Truth and credibility as a double ambition: reconstruction of the built past, experiences and dilemmas

Abstract

The reconstruction of our historical heritage involves a few fundamental problems. We mention only two. There can be many interpretations of scientific data which can result in different reconstructions: however, the appearance of an image or animation in a digital format out of context is nearly always misleading. Therefore, the verisimilitude of the computer‐based image should be questioned in the same manner as a picture in a journal, but the digital medium seldom facilitates this questioning. Furthermore, the diffusion of visualizations raises concerns; currently there is no established ontology to moderate the process. This article is based on our own experiences and attempts to contribute to this ontology. In this, scientific ‘truth’ will go hand in hand with artistic credibility, which to many may come as a surprise. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modelos virtuales entorno al Territorio Vetón; hacia una visualización del pasado accesible para todos los públicos.

“…Al mismo tiempo, también se nos dice que "la creación y divulgación de las visualizaciones computarizadas se deben planear de tal manera que contribuyan, con el máximo de sus posibilidades, a mejorar el estudio, comprensión, interpretación, conservación y gestión del patrimonio cultural". Y es aquí cuando entra en juego el dilema verosimilitud vs. rigurosidad (BAKKER et al 2003). Como arqueólogos estamos obligados a presentar nuestros datos con el mayor rigor posible, pues, la máxima del proceso de difusión y de cualquier didáctica específica es hacer comprensible los datos sin perder de vista el proceso científico.…”

Overview of the treatment of historical industrial heritage in engineering graphics

“…First, there is a socio-cultural objective, as the collective historical memory of a given area is recovered, giving data on the evolution of society; second, there is a clear educational objective which shows details of an abandoned culture and influences positively the teaching and learning process (Rojas-Sola and Lopez-Garcia, 2007b); and third, there is technological interest, as the methodology used in the process of applying computer animation techniques is valuable know-how. The verisimilitude of the image obtained by computer should be questioned in the same way as a figure in a journal, although, it is not common for digital media to do this (Bakker et al, 2003).…”

International Advisory Board

“…Many of the problems faced by archaeologists regarding the authority and authenticity of visualisations are summarised by Bakker et al (2003):…”

“…As of yet it can be argued that there are no definite solutions to the problems identified by Bakker et al (2003). One of the first, and perhaps best, attempts to address these issues was by Roberts and Ryan (1997), who created a virtual visualisation which could be interactively changed by the viewer.…”