3d Models for All: Low-Cost Acquisition Through Mobile Devices In Comparison With Image Based Techniques. Potentialities And Weaknesses in Cultural Heritage Domain

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Nowadays, 3D digital imaging proposes effective solutions for preserving the expression of human creativity across the centuries, as well as is a great tool to guarantee global dissemination of knowledge and wide access to these invaluable resources of the past. Nevertheless, in several cases, a massive digitalisation of cultural heritage items (from the archaeological site up to the monument and museum collections) could be unworkable due to the still high costs in terms of equipment and human resources: 3D acquisition technologies and the need of skilled team within cultural institutions. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new possibilities offered by growing technologies: the lower costs of these technologies as well as their attractive visual quality constitute a challenge for researchers. Besides these possibilities, it is also important to consider how information is spread through graphic representation of knowledge. The focus of this study is to explore the potentialities and weaknesses of a newly released low cost device in the cultural heritage domain, trying to understand its effective usability in museum collections. The aim of the research is to test their usability, critically analysing the final outcomes of this entry level technology in relation to the other better assessed low cost technologies for 3D scanning, such as Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques (also produced by the same device) combined with dataset generated by a professional digital camera. The final outcomes were compared in terms of quality definition, time processing and file size. The specimens of the collections of the Civic Museum Castello Ursino in Catania have been chosen as the site of experimentation.

First Assessments on Heritage Science Oriented Image-Based Modeling Using Low-Cost Modified and Mobile Cameras

“…The current study aims to investigate the feasibility of large-scale multi-spectral image-based heritage digitization, implementing workflows that utilize low-cost equipment, free/ low-cost SfM approach-based software for 3D modeling and free software for point cloud manipulation and post-processing. As mentioned, recent bibliography provides several case studies evaluating smart phone and low-cost digital cameras for heritage VIS 3D modeling (Rehany et al, 2017;Santagati et al, 2017) but the non-VIS products are seldom evaluated from a metric point of view; as has been performed for more complicated and expensive spectral acquisition/ photogrammetric reconstruction scenarios (Mathys et al, 2019). Therefore, this study also addresses in detail all parameters of the sensors utilized, acquisition and processing workflows implemented, and performs an extensive comparison on the geometric and the radiometric characteristics of the three-dimensional results produced.…”

Participatory Approach for the Enhancement of Architectural Archives Funds: The Experience at Museo Della Rappresentazione in Catania

“…The lesson included also hands-on applications of SFM techniques on some furniture items of the museum engaging directly the students in the process and letting them using their own smartphones as capture cameras. In this way, adopting the same methodology with professionals instruments and solutions they would have the possibility to obtain 3D models with greater accuracy (Santagati et al, 2017). Once this first phase of teaching has been completed, the case studies were described and assigned to different groups that were helped by tutors (engineering-architecture degree course students).…”

Multi-Camera Workflow Applied to a Cultural Heritage Building: Alhambra’s Torre de la Cautiva from the Inside

“…From the time atoms began to be converted into bits [6], digitization has become increasingly widespread, allowing not only for assets to be documented for their conservation, preservation [7] or restoration [8], but also for digital versions to be created. With these, which constitute the Digital Cultural Heritage (DCH), dissemination actions are promoted, play is proposed [9] and access is allowed [7] through virtual tours even in complicated circumstances such as those experienced in recent times, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic [10].…”

“…DHCs can and should be used for dissemination as they are part of a collective heritage [7,9,21]. The main goal of the audiovisual sector is that the stories engage the audience.…”