Geometric characterization and interactive 3D visualization of historical and cultural heritage in the province of Cáceres (Spain)

Abstract

Highlights:• Panoramic spherical photography and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) are used for geometric characterization and cataloguing of cultural sites.• 360º photography, 3D interactive scenes and videos are created and ready to be used online by users.• Hypermedia atlas based on a combination of geomatics methods are used to disseminate Cáceres' cultural heritage. Abstract:The three-dimensional (3D) visualization of historical and cultural heritage in the province of Cáceres is essential for tourism promotion. This study uses panoramic spherical photography and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for the geometric characterization and cataloguing of sites of cultural interest, according to the principles of the Charter of Krakow. The benefits of this project include improved knowledge dissemination of the cultural heritage of Cáceres in a society that demands state-of-the-art tourist information. In this sense, this study has three specific aims: to develop a highly reliable methodology for modeling heritage based on a combination of non-destructive geomatics methods; to design and develop software modules for interactive 3D visualization of models; and to promote knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of Cáceres by creating a hypermedia atlas accessible via the Internet. Through this freeof-charge hypermedia atlas, the tourist accesses 3D photographic and interactive scenes, videos created by 3D point clouds obtained from laser scanning and 3D models available for downloading in ASCII format, and thus acquire a greater knowledge of the touristic attractions in the province of Cáceres.Keywords: terrestrial laser scanning (TLS); panoramic spherical photography; 3D modelling; historical and cultural heritage; touristic promotion; hypermedia atlas Resumen:La visualización tridimensional (3D) del patrimonio histórico-cultural en la provincia de Cáceres es una herramienta vital para su promoción turística. Este trabajo emplea la fotografía panorámica esférica y el uso del escáner láser terrestre para la caracterización geométrica de los bienes de interés cultural, así como su catalogación, de acuerdo a los principios de la Carta de Cracovia. El beneficio de este proyecto es alcanzar un mayor conocimiento del patrimonio cultural de Cáceres para una sociedad que demanda información turística actualizada. En este sentido, hay tres objetivos específicos en el trabajo: desarrollar una metodología de alto grado de fiabilidad para la modelización del patrimonio basado en la combinación de diferentes métodos geomáticos no destructivos; diseñar y desarrollar módulos de software para la visualización interactiva de modelos 3D; y promover el conocimiento del patrimonio histórico de Cáceres mediante la creación de un atlas hipermedia accesible en Internet. A través del atlas hipermedia, el turista accede gratuitamente a los escenarios fotográficos tridimensionales e interactivos, los videos a partir de las nubes de puntos 3D adquiridas con láser escáner y a la descarga de los modelos 3D en formato ASCII, adquiriend...

A Method for 3D Reconstruction of the Ming and Qing Official-Style Roof Using a Decorative Components Template Library

“…(1) Select n points from the collected point cloud P on the unknown Ming and Qing official-style architecture. In order to ensure that the selected points have different FPFH features, the distance between each selected point should be greater than a pre-defined minimum distance threshold d. (2) In the transformed point cloud Q derived from the template library, the SAC-IA first searches the points which have similar FPFH features of the selected points from collected point cloud P.…”

“…Therefore, all these approaches are unable to provide reliable data support for reconstruction and restoration, and it is not conducive to serve the purpose of accurate preservation and scientific research. With the development of digital technology, especially the emergence of the three-dimensional (3D) laser scanners (or LiDAR), digital preservation has become viable for the Ming and Qing official-style architectures [2][3][4]. Nevertheless, the unstructured and bulky 3D point clouds require intensive post processing.…”

On the Combination of Remote Sensing and Geophysical Methods for the Digitalization of the San Lázaro Middle Paleolithic Rock Shelter (Segovia, Central Iberia, Spain)

“…Orthophotography: (Present and historical) in order to find signs of anthropic activity (e.g., wall alignments, differential growth in crops that reveal geometric figures, etc.) Digital Elevation Model: used with the aim of detecting characteristic elements on the "z" axis (e.g., elevations, rocks alignments, that in view of a human eye are not perceptible in the terrain) Site contextualization and documentation: phase of data collection of the site for its understanding [20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

“…Dissemination: a process in which the resources (archaeological site, archaeological evidence) or what happened in them are put in value at the service of the public [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8]22,25].…”