scholarly journals Retraced memories - virtual reconstruction of an architectural landmark

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (25) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Simone Fallica ◽  
Raissa Garozzo ◽  
Cettina Santagati

<p class="VARAbstract">This paper addresses the challenge of digitally reconstructing ruined architectural sites and retracing their history, in order to virtually recompose their geometrical, stylistic and material integrity. To this end, the research team analyzed the ruins of the church of Santa Maria de Monasterio Albo, located in the ancient village of Misterbianco (Sicily) and destroyed (together with the entire hamlet) by the 1669 eruption of Mount Etna. In the last years, some excavation campaigns brought the church to the light, unveiling the remains of the main portal and six altars, which are one of the most remarkable examples of Mannerist art in eastern Sicily. This research aimed to three-dimensional (3D) reconstruct both the altars and the portal, ideally reviving their original 17<sup>th</sup> century configuration. This goal was achieved through an in-depth archival research (documents dating back to the years between 1300 and 1666 were consulted), an analysis of Classic and Renaissance treatises, and two integrated digital survey campaigns (laser scans and photogrammetry). The outcome is represented by the 3D models of the seven artifacts, which include surviving parts reconstructed as photogrammetric meshes, several fragments were placed in their likely early location through a virtual anastylosis, and NURBS (Non Uniform Rational Basis-Splines) surfaces (recreating the no longer existing elements). The latter were 3D modelled based on the treatises (which provided information on the correct proportioning) or in analogy with other coeval similar artifacts. Overall, the digital reconstruction was based on the ethical principles of transparency of the intervention, recognition of non-original additions and distinction between evidence and hypothesis, according to the London Charter and the Seville Principles. The experimentation provides a valid support for possible interventions in the real world and is the starting point to develop a digital archive of the site, which would make the different accuracy levels the reconstruction explicit.</p><p><strong>Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>3D virtual reconstruction is effective to visualize and bring back to life ruined architectural artefacts.</p></li><li><p>Information about the artefacts original appearance was harvested through digital survey campaigns, archival documents, and comparisons with iconographic sources and coeval buildings.</p></li><li><p>The 3D reconstruction follows ethical principles of transparency and combines photogrammetric meshes (partly relocated through a virtual anastylosis) and NURBS surfaces.</p></li></ul>

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonarda Fazio ◽  
Mauro Lo Brutto

<p class="VARKeywords">In recent years, the use of three-dimensional (3D) models in cultural and archaeological heritage for documentation and dissemination purposes has increased. New geomatics technologies have significantly reduced the time spent on fieldwork surveys and data processing. The archaeological remains can be documented and reconstructed in a digital 3D environment thanks to the new 3D survey technologies. Furthermore, the products generated by modern surveying technologies can be reconstructed in a virtual environment on effective archaeological bases and hypotheses coming from a detailed 3D data analysis. However, the choice of technologies that should be used to get the best results for different archaeological remains and how to use 3D models to improve knowledge and dissemination to a wider audience are open questions.</p><p class="VARKeywords">This paper deals with the use of terrestrial laser scanners and photogrammetric surveys for the virtual reconstruction of an archaeological site. In particular, the work describes the study for the 3D documentation and virtual reconstruction of the “Sanctuary of Isis” in <em>Lilybaeum,</em> the ancient city of Marsala (southern Italy). The "Sanctuary of Isis" is the only Roman sacred building known in this archaeological area. Based on the survey data, it has been possible to recreate the original volumes of the ancient building and rebuild the two best-preserved floors –a geometric mosaic and an <em>opus spicatum</em>– for a first digital reconstruction of the archaeological complex in a 3D environment.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Damiano Aiello ◽  
Cecilia Bolognesi

<p class="VARAbstract">Can we preserve cultural heritage and, consequently, the memory of the past? To answer this question, one should look at the digital revolution that the world has gone through in recent decades and analyse the complex and the dialectical relationship between cultural heritage and new technologies. Thanks to these, increasingly accurate reconstructions of archaeological sites and historical monuments are possible. The resulting digital replicas are fundamental to experience and understand cultural heritage in innovative ways: they have complex and dynamic relationships with the original objects. This research paper highlights the importance and the scientific validity of digital replicas aimed at understanding, enhancing and protecting cultural heritage. The study focuses on the virtual reconstruction of the constructive phases, from the mid-15<sup>th</sup> century to date, of one of the most emblematic Gothic-Renaissance buildings in the city of Milan (Italy): the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, famous worldwide for hosting Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting. This site proved to be an ideal case study because of its troubled and little-known history that led to numerous changes over the centuries. Thanks to a methodological approach based on the analysis of the documentary sources and three-dimensional (3D) modelling, it was possible to outline the chronological succession of the convent transformations; the way in which these overlapped the pre-existing structures was described starting from the Renaissance harmonious and organic interventions, to finally reach 18<sup>th</sup>-19<sup>th </sup>centuries inhomogeneous and incompatible additions. Finally, the research was completed by mapping the 3D models based on the sources used and their different levels of accuracy. The 3D models have thus become a valid tool for checking and verifying the reconstruction hypotheses.</p><p class="VARAbstract">Highlights:</p><ul><li><p>The study focused on the virtual reconstruction of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, one of the most emblematicGothic-Renaissance buildings in the city of Milan.</p></li><li><p>By combining data from documentary sources, architectural treatises, period photos and digital survey, the mainbuilding phases of the convent, from the 15th century to date, were digitally reconstructed.</p></li><li><p>The 3D models are enriched with information about the accuracy of the digital reconstruction, creating 3D databasesthat can be easily consulted and updated.</p></li></ul>


Author(s):  
Mariateresa Galizia ◽  
Alessandro Lo Faro ◽  
Cettina Santagati

In this paper we propose a multidisciplinary approach concerning the tower of Mongialino in Mineo (Sicily), which is a unique case in Sicily of a cylindrical tower with an inner cylindrical nucleus. The vestiges of the dungeon rise on a rock promontory that dominates the valley of Margi, a site that has great landscape and territorial value. The building is affected by important collapses and lesions, and urgently requires a safeguard intervention that requires a deep knowledge and understanding of the construction. The first step of this process is a suitable documentation and representation of the cylindrical shape and its towering position. The peculiarity of the object requires the integrated use of current technologies of surveying able to provide a metrically-accurate three-dimensional model. The second step is the critic reading of the technological, typological and material elements that constitutes the constructive apparatus of the building (masonry, ribs, ring-like vault), and the geometric analysis addressed at the virtual reconstruction of the original shape.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-408
Author(s):  
Jonas Christen

The legion camp “Vindonissa” in Switzerland is considered one of the most important roman sites north of the alps. Research there has been going on for over a century and reconstructive drawings have always been a way to showcase scientific findings of the site, the earliest of them dating back as far as 1909.In 2015, it was decided to produce a new series of illustrations. The whole camp and its surrounding settlements had to be constructed as hand-generated 3D models, allowing for quick changes during the reconstructive process and flexibility in future adaptations. Topographical data, archaeological plans as well as building profiles provided by experts were the basis for the model.The main focus was on a general impression of the camp and not on individual buildings but some landmarks as the newly postulated circus were crafted with a higher level of detail as they are the topic of scientific discourse and it helps the discussion if they have a certain fidelity. The circus also serves as a good example for the value of the imaging process in research: Only after trying to fit it into the topography it was noted that it would overlap with a street that was previously thought to run through this area. In the discussion between archaeologists and illustrators a new path for the street was chosen that fits into the landscape and is scientifically acceptable.The new series of illustrations was originally published in the annual report of the archaeological society Vindonissa. The resulting model represents the current state of research but mainly serves as a starting point for future discussion: All buildings are constructed so that they can easily be adapted for real-time use and a Virtual Reality application is the logical next step for its use. 


Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalibor Bartonek ◽  
Michal Buday

This article describes problems that occur when creating three-dimensional (3D) building models. The first problem is geometric accuracy; the next is the quality of visualization of the resulting model. The main cause of this situation is that current Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software does not have sufficient means to precision mapping the measured data of a given object in field. Therefore the process of 3D model creation is mainly a relatively high proportion of manual work when connecting individual points, approximating curves and surfaces, or laying textures on surfaces. In some cases, it is necessary to generalize the model in the CAD system, which degrades the accuracy and quality of field data. The article analyzes these problems and then recommends several variants for their solution. There are described two basic methods: using topological codes in the list of coordinates points and creating new special CAD features while using Python scripts. These problems are demonstrated on examples of 3D models in practice. These are mainly historical buildings in different locations and different designs (brick or wooden structures). These are four sacral buildings in the Czech Republic (CR): the church of saints Johns of Brno-Bystrc, the Church of St. Paraskiva in Blansko, further the Strejc’s Church in Židlochovice, and Church of St. Peter in Alcantara in Karviná city. All of the buildings were geodetically surveyed by terrestrial method while using total station. The 3D model was created in both cases in the program AUTOCAD v. 18 and MicroStation.


Author(s):  
I. Trizio ◽  
F. Savini ◽  
A. Giannangeli ◽  
S. Fiore ◽  
A. Marra ◽  
...  

Abstract. The paper deals with an interdisciplinary research activity aiming at developing a digital and integrated tool able to collect several data concerning the cultural heritage, and to manage and communicate them to a wide community. The small church of San Menna, located in the hamlet with same name in the municipality of Lucoli not so far from L’Aquila city, was the object of the research. The church has been chosen for its historical significance, its architectural peculiarity and for the valuable artworks that it preserves. Based on a photogrammetric model of the church, also used for the remote analysis of cultural asset (planimetric and evolutionary hypotheses, three-dimensional stratigraphic analysis, etc.) a virtual word usable in Virtual Reality (VR) has been developed. The VR setting allows the accessibility of a digital semantic model with information that can be activated with special interactive hotspots (images, texts and audio), which are able to provide an immersive and all-encompassing experience to the tourist. The potentialities of the same tool in the context of diagnosis and conservation process related to cultural heritage in seismic areas, such as those of the Abruzzi Apennines, have also been investigated through the integration of forms concerning the significant features of the artistic assets surveyed in the construction.


Author(s):  
C. Balletti ◽  
F. Guerra ◽  
C. Meneghello ◽  
G. Romanato

Abstract. Sometimes digital reconstruction interfaces with the ephemeral aspect of the Cultural Heritage. Photogrammetric survey, integrated with the most up-to-date visualization technologies, aims to the production of 3D models that can recreate and document the artifacts that were made to be short-lived.The paper deals with the documentation of an historical event: the stay of Henry III of France in Venice in 1574. This happening has been studied as part of the journey from Poland to France, undertaken by the king through Austria and northern Italy. Many royal events were organized and among the architectural and sculptural works that were made for the occasion, two stand out: the ephemeral triumphal arch and loggia designed by Andrea Palladio for the grand entry of the King and the three hundred sugar sculptures cast from moulds obtained from Jacopo Sansovino’s workshop.Historical research, iconography and cartography, along with the photogrammetric survey of some artworks still visible today, allowed the three-dimensional reconstruction of the temporary structures and sugar sculptures created for this historical event and made to last only for the ten days of his stay.The purpose of this research is to map the movements of the King and recreate the works of art that were created for him in various parts of Venice, according to a geographic and scientific approach, by framing them in space and time and employing the 3D models to project the observer into 16th century Venice.The integration of methods and techniques pertaining to geomatics and three-dimensional computer graphics allow us to animate and reconstruct images of no longer existing places and works of art which were made to be fleeting but scenic at the same time and arouse amazement between the leading personalities of those times.The “digitalization of the ephemeral” aims to bring these artifacts back to memory, following a meticulous process based on the examination of the historical sources together with cartographic data and a scientific survey.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Calero-Castillo ◽  
Ana Carrasco-Huertas ◽  
Marta Durbán-García ◽  
Jorge Alberto Durán-Suárez

<p>The aim of this paper is to explain the convenience of photogrammetry and virtual reconstruction applied to the restoration of large format canvas. This study presents the application of these techniques to the restoration and musealization of a late 19th century mural canvas painting attached to the ceiling of the Zambrano Pharmacy (Granada, Spain). The painting is an example of the allegorical motifs that could be found in 19th and 20th century pharmacies. It represents a group of cherubs and allegorical figures of Science or Pharmacy sitting in the clouds; the scene is surrounded by an architectural frame. The mural painting by Francisco Morón &amp; Luján (Granada, 1846 - Huércal-Overa, Almería, 1899) shows his signature in the lower right corner of the painting. The painting was in a good overall condition, but presented considerable yellowing and darkening (due to exposure to nearby pollution from the street, dust, etc.) that required its cleaning to reveal its true colors. In 2018, the pharmacy was acquired by the University of Granada, initiating its transfer to the conservation laboratories for its restoration, with two aims: recovering its original appearance, and preparing for its display in the “Ciencia, ciudad y cambio” exhibition (Hospital Real of Granada, February 6th to may 17th 2019); to this day, the painting is located in the crossing of the Hospital Real.</p><p>Once the intervention started, its large dimensions (7.6 x 3.3 m) made it impossible to obtain a complete high-quality orthogonal image using traditional photography methods. Therefore, it was decided to use photogrammetry for the correct documentation of: a) the initial state of the painting, b) the different restoration phases (initial documentation, mechanical cleaning of the reverse, removal of the protection of the front, cleaning of the front and pictorial reintegration), and c) the final result after the restoration process. Furthermore, this canvas was attached to the ceiling presumably with an animal glue adhesive, and during its intervention it was observed that the imprint of an earlier mural painting was attached to its reverse. Since the reverse of the canvas was hidden by the final mounting system, it was necessary to document the imprint of the previous mural painting adhered to the reverse of the canvas.</p><p>To recreate the original painting and to allow a correct study and comprehension of this work, a virtual reconstruction based on the photogrammetric documentation of the reverse of the painting was achieved. The photogrammetric processing allowed us to obtain high-quality orthogonal images (10000 x 5000 px), thus demonstrating the suitability of this technique for the documentation of a large format canvas. The images obtained were also useful to study the dimensions of the paint, with a total area of 25 m2. Agisoft PhotoScan Professional was used for the photogrammetric model; the three-dimensional (3D) models and the textures were transferred to a 3D free software (Blender) for the rendering and recreation of the models. On the other hand, the virtual reconstruction was made using Adobe Photoshop to recover the entire painting. The methodology consisted in working with different layers to paint the missing parts of the motifs and the simulated architecture; then, the missing parts were reconstructed based on the preserved paint (24.5% of the total area) and, finally, textures and filters were incorporated to simulate the appearance of a mural painting.</p><p>This research has proved photogrammetry is suitable for the documentation of a restoration process for large format pictoric works, since this technique allows to obtain high resolution orthophotos from the different intervention phases. Additionally, the virtual reconstruction has proven to be a useful tool for the documentation of the painting, its registration and its visualization; it can also recreate the decorative pattern and original colors.</p>


2001 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 481-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. SEIDLER ◽  
L. J. ATKINS ◽  
E. A. BEHNE ◽  
U. NOOMNARM ◽  
S. A. KOEHLER ◽  
...  

We discuss the application of synchrotron X-ray microtomography (XMT) to granular matter, foams, crumpled membranes, and paper. XMT provides rapid, high-resolution, fully three-dimensional characterization of each of these classes of material. In some cases, subsequent three-dimensional image processing allows the virtual reconstruction of the disordered material as a specified assemblage of idealized basic structural units. This allows measurement of otherwise inaccessible correlation functions and can also be used as the starting point for data-initiated simulations.


X ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Morena ◽  
Salvatore Barba

The Tower of Marina di Vietri on Amalfi Coast: a statistical-predictive test of photogrammetric dataThe focus of the work is on close-range photogrammetry and mainly on the low-cost technologies, experimented in the survey of Tower of Marina di Vietri, a historical building erected in the sixteenth century at Vietri sul Mare in the Province of Salerno. The general objective is to codify a methodology for objectifying the comparisons of the results; hence, the research starts from an original analysis conducted on the returned orthophotos by several photogrammetric paradigms. To estimate its reliability and precision, we proceeded, at first, with the extension and application of an error propagation law and then with the validation of the comparison according to a predictive type test. The first results are presented here after a study on raster images generated according to different algorithms. Subsequently, on each graphic product, 73 points were identified and for each of the relative coordinates the deviation are evaluated by verifying them with the value of the standard deviation. Consequently, for the purpose of greater validation of the methodology, a predictive test was implemented with the aim to confirm the criterion used for the comparison and to guarantee, in probabilistic terms, the values analysed; finally, a further three-dimensional analysis was conducted directly on the 3D models. It is banal to observe that aleatory –subjectivity, etc.– which often characterizes already known approaches, in any case assumed as a starting point, does not always allow to obtain generally valid results and, therefore, extendable beyond the single case study. The implementation of this first test, otherwise, proved to be extremely valid in the survey for architecture, both for an absolute evaluation of the quality of the individual results and for the possibility to estimate, also predictively, the relative effectiveness of the method used. This guarantees the evaluation of the relative percentages of errors in probabilistic terms.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document