanities: data transparency -what is the type and nature of the archaeological/historical/ethnographical material on which the 3D model is based, and reliability - how the user can scientifically analyse the model. In this article, we will presenta solution to these issues based on concepts deriving from fuzzy logic and fuzzy sets. Taking into consideration the "real nature " of humanities data, more often fuzzy than crisp, a different logic (fuzzy logic) should be applied when attempting to reconstruct a past reality. This will enable a quantifiable visualization of possible scenarios, otherwise discarded in traditional representations. Each scenario is accompanied with a "reliability index", estimated by the researcher according to his/her certainty on the existence of the modelled part and the "importance" of each component of the model. This approach will allow the user to reconstruct the "cognitive process" and the step-by-step "decision making" of the researcher that built the 3D model, and to open the model to a scientific analysis from a humanities point of view.
Destroying Cultural Heritage: Technical, Emotional and Exhibition Aspects in Simulating Earthquake Effects on a Gothic Cathedral
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Chittaro, Luca; Ranon, Roberto; Corvaglia, Demis; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
While a significant research effort has been devoted to produce virtual reconstructions of cultural heritage, the issue of reproducing the effects of natural or man-provoked disasters (e.g., earthquakes, floods, wars) on cultural heritage has received much less attention. Moreover, presenting these events with multimedia installations on museums requires to consider how to properly convey the dramatic aspects of the experience besides the faithful simulation of the damage caused. In this paper, we focus specifically on earthquakes and their effects on historical buildings.We present the methodology we have followed to produce a museum experience of a real earthquake that struck a gothic cathedral. We discuss technical (e.g., building a 3D model that is suitable to the considered purpose), emotional (e.g., testing the exhibit with pilot studies on users), and exhibition aspects (e.g., using infrasound to increase the realism of the experience and the dramatic feelings it evokes).
Digital Terrain Modelling for Archaeological Interpretation within Forested Areas using Full-Waveform Laserscanning
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Doneus, Michael; Briese, C.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The identification of sites within forested areas is one of the remaining unresolved issues for archaeological prospection. Airborne laser scanning can be a solution to this problem: due to the capability of penetrating forest to a certain degree (depending on the vegetation density) the determination of the terrain surface is even possible in wooded areas. To be able to identify archaeological structures, archaeologists have to interpret the resulting topographical data of a filtered ALS scan. This does not pose major problems with large structures. Smaller features, however, are much more difficult to identify, because their appearance in an ALS point cloud is very similar to natural and recent features, as for example dense brushwood, or piles of twigs or wood. Therefore, to eliminate potential sources of error, a high quality separation of terrain and off-terrain points is essential for archaeological interpretation while maintaining a high point density of the ALS data. Using conventional ALS systems, the possibilities to classify terrain and off-terrain points are limited and the results - especially in forested areas with dense understorey - are far from ideal for archaeological purposes. This paper will demonstrate how the new generation of full-waveform ALS systems can be used to get a much better classification of solid ground and vegetation cover and consequently DTMs, which can be interpreted archaeologically with much more confidence.
Educative Visuals - Digital Delivery of Architectural Information for (potential) Heritage Buildings
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Kwee, Verdy; Radford, Antony; Bruton, Dean; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The paper proposes models that address current issues and considerations at several key levels relating to treatment of architectural information, its presentation and delivery methods specific to architecture education requirements. It investigates fundamental digital communication strategies for the understanding of architectural work of heritage or potential heritage values, highlighting how digital simulations in particular could complement other media like texts, drawings and photographs to facilitate an understanding of design. It proposes dynamic visual layering system of information and information types relating to site, construction, materials, textures, design philosophy, etc, while also taking into account feedback from the intended audience. The architectural work featured as an example is of high potential heritage value - an area of special interest in the context of a country with a relatively short architectural history as Australia. The information depicted in the model has a role to supplement a site visit or to communicate independently to the much larger audience who are unable to visit the site. Although the paper does not insist on definite or final prescriptive techniques for the delivery of architectural information of heritage or potential heritage values, it suggests a possibility of standardisation in this area with features and considerations that need to be firstly addressed.
Evaluating the Social Context of ICT Applications in Museum Exhibitions
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Tost, Laia Pujol; Economou, Maria; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The spreading of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in exhibitions is, among other reasons, due to the wish of curators to find new ways to improve visitors experiences in museums. This has lead to an interest to understand if and how they really work as a museological and museographical element and assess their effectiveness. However, systematic studies in this field remain very limited or are not of sufficient depth. Although the technological field has a long tradition of assessment, this usually concentrates on technological, attitudinal or cognitive issues and does not take into account the specific features of the visit in a museum or cultural heritage site and the importance of the social context. This paper stresses the need to carry out and take into account the results of a systematic body of analyses dealing with how technological displays are really used. It also discusses the need to concentrate on the social dimension of the visit and use of ICT and to develop the methodological aspects. Based on previous studies and on our own research, the contribution of this paper is twofold: firstly, it provides an overview of empirical results concerning the use of different kinds of ICT exhibits and secondly, it discusses some preliminary ideas aimed at the construction of a methodology for evaluation. The aim is to establish the basic guidelines for the effective integration of ICT applications in museums and cultural heritage.
Geographical Presentation of Virtual Museum Exhibitions
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Stawniak, Miroslaw; Walczak, Krzysztof; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
In this paper we present a system, called GeoARCO, which enables presentation of virtual museum exhibitions in a geographical context. The system is partially based on the results of the European project ARCO Augmented Representation of Cultural Objects, which has developed technology for museums enabling them to create and manage virtual museum exhibitions for use in interactive kiosk displays and on the Web. GeoARCO uses the Google Earth platform to enable presentation of digital artefacts as well as complete cultural heritage exhibitions on top of the 3D globe model. Users can browse and search available exhibitions, display current location of objects as well as historical data about the objects, such as the place where the objects were made or discovered. A user can also display detailed 3D models of artefacts, reconstructed sites or entire virtual exhibitions. The system cooperates with multiple ARCO databases run by different museums.
Haptic Navigation and Exploration of High Quality Pre-rendered Environments
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Laycock, Robert George; Laycock, Stephen David; Day, Andy M.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
Visualising in real-time high quality virtual environments, which are suitable for cultural heritage and virtual tourism, is often a challenging endeavour. This is primarily, due to the cost of rendering complex architectural structures. Incorporating the sense of touch into real time environments enhances a user's experience, leading towards a higher level of immersion. However, the confining requirement of the haptic feedback loop to cycle at 1000Hz has led to many applications employing lower quality scenes. In this paper a technique is presented which permits high quality pre-rendered animations of dynamic environments to be both visualised and navigated at high interactive rates. In particular, the approach provides the user with the ability to touch the content of the animations and to freely orientate themselves in any direction, leading to haptically aware movies. Consequently, this permits an exploration of an otherwise prohibitively complex scene consisting of large volumes of geometry and texture maps, combined with realistic lighting models. This component is illustrated within a virtual tour framework enabling users to navigate semi-prescribed routes using haptic feedback both in a spatial and temporal context.
High Quality PTM Acquisition: Reflection Transformation Imaging for Large Objects
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Dellepiane, Matteo; Corsini, Massimiliano; Callieri, Marco; Scopigno, Roberto; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
Reflection Transformation Imaging has proved to be a powerful method to acquire and represent the 3D reflectance properties of an object, displaying them as a 2D image. Recently, Polynomial Texture Maps (PTM), which are relightable images created from a set of photos of the object taken under several different lighting conditions, have been used in Cultural Heritage field to document and virtually inspect several sets of small objects, such as cuneiform tablets and coins. In this paper we explore the possibility of producing high quality PTM of medium or large size objects. The aim is to analyze the acquisition pipeline, resolving all the issues related to the size of the object, and the conditions of acquisition. We will discuss issues regarding acquisition planning and data gathering. We also present a new tool to interactively browse high resolution PTMs. Moreover, we perform some quality assessment considerations, in order to study the degradation of quality of the PTMs respect to the number and position of lights used to acquire the PTM. The results of our acquisition system are presented with some examples of PTMs of large artifacts like a sarcophagus of 2.4 × 1 m size. PTM can be a good alternative to 3D scanning for capturing and representing certain class of objects, like bas-relieves, having lower costs in terms of acquisition equipment and data processing time.
ICT Investment Considerations and their Influence on the Socio-Economic Impact of Heritage Sites
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) McLoughlin, Jim; Kaminski, Jaime; Sodagar, Babak; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The following methodological model can be used as a platform for the study of the impact of information and communications technologies (ICT) at cultural heritage sites. The model has been developed through extensive, in-depth interviews with curators, directors and stakeholders at many cultural heritage sites across Europe. The underling strength of this model is its versatility. Although the model is oriented towards the investment in, and deployment of, ICT at heritage sites it is fundamentally about understanding the process of investment and so could be modified for many investment decisions.
Interactive Mobile Assistants for Added-value Cultural Contents
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Linaza, Maria Teresa; García, Ander; Susperregui, Ana; Lamsfus, Carlos; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
Multimedia technologies provide new opportunities for museums to enhance their visitors experience. However, its use brings new challenges for presentation preparation, among which are how to enrich the visit while not diverting the visitors attention from the actual objects in the museum, which should remain the focus of the visit; and how to provide a rich information space suitable for a wide variety of visitors. These challenges need to be addressed during planning and preparation of information presentations for mobile, multimedia museum visitors guides. This paper describes the design and implementation of the AMICo prototype to an exhibition room for visitors who are equipped with wirelessly connected handheld devices. The prototype has been implemented on an exhibition showing a set of architectural scale models from the famous Spanish architect Rafael Moneo hold in the Kubo exhibition centre of the Kutxa Foundation in Donostia-San Sebastian during September and October 2005. The architectural scale models were augmented with information in the form of multimedia content. Users were able to access those contents in a personalized way when in the proximity of the artwork.
Mosaic Rendering using Colored Paper
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Gi, Yong Jea; Park, Young Sup; Seo, Sang Hyun; Yoon, Kyoung Hyun; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
This paper proposes a new method of simulating colored paper mosaic using computer graphics technologies. This new method focuses on two problems that need to be taken care of in order to simulate colored paper mosaic. The first one is tile generation and the other one is tile arrangement. To get similar result in real art work, we create colored paper object with simple structure. Then, we generate torn colored paper tile by applying voronoi diagram and others to colored paper object. At last, we come up with result images by arranging torn colored paper tile appropriately according to energy function.
Multi-Resolution Digital 3D Imaging System Applied to the Recording of Grotto Sites: the Case of the Grotta dei Cervi
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Beraldin, J.-Angelo; Blais, Francois; Cournoyer, Luc; Picard, Michel; Gamache, Daniel; Valzano, Virginia; Bandiera, Adriana; Gorgoglione, M. A.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The Grotta dei Cervi is a complex and fragile Neolithic cave where human presence left a large number of unique pictographs and petroglyphs. Detailed documentation necessitates recording it at different levels of details or spatial resolutions. A general approach would entail a combination of 3D data from different 3D sensors and information from different sources in order to meet set resolution targets. We used a prototype multi-resolution 3D laser imaging scanner that allowed acquiring the shape information of the three main chambers with a spatial resolution that improves with shorter standoffs. The system can record 3D data at a camera-to-object distance which ranges from 0.5 m to 10 m. At a standoff of 0.75 m, it provides a depth uncertainty of 0.08 mm and an optical lateral resolution of 0.2 mm on actual rock surfaces. This paper presents the project and the results obtained. The 10-day long visit into the Grotto generated more that 100 GB of 2D and 3D data that requires the development of new tools for modelling and managing the archive.
Multi-Spectral Laser Scanning for Inspection of Building Surfaces - State of the Art and Future Concepts
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Wehr, Aloysius; Hemmleb, Matthias; Maierhofer, Chr.; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) developed a multi-spectral laser scanner to demonstrate the advantages of such systems for the inspection of building surfaces. It is shown that damage of building surfaces, caused by enhanced moisture content and/or vegetation, can be recorded automatically with a high signal-to-noise ratio by using four continuous wave semiconductor lasers at different wavelengths for the defined illumination of the object surface. It is worked out that the damaged areas can be identified by applying commercial multi-spectral image processing software. Finally a concept is presented to improve the overall performance of the system with regard to sampling speed and sensitivity. Here the cw lasers are modulated by sinusoidal signals of different frequencies and the intensity of the backscattered laser light is detected by synchronous demodulation. Furthermore, these structured signals can be used for slant range measurements. Knowing the slant for each pixel, three dimensional multi-spectral images are obtained
New Reflection Transformation Imaging Methods for Rock Art and Multiple-Viewpoint Display
(The Eurographics Association, 2006) Mudge, Mark; Malzbender, Tom; Schroer, Carla; Lum, Marlin; Marinos Ioannides and David Arnold and Franco Niccolucci and Katerina Mania
We offer two new methods of documenting and communicating cultural heritage information using Reflection Transformation Imaging (RTI). One imaging method is able to acquire Polynomial Texture Maps (PTMs) of 3D rock art possessing a large range of sizes, shapes, and environmental contexts. Unlike existing PTM capture methods requiring known light source positions, we rely on the user to position a handheld light source, and recover the lighting direction from the specular highlights produced on a black sphere included in the field of view captured by the camera. The acquisition method is simple, fast, very low cost, and easy to learn. A complementary method of integrating digital RTI representations of subjects from multiple viewpoints is also presented. It permits RTI examination in the round in a unified, interactive, image-based representation. Collaborative tests between Cultural Heritage Imaging, Hewlett- Packard Labs, and the UNESCO Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley, a World Heritage Site in Portugal, suggest this approach will be very beneficial when applied to paleolithic petroglyphs of various sizes, both in the field and in the laboratory. These benefits over current standards of best practice can be generalized to a broad range of cultural heritage material.

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