Books and Special Issues by Fabrizio Galeazzi
This volume represents the first attempt to collate an organic collection of contributions on aut... more This volume represents the first attempt to collate an organic collection of contributions on authenticity and the digital realm in heritage and archaeology. It analyses the concept of authenticity from different perspectives and with different multidisciplinary contributions, together with theoretical debate. The collection of papers explores the concept of authenticity in a comprehensive way, engaging with theories relating to the commodification of ancient material culture, heritage-making processes, scholarly views and community engagement. These papers also take into account current digital practices for the study of past material culture and how their use affects and redefines interpretation processes in archaeology. This will provide a key reference text for archaeologists, museum and heritage specialists, and other readers interested in authenticity, cultural heritage and 3D reproductions.
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Journal of Field Archaeology, 2018
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Sessions, Conferences and Workshops by Fabrizio Galeazzi
This workshop highlights the potential of cutting-edge technologies for cultural heritage protect... more This workshop highlights the potential of cutting-edge technologies for cultural heritage protection and promotion among young audiences. It aims at equipping creative young entrepreneurs and partner youth organizations from the Arab region and beyond with new skills, knowledge and approaches to represent, document and promote cultural heritage and at inspiring them to take action. It also provides participants with unique opportunities to network, share and analyse successful experiences, mutualize resources and upgrade their work using the most advanced technologies (augmented reality, virtual experiences, 3D simulation, gaming) to promote cultural heritage as a fundamental prerequisite of democracy, a pillar of freedom of expression, a resource for youth empowerment and an essential element for the wellbeing of societies.
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We seek participants to contribute to a session focused on using the web to promote data integrat... more We seek participants to contribute to a session focused on using the web to promote data integration and collaborative research in archaeology. The session will be divided into panels focused on specific digital archaeology problems. Each panel will comprise 15 minutes presentations followed by Q& A. You can upload abstracts to: http://caaconference.org/2016/09/13/call-papersposters-open/
Please submit any questions to: Fabrizio Galeazzi (fabrizio.galeazzi@york.ac.uk) or Heather Richards-Rissetto (richards-rissetto@unl.edu)
Archaeology is a collaborative, ongoing process from field to lab to dissemination. Fieldwork comprises data recording experts using diverse non-digital and digital methods that produce a complex set of data. Archaeologists use these field data for a myriad of purposes such as analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. While digital technologies have been part of the archaeological workflow for more than thirty years, the management and integration of field data, legacy, and other data is still complex. Archaeologists are looking for shareable methodologies that allow for the integration of innovative digital practices for fieldwork recording and subsequent data management, analysis, and dissemination. Recent advancements of web technology are transforming web browsers into effective computation and visualization platforms. For example, web browsers now efficiently execute JavaScript code enabling faster and greater processing as it is processed on client side requiring less memory storage than web servers. HTML5 standard includes WebGL-a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D computer graphics in browsers without plugins. These advancements are two ways technology is transforming the ways it is possible to access and work with 3D archaeological data on the web.
This session fosters a discussion on the potential for web technology to reshape archaeological practice as it enables us to more quickly and efficiently bridge fieldwork, lab work and analysis through innovative data integration and dissemination. Participants address questions such as: (1) Can web technology augment or facilitate the integration of 3D documentation techniques in on-site archaeological recording? (2) Can web-based 3D platforms increase collaborative and interpretative processes during the excavation? (3) Which kind of infrastructure(s) best promote the integration of 3D digital methods in the day-to-day fieldwork practices? Papers will discuss the use of web-based platforms as one of the possible solution to combine traditional and innovative methods to promote collaborative fieldwork. For example, certain infrastructures allow researchers unable to participate in the fieldwork experience to access and conduct analysis remotely, hence promoting interdisciplinary and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows. Building on this idea of remote participation, the second part of the session focuses on web-based infrastructure (platforms) for the integration, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. Participants address questions such as: (1) What web-based platforms exist for collaborative archaeological research? What are their advantages? Disadvantages? (2) Is a single, all-encompassing platform the best solution? Is it even possible? Or, it is best to have several platforms that serve specific purposes? Why? Why not? (3) What role do standards and best practices play in developing web infrastructure that brings together legacy and recently acquired field data? And (4) Should we place greater emphasis on designing collaborative workflows for existing platforms rather than the development of new platforms? The session seeks to discuss the re-defining of archaeological methods and practices for on-site data recording and subsequent data integration and dissemination that can foster collaborative research.
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Archaeological excavation is a destructive and unique process. So it is essential that we make a ... more Archaeological excavation is a destructive and unique process. So it is essential that we make a full record in the field as the excavation progresses. The active integration of both traditional and innovative 3D practices for archaeological documentation can increase the accuracy and realism in the documentation process favouring a full data recording.
With this session we intend to challenge and open a discussion on the impact that on-site digital data recording and the development of innovative web-based platforms may have in reshaping archaeological fieldwork practices answering specific research questions on the potential of 3D technologies for archaeological intra-site data recording: (1) is the effective integration of 3D technologies in the day-to-day fieldwork practice really possible? (2) Which infrastructures should we develop to favour the ‘digital turn’ in the archaeological recording on site? (3) Is it possible to develop infrastructure and frameworks dealing with “data complexity”?
While there has been much attention to data preservation and “big data” of late, the definition of new digital practices which allow the integration and visualisation of a variety of data, acquired in different periods using different techniques is essential. The re-use and repurposing of “old” and “new” data and formats is mandatory to have a complete understanding of social and cultural dynamics of archaeological sites and landscapes subject to long-term investigations.
In the year of the 20th anniversary of Archaeology Data Service (ADS) we would like to discuss the importance of integrating 2D and 3D interactive visualisation systems with trusted and well-recognised digital repository for archaeological data, such as Archaeology Data Service. This because solid cyber-infrastructures such as ADS can facilitate the long term use and access to these new digital tools not only in academia but also amongst professional archaeologists and the general public, increasing the dissemination of research results, data management and accessibility in archaeology.
We would like to discuss the added value of 3D representations of archaeological excavation for the creation of new knowledge in archaeology, and how new digital methods could impact and reshape theoretical frameworks. This session will cover a variety of themes, which contribute to re-defining archaeological methods and practices for the on-site data recording:
• 3D web-based visualisation of archaeological sequences;
• 2D and 3D visualisation of Harris Matrix data;
• Archiving and accessing 3D spatial data;
• Visualisation of archaeological stratigraphy and related datasets;
• GIS and remote sensing 3D data visualisation;
• 3D immersive visualisation and augmented reality for the analysis of archaeological sites and landscapes.
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Archaeology is becoming increasingly ‘digital’. The use of 3D laser scanners, computer vision and... more Archaeology is becoming increasingly ‘digital’. The use of 3D laser scanners, computer vision and photogrammetric methods is well established in the archaeological field now, since these techniques allow to digitally preserving the information through time. Three-dimensional metric replicas of the archaeological record are powerful tools for the analysis, understanding and interpretation of tangible heritage, since they give the opportunity to virtually revisit the archaeological information by multiple experts, without the limitations of space and time. Today digital archives and the web allow preservation, sharing and accessibility of 3D data, favoring an unprecedented dissemination of information. Thanks to the advancement of technologies, 3D digital objects can now also be recreated using 3D printers. This gives researchers and the public the ability to not only see objects, but also engage and interact with their reproductions. Three-dimensional printing affords the use of tactile information not typically utilized when simply viewing static 2D photographs or looking at objects displayed in a museum. What is the value of 3D digital and physical replicas of ancient material culture? How should we consider these digital and virtual reproductions? Are they authentic representations of our cultural heritage or just virtual and physical ‘fakes’? We welcome papers that discuss how 3D digital and printed replicas challenge and reconsider the notion of authenticity in archaeology and heritage studies. We would like potential papers to explore the concept of authenticity in relation to:-Three-dimensional digital replicas of ancient artefacts.-Three-dimensional printed replicas of ancient artefacts.-Three-dimensional virtual replicas of the archaeological excavation process. -Cultural diversity. How different cultures cope with replicas.-Museum experiences.
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Papers by Fabrizio Galeazzi
Sustainability, 2019
This paper describes the work undertaken as part of the ‘Digital Documentation of Ksar Said’ Proj... more This paper describes the work undertaken as part of the ‘Digital Documentation of Ksar Said’ Project. This project, funded by the British Council, combined education, history, and heritage for the digital preservation of tangible and intangible aspects of heritage associated with the 19th century Said Palace (Ksar Said) in Tunis. We produced an interactive 3D model of Ksar Said and developed learning resources to build Tunisian students’ critical engagement with their heritage through inquiry learning activities within the 3D model. We used a user-centred approach, based on pre-assessment (i.e., co-creation of contents), mid-term evaluation (i.e., feedback on contents and preliminary design of virtual activities), and post-assessment design (i.e., user trial). Our results demonstrate the potential of this novel approach to virtual learning and inform future co-design, evaluation and implementation choices for improving the generative power of three dimensional virtual replication of heritage sites in the cultural heritage sector.
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Journal of Field Archaeology, 2018
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This paper investigates the ontology of 3-D replicas and simulations of archaeological and herita... more This paper investigates the ontology of 3-D replicas and simulations of archaeological and heritage sites. In the past 20 years, the use of new technologies for the 3-D documentation and reconstruction of cultural heritage has altered approaches to the analysis and interpretation of tangible heritage. The preservation and recreation of the past is becoming increasingly “digital.” Scholars are debating the authenticity of 3-D digital reproductions in heritage and archaeology. How should we consider these digital and virtual reproductions? Are they original digital representations of our cultural heritage or just virtual “fakes”? It is argued that it is not possible to define universal predetermined categories for the definition of “authentic” in the digital domain, since 3-D digital reproductions of tangible heritage are always influenced by the subjective interpretation of the creator of 3-D content. To support this argument, three case studies are presented that deal with the contested and controversial concept of authenticity in different domains: physical, digital, and a combination of physical and digital.
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3D visualisation in archaeology has become a suitable solution and effective instrument for the a... more 3D visualisation in archaeology has become a suitable solution and effective instrument for the analysis, interpretation and communication of archaeological information. However, so far only a few attempts have been made to understand and evaluate the real impact that 3D imaging has on the discipline under its different forms (off-line immersive and not immersive, and on-line platform).
There is a need in archaeology and cultural heritage for a detailed analysis of the different infrastructural options that are available and a precise evaluation of the differing impact that they can have in reshaping the discipline. To achieve this, it is important to develop new methodologies that consider the evaluation process as a fundamental and central part for assessing digital infrastructures. These new methods should include flexible evaluation approaches that can be adapted to the infrastructure that needs to be assessed.
This article aims to provide some examples of 3D applications in archaeology and cultural heritage and describe how the selection of the infrastructure is related to specific needs of the project. This work will describe the different applications and propose guidelines and protocols for evaluating their impact within academia and the general public.
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The solid geometry of archaeological deposits is fundamental to the interpretation of their chron... more The solid geometry of archaeological deposits is fundamental to the interpretation of their chronological sequence. However, such stratigraphic sequences are generally viewed as static two-dimensional diagrammatic representations which are difficult to manipulate or to relate to real layers. The ADS 3D Viewer is a web-based resource for the management and analysis of archaeological data. The viewer was developed to take advantage of recent developments in web technology, namely the adoption of WebGL (Web Graphics Library) by current web browsers. The ADS 3D Viewer combines the potential of the 3D Heritage Online Presenter (3DHOP), a software package for the web-based visualization of 3D geometries, with the infrastructure of the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) repository, in the attempt to create a platform for the visualization and analysis of 3D data archived by the ADS.
Two versions of the viewer have been developed to answer the needs of different users. The first version, the Object Level 3D Viewer, was implemented to extend the browsing capability of ADS project archives by enabling the visualization of single 3D models. The second version, the Stratigraphy 3D Viewer, is an extension which allows the exploration of a specific kind of aggregated data: the multiple layers of an archaeological stratigraphic sequence. This allows those unable to participate directly in the fieldwork to access, analyse and re-interpret the archaeological context remotely. This has the potential to transform the discipline, allowing inter-disciplinary, cross-border and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows, and enabling easier access to and analysis of archaeological data.
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This paper investigates the use of 3D immersive virtual environments and 3D prints for interactio... more This paper investigates the use of 3D immersive virtual environments and 3D prints for interaction with past material culture over traditional observation without manipulation. Our work is motivated by studies in heritage, museum, and cognitive sciences indicating the importance of object manipulation for understanding present and ancient artifacts. While virtual immersive environments and 3D prints have started to be incorporated in heritage research and museum displays as a way to provide improved manipulation experiences, little is known about how these new technologies affect the perception of our past. This paper provides first results obtained with three experiments designed to investigate the benefits and tradeoffs in using these technologies. Our results indicate that traditional museum displays limit the experience with past material culture, and reveal how our sample of participants favor tactile and immersive 3D virtual experiences with artifacts over visual non-manipulative experiences with authentic objects.
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Archaeology is becoming increasingly ‘digital’. In the last 10 years, the use of 3D technologies ... more Archaeology is becoming increasingly ‘digital’. In the last 10 years, the use of 3D technologies for the documentation of tangible cultural heritage has changed the way to approach archaeological intra-site survey. These technologies allow for the reproduction of 3D replicas of sites and monuments and have proven to be a powerful tool for the documentation and preservation of the archaeological record. However, the full integration of 3D technologies in archaeological field methods requires the definition of best documentation practices and methods of accurate assessment of the acquired data. In fact, although the use of 3D laser scanners, computer vision and photogrammetric methods is now well established, there are no convincing quantitative comparisons between laser scanning and image-based modelling techniques for the acquisition of archaeological stratigraphy in extreme environmental and lighting conditions. In this sense the 3D documentation of the archaeological site of Las Cuevas, Belize, represented an important opportunity to test and compare phase shift variation laser scanning and image-based modelling techniques in an environment characterized by very high humidity and variability in lighting. This study compared both the accuracy and density reliability of 3D models showing how the different 3D documentation techniques can be integrated for the recording of the excavation process. The research presented in this paper provides an accurate data assessment representing a concrete starting point for the definition of a sharable and overall methodology that will help to define best 3D practices for the documentation of archaeological sites.
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In this paper, we present two experiments designed to compare 2D digital pictures and 3D digital ... more In this paper, we present two experiments designed to compare 2D digital pictures and 3D digital replicas of artifacts, to understand how differently these media facilitate the perception and understanding of our past. Archeologists and museum experts have commonly used 2D digital pictures to preserve and study artifacts. Recently, these scholars have also started to use 3D digital archives for their studies. Yet, we still need to determine how these two formats (2D vs. 3D) affect the perception of our past. Results of our experiments point to 3D digital replicas of artifacts as more effective means to digitally preserve tangible cultural heritage, since 3D multi-visualization augments the perception of physical characteristics of the artifacts allowing a more embodied experience with these objects. Our experiments also suggest that multi-visualization (i.e., point-cloud, mesh, and color information) helps the viewers to overcome their personal conceptualization of specific objects.
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This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for th... more This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for the analysis and interpretation of heritage sites. This article uses different 3D survey technologies to find the most appropriate methods to document archaeological stratigraphy, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The use of 3D laser scanners and dense stereo matching (DSM) techniques is now well established in archaeology. However, no convincing comparisons between those techniques have been presented. This research fills this gap to provide an accurate data assessment for the Las Cuevas site (Belize) and represents a starting point for the definition of a sharable methodology. Tests in Las Cuevas were conducted to compare both accuracy and density reliability in cave environments using two different techniques: triangulation light laser scanner and DSM. This study finds that DSM is the most economical, portable, and flexible approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. In fact, DSM allows the 3D documentation process to be done more efficiently, reducing both data acquisition and processing time. Nonetheless, the quantitative comparison presented in this paper underscores the need to integrate this technique with other technologies when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required.
Spanish
Este ensayo analiza la potencialidad de las tecnologías 3D para el análisis e interpretación del patrimonio histórico y cultural. Este trabajo usa diferentes técnicas 3D con el fin de encontrar los métodos más apropiados para documentar la estratigrafía arqueológica, basados en diversas condiciones ambientales, exposición a la luz y variedad de superficies. A pesar de que actualmente se ha establecido el uso de las técnicas de laser escáner 3D y de la técnica fotogramétrica (DSM) “dense stereo matching” en el campo arqueológico, considero no convincentes las comparaciones que se han hecho hasta el presente entre estas dos técnicas. Esta investigación colma este vacío proveyendo una detallada evaluación de los datos de los asentamientos arqueológicos de Las Cuevas (Belize) y representa un punto de partida concreto hacia la definición de una metodología compartible. Utilizando dos técnicas diferentes, la triangulación de la luz del escáner láser y DSM, se hicieron análisis en Las Cuevas para comparar la precisión y la fiabilidad de densidad en entornos rupestres. Este estudio encontró que el DSM es más económico, portátil, y flexible para la documentación 3D de sitios arqueológicos en la actualidad. De hecho, el DSM permite el proceso de documentación 3D reduciendo tanto la adquisición de datos como el tiempo del proceso. No obstante la comparación cuantitativa presentada en este ensayo, cabe subrayar la necesidad de integrar dicha técnica con otras tecnologías, cuando la adquisición de datos requiere una micro estratigrafía.
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This research aims to define new methodologies for the 3D documentation and preservation of archa... more This research aims to define new methodologies for the 3D documentation and preservation of archaeological sites. In this paper we will show one approach to document completely aspects of an archaeological site using different 3D survey technologies and find the most appropriate methods, based on diverse environmental conditions and light exposures, and with varied surfaces. During the summer 2011 fieldwork campaign a test was conducted in the Las Cuevas’s site (Chiquibul Reserve, western Belize). Thanks to this test was possible to demonstrate the reliability of the triangulation laser scanner technique in terms of accuracy in cave environment. This kind of technology allowed the high resolution data capture of the excavation process in 3D. The final result was the 3D models of the units’ levels (meshes and textures applied). Moreover the comparison between triangulation laser scanner and dense stereo matching techniques showed pros and cons of the two recording methods.
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The use of three dimensional technologies for the documentation of archaeological and cultural he... more The use of three dimensional technologies for the documentation of archaeological and cultural heritage sites is well established today, but this can be challenging because researchers have yet to integrate these technologies to develop a complete and coherent methodology for the 3D documentation of sites. Laser scanning and, recently, dense stereo matching techniques have shown to be very powerful tools for the 3D documentation of the archaeological excavation and context.
The proposed work tests and compares laser scanning and dense stereo matching techniques at Las Cuevas site (Belize), to find the most appropriate methods to document different aspects of an archeological site, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The complexity of the Las Cuevas’ site allowed testing the 3D documentation techniques in areas of the site presenting different environmental conditions and light exposure: dark recesses of caves; areas in shaded sunlight under the jungle canopy; and places of more direct sunlight in areas that have been cleared of brush or exposed by tree fall.
This paper presents the results of the metrical comparison between the 3D models obtained using phase shift variation laser scanner (Faro Focus 3D) and dense stereo matching software (Agisoft Photoscan). The comparison of the co-registered surfaces was performed in both open source and commercial point cloud and mesh processing software based on the shortest point-to-mesh distance considering the normal to the mesh faces.
This study points to dense stereo matching as the most economical, portable, flexible, and widely used approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. Nonetheless, the result of the quantitative comparison underscores the need to integrate this technique with laser scanner technologies, when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required. This kind of research can help defining best 3D practices for the documentation, visualization and analysis of sites.
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Archaeology is a material, embodied discipline; communicating this experience is critical to stud... more Archaeology is a material, embodied discipline; communicating this experience is critical to student success. In the context of lower-division archaeology courses, the present study examines the efficacy of 3D virtual and 2D archaeological representations of digs. This presentation aims to show a 3D application created to teach the archaeological excavation process to freshmen students. An archaeological environment was virtually re-created in 3D, and inserted in a virtual reality software application that allows users to work with the reconstructed excavation area. The software was tested in class for teaching the basics of archaeological fieldwork. The application interface is user-friendly and especially easy for 21st century students. The study employed a pre-survey, post-test, and post-survey design, used to understand the students' previous familiarity with archaeology, and test their awareness after the use of the application. Their level of knowledge was then compared with that of those students who had accessed written material only. This case-study demonstrates how a digital approach to laboratory work can positively affect student learning. Increased abilities to complete ill-defined problems (characteristic of the high-order thinking in the field), can, in fact, be demonstrated. 3D Virtual reconstruction serves, then, as an important bridge from traditional coursework to fieldwork.
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In 2009, a joint research project among the University of California Merced, the City of Teramo a... more In 2009, a joint research project among the University of California Merced, the City of Teramo and the Institute of Technologies
Applied to Cultural Heritage (National Research Council, Rome) started with the goal to communicate virtually the archaeological
context of the city, on the basis of the key archaeological areas of the urban network. The title of the entire project is Teramo: a city
virtually “dressed”. The main goal is the creation of a network of digital installations across the city based on different digital
technologies and mobile systems.
Despite the importance of the city from the archaeological point of view, the fragmentation of the sites, mostly hidden or decontextualized,
and the difficulties to communicate them in broader sense, make difficult an adequate cultural communication from
any point of view: scientific, educational, social and touristic. Therefore the Virtual becomes a social connector for the local
communities, stimulated to re-discover their territory, and for visitors, involved in a more effective learning experience. Is a
metaverse, such as OpenSimulator, able to develop a social sense of presence even in a virtual world? Is it possible to construct new
social narratives by virtual worlds? This paper is related to an application developed in the open source platform OpenSim for a
virtual community of users embedded in the cyberspace. This application is specifically created for the virtual island 3DMetaversity,
an open source project hosted at the CINECA, Supercomputing Center of the University of Bologna. At the current stage of the
project two key ancient Roman monuments of the city, the Theatre and the Domus, have been reconstructed; in addition, the creation
of a virtual library, Virtuoteca, constitutes a meta-space for the communication of archaeological contents.
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Books and Special Issues by Fabrizio Galeazzi
Sessions, Conferences and Workshops by Fabrizio Galeazzi
Please submit any questions to: Fabrizio Galeazzi (fabrizio.galeazzi@york.ac.uk) or Heather Richards-Rissetto (richards-rissetto@unl.edu)
Archaeology is a collaborative, ongoing process from field to lab to dissemination. Fieldwork comprises data recording experts using diverse non-digital and digital methods that produce a complex set of data. Archaeologists use these field data for a myriad of purposes such as analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. While digital technologies have been part of the archaeological workflow for more than thirty years, the management and integration of field data, legacy, and other data is still complex. Archaeologists are looking for shareable methodologies that allow for the integration of innovative digital practices for fieldwork recording and subsequent data management, analysis, and dissemination. Recent advancements of web technology are transforming web browsers into effective computation and visualization platforms. For example, web browsers now efficiently execute JavaScript code enabling faster and greater processing as it is processed on client side requiring less memory storage than web servers. HTML5 standard includes WebGL-a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D computer graphics in browsers without plugins. These advancements are two ways technology is transforming the ways it is possible to access and work with 3D archaeological data on the web.
This session fosters a discussion on the potential for web technology to reshape archaeological practice as it enables us to more quickly and efficiently bridge fieldwork, lab work and analysis through innovative data integration and dissemination. Participants address questions such as: (1) Can web technology augment or facilitate the integration of 3D documentation techniques in on-site archaeological recording? (2) Can web-based 3D platforms increase collaborative and interpretative processes during the excavation? (3) Which kind of infrastructure(s) best promote the integration of 3D digital methods in the day-to-day fieldwork practices? Papers will discuss the use of web-based platforms as one of the possible solution to combine traditional and innovative methods to promote collaborative fieldwork. For example, certain infrastructures allow researchers unable to participate in the fieldwork experience to access and conduct analysis remotely, hence promoting interdisciplinary and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows. Building on this idea of remote participation, the second part of the session focuses on web-based infrastructure (platforms) for the integration, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. Participants address questions such as: (1) What web-based platforms exist for collaborative archaeological research? What are their advantages? Disadvantages? (2) Is a single, all-encompassing platform the best solution? Is it even possible? Or, it is best to have several platforms that serve specific purposes? Why? Why not? (3) What role do standards and best practices play in developing web infrastructure that brings together legacy and recently acquired field data? And (4) Should we place greater emphasis on designing collaborative workflows for existing platforms rather than the development of new platforms? The session seeks to discuss the re-defining of archaeological methods and practices for on-site data recording and subsequent data integration and dissemination that can foster collaborative research.
With this session we intend to challenge and open a discussion on the impact that on-site digital data recording and the development of innovative web-based platforms may have in reshaping archaeological fieldwork practices answering specific research questions on the potential of 3D technologies for archaeological intra-site data recording: (1) is the effective integration of 3D technologies in the day-to-day fieldwork practice really possible? (2) Which infrastructures should we develop to favour the ‘digital turn’ in the archaeological recording on site? (3) Is it possible to develop infrastructure and frameworks dealing with “data complexity”?
While there has been much attention to data preservation and “big data” of late, the definition of new digital practices which allow the integration and visualisation of a variety of data, acquired in different periods using different techniques is essential. The re-use and repurposing of “old” and “new” data and formats is mandatory to have a complete understanding of social and cultural dynamics of archaeological sites and landscapes subject to long-term investigations.
In the year of the 20th anniversary of Archaeology Data Service (ADS) we would like to discuss the importance of integrating 2D and 3D interactive visualisation systems with trusted and well-recognised digital repository for archaeological data, such as Archaeology Data Service. This because solid cyber-infrastructures such as ADS can facilitate the long term use and access to these new digital tools not only in academia but also amongst professional archaeologists and the general public, increasing the dissemination of research results, data management and accessibility in archaeology.
We would like to discuss the added value of 3D representations of archaeological excavation for the creation of new knowledge in archaeology, and how new digital methods could impact and reshape theoretical frameworks. This session will cover a variety of themes, which contribute to re-defining archaeological methods and practices for the on-site data recording:
• 3D web-based visualisation of archaeological sequences;
• 2D and 3D visualisation of Harris Matrix data;
• Archiving and accessing 3D spatial data;
• Visualisation of archaeological stratigraphy and related datasets;
• GIS and remote sensing 3D data visualisation;
• 3D immersive visualisation and augmented reality for the analysis of archaeological sites and landscapes.
Papers by Fabrizio Galeazzi
There is a need in archaeology and cultural heritage for a detailed analysis of the different infrastructural options that are available and a precise evaluation of the differing impact that they can have in reshaping the discipline. To achieve this, it is important to develop new methodologies that consider the evaluation process as a fundamental and central part for assessing digital infrastructures. These new methods should include flexible evaluation approaches that can be adapted to the infrastructure that needs to be assessed.
This article aims to provide some examples of 3D applications in archaeology and cultural heritage and describe how the selection of the infrastructure is related to specific needs of the project. This work will describe the different applications and propose guidelines and protocols for evaluating their impact within academia and the general public.
Two versions of the viewer have been developed to answer the needs of different users. The first version, the Object Level 3D Viewer, was implemented to extend the browsing capability of ADS project archives by enabling the visualization of single 3D models. The second version, the Stratigraphy 3D Viewer, is an extension which allows the exploration of a specific kind of aggregated data: the multiple layers of an archaeological stratigraphic sequence. This allows those unable to participate directly in the fieldwork to access, analyse and re-interpret the archaeological context remotely. This has the potential to transform the discipline, allowing inter-disciplinary, cross-border and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows, and enabling easier access to and analysis of archaeological data.
Spanish
Este ensayo analiza la potencialidad de las tecnologías 3D para el análisis e interpretación del patrimonio histórico y cultural. Este trabajo usa diferentes técnicas 3D con el fin de encontrar los métodos más apropiados para documentar la estratigrafía arqueológica, basados en diversas condiciones ambientales, exposición a la luz y variedad de superficies. A pesar de que actualmente se ha establecido el uso de las técnicas de laser escáner 3D y de la técnica fotogramétrica (DSM) “dense stereo matching” en el campo arqueológico, considero no convincentes las comparaciones que se han hecho hasta el presente entre estas dos técnicas. Esta investigación colma este vacío proveyendo una detallada evaluación de los datos de los asentamientos arqueológicos de Las Cuevas (Belize) y representa un punto de partida concreto hacia la definición de una metodología compartible. Utilizando dos técnicas diferentes, la triangulación de la luz del escáner láser y DSM, se hicieron análisis en Las Cuevas para comparar la precisión y la fiabilidad de densidad en entornos rupestres. Este estudio encontró que el DSM es más económico, portátil, y flexible para la documentación 3D de sitios arqueológicos en la actualidad. De hecho, el DSM permite el proceso de documentación 3D reduciendo tanto la adquisición de datos como el tiempo del proceso. No obstante la comparación cuantitativa presentada en este ensayo, cabe subrayar la necesidad de integrar dicha técnica con otras tecnologías, cuando la adquisición de datos requiere una micro estratigrafía.
The proposed work tests and compares laser scanning and dense stereo matching techniques at Las Cuevas site (Belize), to find the most appropriate methods to document different aspects of an archeological site, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The complexity of the Las Cuevas’ site allowed testing the 3D documentation techniques in areas of the site presenting different environmental conditions and light exposure: dark recesses of caves; areas in shaded sunlight under the jungle canopy; and places of more direct sunlight in areas that have been cleared of brush or exposed by tree fall.
This paper presents the results of the metrical comparison between the 3D models obtained using phase shift variation laser scanner (Faro Focus 3D) and dense stereo matching software (Agisoft Photoscan). The comparison of the co-registered surfaces was performed in both open source and commercial point cloud and mesh processing software based on the shortest point-to-mesh distance considering the normal to the mesh faces.
This study points to dense stereo matching as the most economical, portable, flexible, and widely used approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. Nonetheless, the result of the quantitative comparison underscores the need to integrate this technique with laser scanner technologies, when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required. This kind of research can help defining best 3D practices for the documentation, visualization and analysis of sites.
Applied to Cultural Heritage (National Research Council, Rome) started with the goal to communicate virtually the archaeological
context of the city, on the basis of the key archaeological areas of the urban network. The title of the entire project is Teramo: a city
virtually “dressed”. The main goal is the creation of a network of digital installations across the city based on different digital
technologies and mobile systems.
Despite the importance of the city from the archaeological point of view, the fragmentation of the sites, mostly hidden or decontextualized,
and the difficulties to communicate them in broader sense, make difficult an adequate cultural communication from
any point of view: scientific, educational, social and touristic. Therefore the Virtual becomes a social connector for the local
communities, stimulated to re-discover their territory, and for visitors, involved in a more effective learning experience. Is a
metaverse, such as OpenSimulator, able to develop a social sense of presence even in a virtual world? Is it possible to construct new
social narratives by virtual worlds? This paper is related to an application developed in the open source platform OpenSim for a
virtual community of users embedded in the cyberspace. This application is specifically created for the virtual island 3DMetaversity,
an open source project hosted at the CINECA, Supercomputing Center of the University of Bologna. At the current stage of the
project two key ancient Roman monuments of the city, the Theatre and the Domus, have been reconstructed; in addition, the creation
of a virtual library, Virtuoteca, constitutes a meta-space for the communication of archaeological contents.
Please submit any questions to: Fabrizio Galeazzi (fabrizio.galeazzi@york.ac.uk) or Heather Richards-Rissetto (richards-rissetto@unl.edu)
Archaeology is a collaborative, ongoing process from field to lab to dissemination. Fieldwork comprises data recording experts using diverse non-digital and digital methods that produce a complex set of data. Archaeologists use these field data for a myriad of purposes such as analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. While digital technologies have been part of the archaeological workflow for more than thirty years, the management and integration of field data, legacy, and other data is still complex. Archaeologists are looking for shareable methodologies that allow for the integration of innovative digital practices for fieldwork recording and subsequent data management, analysis, and dissemination. Recent advancements of web technology are transforming web browsers into effective computation and visualization platforms. For example, web browsers now efficiently execute JavaScript code enabling faster and greater processing as it is processed on client side requiring less memory storage than web servers. HTML5 standard includes WebGL-a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D computer graphics in browsers without plugins. These advancements are two ways technology is transforming the ways it is possible to access and work with 3D archaeological data on the web.
This session fosters a discussion on the potential for web technology to reshape archaeological practice as it enables us to more quickly and efficiently bridge fieldwork, lab work and analysis through innovative data integration and dissemination. Participants address questions such as: (1) Can web technology augment or facilitate the integration of 3D documentation techniques in on-site archaeological recording? (2) Can web-based 3D platforms increase collaborative and interpretative processes during the excavation? (3) Which kind of infrastructure(s) best promote the integration of 3D digital methods in the day-to-day fieldwork practices? Papers will discuss the use of web-based platforms as one of the possible solution to combine traditional and innovative methods to promote collaborative fieldwork. For example, certain infrastructures allow researchers unable to participate in the fieldwork experience to access and conduct analysis remotely, hence promoting interdisciplinary and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows. Building on this idea of remote participation, the second part of the session focuses on web-based infrastructure (platforms) for the integration, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. Participants address questions such as: (1) What web-based platforms exist for collaborative archaeological research? What are their advantages? Disadvantages? (2) Is a single, all-encompassing platform the best solution? Is it even possible? Or, it is best to have several platforms that serve specific purposes? Why? Why not? (3) What role do standards and best practices play in developing web infrastructure that brings together legacy and recently acquired field data? And (4) Should we place greater emphasis on designing collaborative workflows for existing platforms rather than the development of new platforms? The session seeks to discuss the re-defining of archaeological methods and practices for on-site data recording and subsequent data integration and dissemination that can foster collaborative research.
With this session we intend to challenge and open a discussion on the impact that on-site digital data recording and the development of innovative web-based platforms may have in reshaping archaeological fieldwork practices answering specific research questions on the potential of 3D technologies for archaeological intra-site data recording: (1) is the effective integration of 3D technologies in the day-to-day fieldwork practice really possible? (2) Which infrastructures should we develop to favour the ‘digital turn’ in the archaeological recording on site? (3) Is it possible to develop infrastructure and frameworks dealing with “data complexity”?
While there has been much attention to data preservation and “big data” of late, the definition of new digital practices which allow the integration and visualisation of a variety of data, acquired in different periods using different techniques is essential. The re-use and repurposing of “old” and “new” data and formats is mandatory to have a complete understanding of social and cultural dynamics of archaeological sites and landscapes subject to long-term investigations.
In the year of the 20th anniversary of Archaeology Data Service (ADS) we would like to discuss the importance of integrating 2D and 3D interactive visualisation systems with trusted and well-recognised digital repository for archaeological data, such as Archaeology Data Service. This because solid cyber-infrastructures such as ADS can facilitate the long term use and access to these new digital tools not only in academia but also amongst professional archaeologists and the general public, increasing the dissemination of research results, data management and accessibility in archaeology.
We would like to discuss the added value of 3D representations of archaeological excavation for the creation of new knowledge in archaeology, and how new digital methods could impact and reshape theoretical frameworks. This session will cover a variety of themes, which contribute to re-defining archaeological methods and practices for the on-site data recording:
• 3D web-based visualisation of archaeological sequences;
• 2D and 3D visualisation of Harris Matrix data;
• Archiving and accessing 3D spatial data;
• Visualisation of archaeological stratigraphy and related datasets;
• GIS and remote sensing 3D data visualisation;
• 3D immersive visualisation and augmented reality for the analysis of archaeological sites and landscapes.
There is a need in archaeology and cultural heritage for a detailed analysis of the different infrastructural options that are available and a precise evaluation of the differing impact that they can have in reshaping the discipline. To achieve this, it is important to develop new methodologies that consider the evaluation process as a fundamental and central part for assessing digital infrastructures. These new methods should include flexible evaluation approaches that can be adapted to the infrastructure that needs to be assessed.
This article aims to provide some examples of 3D applications in archaeology and cultural heritage and describe how the selection of the infrastructure is related to specific needs of the project. This work will describe the different applications and propose guidelines and protocols for evaluating their impact within academia and the general public.
Two versions of the viewer have been developed to answer the needs of different users. The first version, the Object Level 3D Viewer, was implemented to extend the browsing capability of ADS project archives by enabling the visualization of single 3D models. The second version, the Stratigraphy 3D Viewer, is an extension which allows the exploration of a specific kind of aggregated data: the multiple layers of an archaeological stratigraphic sequence. This allows those unable to participate directly in the fieldwork to access, analyse and re-interpret the archaeological context remotely. This has the potential to transform the discipline, allowing inter-disciplinary, cross-border and ‘at-distance’ collaborative workflows, and enabling easier access to and analysis of archaeological data.
Spanish
Este ensayo analiza la potencialidad de las tecnologías 3D para el análisis e interpretación del patrimonio histórico y cultural. Este trabajo usa diferentes técnicas 3D con el fin de encontrar los métodos más apropiados para documentar la estratigrafía arqueológica, basados en diversas condiciones ambientales, exposición a la luz y variedad de superficies. A pesar de que actualmente se ha establecido el uso de las técnicas de laser escáner 3D y de la técnica fotogramétrica (DSM) “dense stereo matching” en el campo arqueológico, considero no convincentes las comparaciones que se han hecho hasta el presente entre estas dos técnicas. Esta investigación colma este vacío proveyendo una detallada evaluación de los datos de los asentamientos arqueológicos de Las Cuevas (Belize) y representa un punto de partida concreto hacia la definición de una metodología compartible. Utilizando dos técnicas diferentes, la triangulación de la luz del escáner láser y DSM, se hicieron análisis en Las Cuevas para comparar la precisión y la fiabilidad de densidad en entornos rupestres. Este estudio encontró que el DSM es más económico, portátil, y flexible para la documentación 3D de sitios arqueológicos en la actualidad. De hecho, el DSM permite el proceso de documentación 3D reduciendo tanto la adquisición de datos como el tiempo del proceso. No obstante la comparación cuantitativa presentada en este ensayo, cabe subrayar la necesidad de integrar dicha técnica con otras tecnologías, cuando la adquisición de datos requiere una micro estratigrafía.
The proposed work tests and compares laser scanning and dense stereo matching techniques at Las Cuevas site (Belize), to find the most appropriate methods to document different aspects of an archeological site, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The complexity of the Las Cuevas’ site allowed testing the 3D documentation techniques in areas of the site presenting different environmental conditions and light exposure: dark recesses of caves; areas in shaded sunlight under the jungle canopy; and places of more direct sunlight in areas that have been cleared of brush or exposed by tree fall.
This paper presents the results of the metrical comparison between the 3D models obtained using phase shift variation laser scanner (Faro Focus 3D) and dense stereo matching software (Agisoft Photoscan). The comparison of the co-registered surfaces was performed in both open source and commercial point cloud and mesh processing software based on the shortest point-to-mesh distance considering the normal to the mesh faces.
This study points to dense stereo matching as the most economical, portable, flexible, and widely used approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. Nonetheless, the result of the quantitative comparison underscores the need to integrate this technique with laser scanner technologies, when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required. This kind of research can help defining best 3D practices for the documentation, visualization and analysis of sites.
Applied to Cultural Heritage (National Research Council, Rome) started with the goal to communicate virtually the archaeological
context of the city, on the basis of the key archaeological areas of the urban network. The title of the entire project is Teramo: a city
virtually “dressed”. The main goal is the creation of a network of digital installations across the city based on different digital
technologies and mobile systems.
Despite the importance of the city from the archaeological point of view, the fragmentation of the sites, mostly hidden or decontextualized,
and the difficulties to communicate them in broader sense, make difficult an adequate cultural communication from
any point of view: scientific, educational, social and touristic. Therefore the Virtual becomes a social connector for the local
communities, stimulated to re-discover their territory, and for visitors, involved in a more effective learning experience. Is a
metaverse, such as OpenSimulator, able to develop a social sense of presence even in a virtual world? Is it possible to construct new
social narratives by virtual worlds? This paper is related to an application developed in the open source platform OpenSim for a
virtual community of users embedded in the cyberspace. This application is specifically created for the virtual island 3DMetaversity,
an open source project hosted at the CINECA, Supercomputing Center of the University of Bologna. At the current stage of the
project two key ancient Roman monuments of the city, the Theatre and the Domus, have been reconstructed; in addition, the creation
of a virtual library, Virtuoteca, constitutes a meta-space for the communication of archaeological contents.
The archaeological fieldwork, mainly encompassing 3D documentation of new tombs in the center and in the surroundings of Xi’an, is managed integrating different technologies and methods: laser scanning, digital photogrammetry, photomodeling, remote sensing, and GIS.
The final plan is to create at least two installations, one in Xi’an and one in California. At UCM, the Virtual Heritage Lab is working on the set up of two different virtual reality systems based on participatory learning: a stereo collaborative environment (virtual heritage room) and a simulation environment (Powerwall). The primary purpose is to visualize and display very high-resolution data from large scientific simulations performed via high-resolution imaging applications. This paper will give an overview on the principal technologies and methods
used in the field for the documentation of monumental wall paintings’ tombs, archaeological sites, landscapes and museum artifacts.
One of the most important archaeological examples in Xi’an is represented by the mural paintings of the monumental tombs of the Western Han Dynasty. Despite their cultural and historical importance they are at risk of being lost because of the critical conditions of plasters and colors. The murals show a very rich repertory of subjects such as scenes of daily life, rituals and ascension to heaven.
These examples of mural paintings contain a very complex interpretation code explaining the relations between life and death during the Western Han dynasty. A simple description of the subjects and also the 3D virtual reconstruction of the tombs are insufficient for approaching a correct cultural interpretation. In this paper we present a preliminary case study on the semantics of the tomb M27’s iconography (excavated in Xi’an in 2004 and documented by laser scanning) obtained through 3D virtual cybermaps. The use of virtual-cyber mind maps emphasizes the interpretation of the spatial, religious and symbolic connections (affordances) of the different subjects and images decorating the vault and the walls of the tomb. Through this simulation process the potential semantic recomposition of the tomb creates new metaphors of learning and communication.
Dynasty and able to integrate new archaeological datasets coming from fieldwork activities (most part of them unpublished), monuments, and famous collections of artifacts of the Xi’an archaeological museums. All the archaeological datasets will be virtually reconstructed in a very accurate way, keeping all the spatial information even in the cyber space: GIS, remote sensing and laser scanning data, DGPS surveys, 3D reconstructions (landscapes, sites, monuments, artifacts). The Virtual Museum of the Western Han Dynasty will be the first archaeological example of international collaboration between Chinese institutions and Western countries based on virtual heritage methodologies and real time outputs.
The archaeological fieldwork, mainly encompassing 3D documentation of new tombs in the center and in the surroundings of Xi’an, is managed integrating different technologies and methods: laser scanning, digital photogrammetry, photomodeling, remote sensing, and GIS.
The final plan is to create at least two installations, one in Xi’an and one in California. At UCM, the Virtual Heritage Lab is working on theset up of two different virtual reality systems based on participatory learning: a stereo collaborative environment (virtual heritage room) and a simulation environment (Powerwall). The primary purpose is to visualize and display very high-resolution data from large scientific simulations performed via high-resolution imaging applications. This paper will give an overview on the principal technologies and methods used in the field for the documentation of monumental wall paintings’ tombs, archaeological sites, landscapes and museum artifacts.
One of the most important archaeological examples in Xi’an is represented by the mural paintings of the monumental tombs of the Western Han Dynasty. Despite their cultural and historical importance they are at risk of being lost because of the critical conditions of plasters and colors. The murals show a very rich repertory of subjects such as scenes of daily life, rituals and ascension to heaven. These examples of mural paintings contain a very complex interpretation code explaining the relations between life and death during the Western Han dynasty. A simple description of the subjects and also the 3D virtual reconstruction of the tombs are insufficient for approaching a correct cultural interpretation. In this paper we present a preliminary case study on the semantics of the tomb M 27’s iconography (excavated in Xi’an in 2004 and documented by laser scanning) obtained through 3D virtual cybermaps. The use of virtual-cyber mind maps emphasizes the interpretation of the spatial, religious and symbolic connections (affordances) of the different subjects and images decorating the vault and the walls of the tomb. Through this simulation process the potential semantic recomposition of the tomb creates new metaphors of learning and communication.
conceived by the Xian Jaotong University of Technology and the
University of California Merced. In two years it has been possible to
collect a huge amount of 3D data using different laser scanner
techniques. We are going to show the data archive made for the
preservation of tangible heritage at risk and communication models
made for revealing the intangible heritage."