ABSTRACT:Over the last decades 3D modelling has been a fast growing field in Geographic Information Science, extensively applied in various domains including reconstruction and visualization of cultural heritage, especially monuments and traditional settlements. Technological advances in computer graphics, allow for modelling of complex 3D objects achieving high precision and accuracy. Procedural modelling is an effective tool and a relatively novel method, based on algorithmic modelling concept. It is utilized for the generation of accurate 3D models and composite facade textures from sets of rules which are called Computer Generated Architecture grammars (CGA grammars), defining the objects' detailed geometry, rather than altering or editing the model manually. In this paper, procedural modelling tools have been exploited to generate the 3D model of a traditional settlement in the region of Central Zagori in Greece. The detailed geometries of 3D models derived from the application of shape grammars on selected footprints, and the process resulted in a final 3D model, optimally describing the built environment of Central Zagori, in three levels of Detail (LoD). The final 3D scene was exported and published as 3D web-scene which can be viewed with 3D CityEngine viewer, giving a walkthrough the whole model, same as in virtual reality or game environments. This research work addresses issues regarding textures' precision, LoD for 3D objects and interactive visualization within one 3D scene, as well as the effectiveness of large scale modelling, along with the benefits and drawbacks that derive from procedural modelling techniques in the field of cultural heritage and more specifically on 3D modelling of traditional settlements.* Corresponding author 1. BACKGROUND
IntroductionTraditional architecture and cultural heritage in terms of traditional buildings, settlements and man-made environment of, inter alia, historical, folkloric, social and aesthetic value, constitute unique characteristics and are protected by international treaties, ratified and implemented through national legislation. In Greece, protection of cultural heritage is provided by the Constitution, implemented by national legislation. Traditional settlements constitute a significant part of Greek cultural heritage. Specifically, 830 settlements have been identified as "traditional settlements" by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEKA), most of which are located in often isolated mountainous or island regions. Statutory legislation for the protection of these settlements is characterised by various malfunctions including institutions with overlapping responsibilities, lacking of systematic organisation of traditional settlements' protection standards and deficient implementation of relative measures. Such deficiencies result in landscape alteration, especially regarding its historic and cultural components, which requires efficient management and protection of traditional architecture and cultural heritage, by means of supporting and promotin...