ArtifactVis2: Managing real-time archaeological data in immersive 3D environments

Abstract

In this paper, we present a stereoscopic research and training environment for archaeologists called ArtifactVis2. This application enables the management and visualization of diverse types of cultural datasets within a collaborative virtual 3D system. The archaeologist is fully immersed in a large-scale visualization of on-going excavations. Massive 3D datasets are seamlessly rendered in real-time with field recorded GIS data, 3D artifact scans and digital photography. Dynamic content can be visualized and cultural analytics can be performed on archaeological datasets collected through a rigorous digital archaeological methodology. The virtual collaborative environment provides a menu driven query system and the ability to annotate, markup, measure, and manipulate any of the datasets. These features enable researchers to re-experience and analyze the minute details of an archaeological site's excavation. It enhances their visual capacity to recognize deep patterns and structures and perceive changes and reoccurrences. As a complement and development from previous work in the field of 3D immersive archaeological environments, ArtifactVis2 provides a GIS based immersive environment that taps directly into archaeological datasets to investigate cultural and historical issues of ancient societies and cultural heritage in ways not possible before.

Immersive Visualization and Curation of Archaeological Heritage Data: Çatalhöyük and the Dig@IT App

“…Although digital technology and cyber-archaeology methods are now vastly employed in excavations and projects worldwide (Levy 2013;Forte and Campana 2016), the online curation and dissemination of 3D and geospatial archaeological data is still all but mainstream. Thus, building upon ground-breaking work on immersive visualization (Smith et al 2013) and multimodal online curation and dissemination of archaeological information (R. Opitz, Mogetta, and Terrenato 2016), Dig@IT can be considered one of the first attempts to develop a multiplatform, fully immersive, three-dimensional tool for archaeological data visualization, interpretation and curation. More importantly, our platform enables an interactive curation and visualization of spatial and 3D data collected in multiple field seasons with the goal to reconstruct the stratigraphic excavation process.…”

Clusters, Trends, and Outliers

“…Examples can be found in domains such as brain tumor analysis [51], diagnostic radiology [44], archeology [3,27,42,43,46], meteorology [52], and geographic information systems [5]. These visualizations, however, are domain-specific and their applicability to other domains is limited.…”

Visual Metaphors for Semantic Cultural Heritage

“…For example, the work described in [12] consists of the reconstruction of a Roman villa, as a tool for supporting archaeological research. [13] describe a stereoscopic research and training environment for archaeologists called ArtifactVis2. This application enables the management and visualization of diverse types of cultural datasets within a collaborative virtual 3D system and is aimed at the supporting cooperation and information sharing among archaeologists.…”