Brancacci chapel in Florence: surveying and real-time 3d simulation for conservation and communication purposes

In 2020 to diagnose and monitor the condition of the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel in Florence, the CNR initiated an important diagnostic and three-dimensional survey of the monument. These restoration preparatory activities have provided the opportunity and data for the creation of a real-time 3D simulation model that will not only help conservators and art historians better understand and manage the artwork, but will also enable the planning of improvement measures and the communication of the fresco cycle and its state of preservation to the public via the Brancacci POV application. Brancacci POV is a hybrid multi-user experience that allows a group of tourists to visit the chapel under the guidance of an expert, either on-site or off-site. The Web3D application is based on ATON, a framework developed by CNR ISPC that integrates 3D simulation of the monument and the discovery of invisible layers (e.g., ultraviolet data) processed and optimised for real-time rendering. The article illustrates all the steps performed from the 3D survey to the Web3D implementation to obtain the 3D simulation and achieve the expected interactive result. In particular, we focus on the optimization workflow of the reality-based model developed for this case study and on the processing of high-resolution maps (visible and invisible layers) for real-time web interaction.