Development of integrated 3D methods for the creation of a DVD-based knowledge platform

This study is one of the activities organised as pan or the ByHeriNet project ("Byzantine Heritage Network: Rehabilitation, highlighting and management in the Easter Mediterranean Basin"), promoted under the EU Programme known as INTERREG III B "ARCHIMED". The main objectives of the activities of the Ibam ITLab within the ByHeriNet project is the development of integrated methods for the creation of three-dimensional models using laser scanning techniques, digital photogrammetry, 3D photomodelling and direct survrying, applied to Byzantine sites in the province of Lecce and the region of Basilicata in the South of Italy. The three-dimensional models established using these methods constitute an advanced information platform, able to represent the architectural morphology of the buildings under study with great accuracy at various scales, including both detailed elements and the monumental arrangement as a whole, as well as the textural features of the internal and external surfaces. The main aim of this study is to enable the public to enjoy the results of archaeological and archaeometric research, via the web or stand- alone products, and to "virtually visit" the monuments using Real-Time 3D visiting systems. The navigation platform allows the user to visualise complex scenes and DVR-based knowledge models in "full- screen mode" even on desktop computers. As well as showing the current state of the monuments, the visit includes reconstructions of previous phases in their history and visual restorations of the Byzantine paintings. All the textures were obtained by processes of photomodelling and were applied to the geometrical forms in accordance with the radiosity algorithm, with lights and shadows of the 'area' type. The result is extremely life-like, almost indistinguishable from reality.