Game engine for Cultural Heritage: New opportunities in the relation between simplified models and database

Across Space and Time

“…Furthermore, increased precision of recorded data coupled with the variety of data storage types available (open-source and/or proprietary) complicates integration of legacy data as well as newly acquired data with various formats into unified, comprehensive work environments (Bordes et al 2006). 3D data recording and (semi)-interactive data-repositories are already established practices in present day archaeology in both public institutions as well as the private sector, mainly related to cultural heritage work, conservation and restoration, archiving, or as educational tools for academia and the public Richards-Rissetto et al 2013) (Merlo et al 2012;, the latter follows similar modelling methods discussed in this paper and has also reached, though only in certain aspects, similar results. The VA project focus is at providing scholars with an innovative platform for reconstruction and model-testing .…”

“…Data cross-compatibility is intensely addressed in this phase of the project, with emphasis on data exchange and digital processing power. The evaluation of relevant data exchange formats was commissioned while taking preliminary steps, such as data selection, data classification and converting between the different processing steps (Bordes et al 2006;Merlo et al 2012). Documentation of standardised processing procedures and software evaluation serve as stepping stones in developing reproducible working procedures for academic cooperations with similar interests .…”

“…Referring to the VA project methodological approach, maintaining the accuracy of the spatial resolution and the precision of geometric relations is regarded as key for complying with scientific standards. Furthermore, maintaining the accuracy of raw data-sets and addressing compatibility of data formats are vital to conform with principles of reproducibility (Merlo et al 2012(Merlo et al , 2013. Data should be accessible for renewed use and re-evaluation, similar to the field practice of leaving parts in archaeological sites unexposed for future researchers to return to.…”

“…About 50 reliefs and statues comprise the temple interior, decorated with fine carvings of fine artistic detail with inscriptions in hieroglyphic Luwian on some of them. First, the laser scanner processed high-polygon relief blocks were manipulated into static low-polygon meshes using the Topogun software (version 2.00W64) to preserve as much geometric information as possible while reducing files to the smallest possible size (Alliez et al 2008;Merlo et al 2012;. Using manual retopology techniques proved to be time consuming and provided variable results.…”

Photorealistic VR Space Reproductions of Historical Kyoto Sites based on a Next-Generation 3D Game Engine

“…In their abovementioned study, E. F. Anderson et al discussed the concept of "Serious Games" that play a role in the service of cultural heritage [12]. Furthermore, other researchers and groups have already attempted to utilize 3D Game technology into cultural heritage reproductions [13]. For example, Pudding Lane Productions, a team from De Montfort University, showed a particularly representative example involving the creation of a photo-realistically rendered VR reproduction of 17th Century London using a next-generation game engine [14].…”