Enhancing heritage fruition through 3D virtual models and augmented reality: an application to Roman artefacts

Abstract

<p>The spatial characteristics of museum exhibitions may limit visitors’ experience of the artefacts on display. In the case of large artefacts, limited space may affect their whole visualization, or inhibit the visualization of the details farthest from the observer. In other cases, the storage of artefacts in distant sites (museums or archaeological areas) may influence their knowledge process or the possibility for comparative analysis. Moreover, the precarious state of preservation of some artefacts, with damaged or missing parts, makes it difficult to perceive their original appearance. To overcome these limitations, we propose an integrated approach based on 3D virtual models and Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance the fruition of artefacts, improving their visualization, analysis and personal/shared knowledge, also by overcoming space and time constraints. The final AR application is an easily accessible tool for most users from a mobile device, used both inside and outside museums, opening new perspectives for fruition. The framework encourages the use of free and open source software and standard devices, to maximize their dissemination and exploit the potential of such technologies, which is far greater than current use in the cultural heritage field. Selected case studies to test and validate the integrated framework are proposed, dealing with some Roman artefacts found in the area of Modena (Italy). The first is a Roman floor mosaic, found in Savignano sul Panaro (near Modena) in 2011, of which less than half of its original 4.5 x 6.9 m surface is preserved. The others are two Roman funerary lion sculptures: the first is one of two lions flanking the main door of Modena Cathedral, and the second, well-preserved but damaged, is housed in the Museo Lapidario Estense of Modena. Finally, the application was tested by museum experts and visitors both inside and outside the museum, and positively assessed.</p><p><strong>Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Digital practice is not understood as a prerogative of a small number of people, but as a tool to guarantee and expand artefact fruition, using standard devices and free and open source software.</p></li><li><p>Experimentation of new settings to re-contextualize artefacts and establish possible links among them, offering engaging and customized experiences to improve their accessibility and enjoyment.</p></li><li><p>Promotion of artefact fruition not only in but also outside museums, such as in a classroom or an open and shared space, opening to new approaches in the fruition of cultural heritage.</p></li></ul>

Virtual sacristy: the interaction with the heritage

“…The paper by Gherardini, Santachiara and Leali (2019) addresses the experimentation of recontextualized artifacts and establishes possible links between them, offering engaging experiences to improve accessibility as well as stimulating the fruition of artifacts outside the museums as well, suggesting, then, new approaches. The paper is developed in two stages: first, the digital documentation of real artifacts, and second, their integration into an augmented reality application in order to insert digital artifacts and their annotations in the real world.…”

“…In Victorio (2019) it was proven that the use of photo-restitution by Dense Stereo Matching (DSM) is a safe and low-cost technology. In Gherardini, Santachiara and Leali (2019) was addressed the use of Augmented Reality in digitalized artifacts as a method that stimulates the cultural fruition. In Previtali (2019), the creation of San Clemente website made it possible to compile and provide historical information joined to 3D products about the archaeological site.…”

In situ virtual restoration of artifacts by imaging technology

“…Besides, AR restoration often requires certain training to experience, and virtual imaging restoration is more simple and direct. In an AR restoration case, visitors tried to touch the electronic screen to enlarge the artifacts and commented that the augmented object hides the real world [11]. It shows that visitors who view artifacts through AR subconsciously think that artifacts in front of them are electronic.…”

“…1). (5) AR restoration, using Augmented Reality (AR) technology to recognize and track the incomplete artifacts, and then digitally restore them on smart devices [11,12]. The existing methods provide rich solutions for the restoration of artifacts.…”

3D survey for the archaeological study and virtual reconstruction of the “Sanctuary of Isis” in the ancient Lilybaeum (Italy)

“…Many laboratories and institutions have been using 3D scanning systems and 3D modelling techniques to document and disseminate information on particular archaeological sites in both cultural and scientific domains (Ercek, Viviers, & Warzé, 2010;Denker, 2017;Younes et al, 2017;Gabellone, Ferrari, & Giuri, 2017;Gherardini, Santachiara, & Leali, 2019). However, despite the great number of opportunities that come from VR, this research field is still strongly influenced by the unscientific approaches applied to the archaeological contexts and by the lack of a shared and easily useful methodology that can be used in different case studies.…”